Design

Object
Library
Guide
For Revit Objects

Centre for Construction IT

08/2012 Draft Version 0.6

Contents

1. Introduction ......................................................................................................... 3
2. Understanding the Revit’s Family Editor .......................................................... 4
2.1 Family Editor Tools ...................................................................................................... 5
3. Creating Mechanical Equipment with CP83 Symbol ........................................ 7
3.1 Recommended Workflow ............................................................................................. 7
Planning ................................................................................................................................................ 8
Choosing a Family Template ................................................................................................................. 9
Create an Object Sub-categoty ........................................................................................................... 10
Creating the Object Framework ........................................................................................................ 11
Creating the Object Geometry ............................................................................................................ 12
Creating Solid 3D Geometry ................................................................................................................ 12
Creating CP83 2D Symbol .................................................................................................................... 14
Adding MEP Connectors ...................................................................................................................... 14
Managing object Visibility Graphics ................................................................................................... 16
Testing the Object into the Project ..................................................................................................... 16
4. References ......................................................................................................... 18
Revit Families Guide ............................................................................................................. 18
Library Creation Tutorial Videos .......................................................................................... 18
Customizing Autodesk Seek Library to comply with the local standards ....................... 18
Content Modification ............................................................................................................. 18

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 1. Introduction

This guide is intended to give concept in creating and modifying Revit objects to comply with the
Singapore standards. This should be read in conjunction with Revit Families Guide to better
understand some software terms used in the entire documents. Although any sketching
and 2D or 3D modeling experience is helpful to understand how to work with families, before
working with this guide, users should have a basic understanding of Revit MEP. If not, it is
recommended to use the tutorials included in the software.

In this guide, the user will learn:

- how to create MEP objects from the scratch

- how to create and incorporate CP83 2D symbols in the MEP objects
- how to modify downloaded objects from the internet and other sources
- how to load and use created objects into the project

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 2. Understanding the Revit’s Family Editor

The Family Editor is a graphical editing mode in Revit MEP that allows you to create objects to
include in your project. To get started, choosing the correct template for the objects to be
created should be considered. The template can include multiple views, such as plan and
elevation views. The Family Editor has the same look and feel as the project environment in
Revit MEP, but features different tools located on a single Home tab.

Family Editor can be accessed through:

Application Menu > New > Family

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 2.1 Family Editor Tools

Family Category and Parameters (Home tab ➤ Family Category and Parameters) opens the
Family Category and Parameters. You can create new family types or new instance and type
parameters.

Dimension tool (Annotate tab ➤ Dimension panel) add permanent dimensions to the family, in
addition to ones that Revit MEP automatically creates as you draw the geometry. This is
important if you wish to create different sizes of the object.

Symbolic Line tool (Annotate tab ➤ Detail panel ➤ Symbolic Line) lets you draw lines that are
meant for symbolic purposes only. For example, you might use symbolic lines to represent the
flow direction for a pipe fitting. Symbolic lines are not part of the actual geometry of the object.
Symbolic lines are visible parallel to the view in which you draw them.
You can control symbolic line visibility on cut instances. Select the symbolic line, and click
Modify Lines tab ➤ Visibility panel ➤ Visibility Settings. In the Family element visibility settings
dialog, select Show only if instance is cut.

Reference Plane tool (Home tab ➤ Datum panel ➤ Reference Plane) creates a reference
plane, which is an infinite plane that serves as a guide for drawing lines and geometry.

Reference Line tool (Home tab ➤ Datum panel ➤ Reference Line) creates a line similar to a
reference plane, but that has logical start and end points.

Text tool (Annotate tab ➤ Text panel ➤ Text) lets you add text notes to the family. This is
typically used in an annotation object.

Model Text tool (Home tab ➤ Model panel ➤ Model Text) lets you add signage to a building or
letters to a wall.

Section (View tab ➤ Create panel ➤ Section) lets you create a section view.

Component tool (Home tab ➤ Model panel ➤ Component) selects the type of component to be
inserted into the Family Editor. After you select this tool, the Type Selector becomes active and
you can select a component.

Symbolic Line tool (Annotate tab ➤ Detail panel ➤ Symbolic Line) lets you place 2D
annotation drawing symbols.

Detail Component tool (Annotate tab ➤ Detail panel ➤ Detail Component) lets you place a
detail component.

Masking Region tool (Annotate tab ➤ Detail panel ➤ Masking Region) lets you apply a mask
that will obscure model elements when the object is used to create an element in a project. See
Masking Regions in the Revit MEP 2012 Help.

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Forms tool (Home tab ➤ Forms panel) provides access to tools that let you create solid and
voids geometry in the object.

Load into Project (Home tab ➤ Family Editor panel ➤ Load Into Project) lets you load a family
directly into any open project or family.

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3. Creating Mechanical Equipment with CP83 Symbol
To create an object in revit, you need to define the geometry and size of the object using
a family template that is provided in Revit MEP. You can then save the object as a
separate Revit family file (.rfa file) and load it into any project.

Depending on the complexity of the object, the creation process can be time-consuming.
If you can identify an object that is similar to the one you want to create, you can save
time and effort by copying, renaming, and modifying the existing object.

The topics in this section apply to the creation of model (3D) objects, but some are
relevant to 2D objects, including titleblocks, annotation symbols, and detail components.

3.1 Recommended Workflow

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 Planning

Before creating the object, it is important to list down the object’s requirements. Below
are the requirement should be considered:

 Sizes
 Display in plan or in 3D such as symbols.
 Detail
 Hosting if necessary
 Non-geometry attributes such as Voltage, Capacity, etc…

Below is the example.

Capacity
Apparent Load 300KVA – 2000KVA
Hosting Face Base
CP83 Symbol

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Choosing a Family Template

After you plan an object, your next step is to choose the base template that you will use. When
you create an object, you are prompted to select a family template that corresponds to the type
of element that the object will going to create.

The template serves as a building block, containing the information that you need to start
creating the object and that Revit MEP needs to place the object in projects.

1. Application Menu >

New > Family

2. Choose Metric
Generic Model face
based.rft from the list
of available
templates.

NOTE: If you are creating an annotation or titleblock object, click ➤ New ➤ Annotation Symbol
or Title Block.

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Create an Object Sub-categoty

When you create an object, the template assigns it to a category that defines the default display
of the object (line weight, line color, line pattern, and material assignment of the object
geometry) when the object is loaded into a project.

Placing the object in the right category can be done though the following steps:

1. From the Home Tab, choose

Family Category and Parameters.

2. On the Family Category and

Parameters dialog box, choose
Mechanical Equipment.

TIP: You can apply a drafting pattern to the object. When you create and define a subcategory
to apply to the object, you can specify its surface and cut pattern materials to have a drafting

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pattern. You cannot apply a model pattern to the object. Only flat or cylindrical surfaces can
have drafting patterns. See Fill Patterns in the Revit MEP 2012 Help.

Creating the Object Framework

After planning the object’s parameters, the next step is to create the object’s framework. The
framework is comprised of lines and parameters in which you later create the object geometry. It
also defines the origin (insertion point) of elements that you create with the object.

To create a framework for the object shown on planning stage, please follow below steps.

1. From the chosen template, add a reference line from point 1 to point 2. See the
figure above.
2. In the temporary dimension, key-in 350mm distance from the reference plane. (green
dotted line in the family editor window).
3. Mirror the 2 reference lines created to have a square with 700mm x 70mm size. This
will be the face of the equipment.

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Creating the Object Geometry

You can use both 2- and 3-dimensional geometry to create the object. Create solid geometric
shapes to represent the element that the object is intended to create. Use 2D linework to add
detail to solid geometry in certain views or to create a symbolic plan representation of an
element.

Creating Solid 3D Geometry

To create solid object geometry, you use 3-dimensional solid and void forms. Solid forms are 3D
shapes that represent the solid geometry of object.

1. From the Home tab, choose Extrusion.

On the property panel, key-in 25mm for
the extrusion end. This will be the
thickness of the equipment face.

2. Start the extrusion from point a to point

b. Please see the figure in the left.

3. Click Finish Edit mode once done.

4. Do the same procedure to create the

body of the FCU by setting the
following:

Extrusion end: 286mm

Offset from the edge of the object : 62.5mm

Once done, the object will be the same in the

left figure.

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 5. Creating geometry for pipe connector.
- On the Home Tab, click set to
assign one of the sides of the
object to be the reference
workplane. (d)

- On the Wok Plane dialog box,

choose Pick the Workplane.

- Pick the object’s side surface. (e)

- Go to the right elevation of the

model using View Cube. This is to
easily draw a circle that will
represent the connection point.

- Repeat no. 2 procedures to draw

the pipe connection points, this
time choose Circle for the drawing
method. (f)

- Make 12.5mm for the radius and

50mm for the extrusion end.

- Add two more connection points for

chilled water supply, chilled water
return and drain system of the
equipment.

- The object will be the same as the

figure below once done.

Created Geometry
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Other detail steps in creating 3D geometry can be found inside the Family Guide of Revit.

Creating CP83 2D Symbol

2D symbol will be the representation of the 3D elements in plan view in compliance with the
CP83 standards.

Follow below procedures to add 2D symbols to the 3D object.

1. Use the symbolic lines under

Annotate tab of Revit to draw the 2D
symbol.

2. Trace some of the lines of the 3D

geometry.

Adding MEP Connectors

Connectors allow Revit MEP content to participate in specific systems and facilitate calculations
for a variety of parameters. Below connectors can be added to the 3D geometry as requires by
the equipment to be created.

Please do below procedures to add MEP connectors to the 3D model.

1. On the 3D view, choose Pipe

connector from the Home Tab.

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 2. Pick the edge of the pipe connection points that has been modeled
3. Select the Pipe Connector Element and on Property Panel, change the System Type to
Hydronic Supply (4) and the Radius of the pipe to 12.5mm.
4. Create 2 more connectors for hydronic return and drain by doing the above procedures.
5. Choose the Electrical Connectors to add the electrical properties of the equipment. This
can be done by doing the above procedures. On the Property panel, key-in the desire
voltage.

Note: More steps for Adding Connectors Properties can be found on page 82 of the Revit
Families Guide.

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Managing object Visibility Graphics

Visibility of a object determines in which view the object displays and what it looks like in that
view. In a 3D or elevation view, you may want a fully detailed 3D representation of the element
but only 2D symbols on your floor plans. You have the flexibility to display different levels of
geometry by controlling the objects geometry visibility.

1. On the 3D view, select the elements that will not be shown on plan. Use the Ctl key on
the keyboard to do a multiple selection if necessary.

2. Choose the Visibility Settings and

uncheck the Plan / RCP in the
setting.

Testing the Object into the Project

After you have finished the object, load it in at least one project, and create elements with the
family types to ensure it works correctly. Make sure you select a test project that contains any
geometry with which the family must interact. For example, if the family is a host-based family
like a lighting fixture, ensure that the test project contains the host elements (ceilings or walls).

BEST PRACTICE Until you successfully test the family, do not save it in a library where it is
accessible to others.

To test the Object into the project

1. Open a test project.

NOTE Imperial and metric testing projects are available in the Training Files folder. Click
➤ Open ➤ Project, click Training Files in the left pane of the Open dialog, and open Imperial or
Metric. Open Imperial_ Family_Testing_Template.rvt or Metric_Family_Testing_Template.rvt.

2. To load the family in the project, do either of the following:

 In the family, click Home tab ➤ Family Editor panel ➤ Load into Project.
 In the project, click Insert tab ➤ Load from Library panel ➤ Load Family, navigate to the
location of the family, select it, and click Open.

3. In the project, click the Home tab, and then click the appropriate tool to begin creating an
element from one of the new family types.

4. On the Properties panel, select a type from the Type Selector drop-down.
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 5. Add the element to the project. If the element is host-based, place it in a host element.

6. In the current view, test the element:

- On the View Control Bar, change the Detail Level and/or Model Graphics style to
ensure that visibility settings work correctly.
- Click View tab ➤ Graphics panel ➤ Visibility & Graphics, and change the visibility for
the element by category and, if applicable, by subcategories.
- Select the element, right-click, and click Element Properties.
- In the Instance Properties dialog, change any of the instance parameters, and click
OK to view and verify the changes.
- If the family contains multiple types, select the element, and on the Modify
<element> tab ➤ Element panel, select a different family type from the Type
Selector drop-down.

7. Open additional project views, and repeat step 6.

8. If the family contains more than one type, repeat steps 3-6 to test other types in the
family.

9. If you find any errors in the family, edit the family, and retest it in a project.

10. When you finish testing the family, save it in the metric Revit MEP library or in another
location of your choice.

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 4. References

Revit Families Guide

Hands on tutorial with training files included
http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/item?siteID=123112&id=13376617

Library Creation Video Tutorials

Start

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6fms63MHb3s&feature=related

Creating Geometry

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zwh2ZqUiNPs&feature=related

Making Parametric Library

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yH3Q_dqgvkQ&feature=related

Customizing Autodesk Seek Library to comply with the local standards

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oy_sPYFC-QY

Content Modification
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GjVXVOGZr10&feature=related

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