Module 1: MEP Family Creation
EXAMPLE OF INFORMATION INSIDE REVIT FAMILIES
PARAMETERS VALUES
THE PARAMETERS & ITS CORRESPONDING VALUES COMPRISE THE
INFORMATION INSIDE OUR FAMILIES
Module 1: MEP Family Creation
WHAT IS FAMILY PARAMETERS AND
WHY IS IT IMPORTANT?
Module 1: MEP Family Creation
Parameters:
They are the underlying information of all objects. They are how we communicate with
Revit. They are the height of a wall, the width of a door, the thickness of a counter, the
material of a floor, the elevation of a level and the scale of a view. Every piece of
information you might wish to supply, change, schedule, calculate or study is a
parameter
The Revit platform for building information modeling is a design and documentation
system that supports the design, drawings, and schedules required for a building
project. Building information modeling (BIM) delivers information about project
design, scope, quantities, and phases when you need it.
In the Revit model, every drawing sheet, 2D and 3D view, and schedule is a
presentation of information from the same underlying building model database. As
you work in drawing and schedule views, Revit MEP collects information about the
building project and coordinates this information across all other representations of
the project. The Revit parametric change engine automatically coordinates changes
made anywhere—in model views, drawing sheets, schedules, sections, and plans.
Module 1: MEP Family Creation
Module 1: MEP Family Creation
Module 1: MEP Family Creation
Module 1: MEP Family Creation
Module 1: MEP Family Creation
How to add PARAMETERS
In a family?
Module 1: MEP Family Creation
Example:
Suppose, we have a Water tank Family.
According to CoP* for MEP Modelling,
the required minimum parameters for a
water tank are:
But, the existing parameters under our
Water Tank Family do not include the
required 6 parameters under the CoP*
How can we add the six (6) missing
parameters to our Water tank Family?
Let us explore the PROCEDURES in the
succeeding pages….
CoP* - Code of Practice for MEP Modelling issued by BCA
Module 1: MEP Family Creation
OPEN THE WATER TANK
FAMILY AT THE FAMILY
EDITOR.
STEP 1:
AT THE RIBBON, GO
TO CREATE TAB AND
CLICK THE FAMILY
TYPES BUTTON
STEP 2:
AT THE FAMILY TYPES
DIALOGUE BOX, CLICK THE
ADD PARAMETERS BUTTON.
CLICK OK.
Module 1: MEP Family Creation
STEP 3:
AFTER YOU COMPLETE THE PREVIOUS
STEP, THE PARAMETER PROPERTIES
DIALOGUE BOX WILL APPEAR.
HERE, YOU NEED TO: A
A) TICK SHARED PARAMETER D
B) TICK INSTANCE
C) SELECT DATA AT THE GROUP
B
PARAMETER DROP DOWN MENU
AND LASTLY:
D) CLICK SELECT BUTTON C
ANOTHER DIALOGUE BOX WILL APPEAR.
SEE NEXT SLIDE.
Module 1: MEP Family Creation
STEP 4:
AT THE EDIT SHARED PARAMETERS
DIALOGUE BOX, CLICK THE BROWSE
BUTTON. THE SHARED PARAMETER FILE
IS SAVED IN: P:\0000 BIM - Revit\004 -
Learning Materials\Module 1_Family
Creation\Support Files.
THEN CLICK OPEN.
Note:
You have to set the shared parameters file location, only ONCE. Revit will set the
file you selected as the default Shared Parameter File each time you want to add a
Shared Parameter.
Module 1: MEP Family Creation
BUT BEFORE WE PROCEED TO NEXT STEP, LET US
FAMILIARIZE OURSELVES WITH THE SHARED
PARAMETERS DIALOGUE BOX.
THE PARAMETER GROUP DISPLAYS ALL THE PRE-
DEFINED & ORGANIZED PARAMETERS IN OUR
ORGANIZATION.
WHEN YOU CLICK THE DROP-DOWN ARROW, ALL
THE PARAMETER GROUPS THAT WE HAVE WILL
BE DISPLAYED. FOR THIS EXERCISE, LET US
CHOOSE THE WATER TANK GROUP.
Module 1: MEP Family Creation
AND EACH GROUP CONTAINS CERTAIN
PARAMETERS.
TRY TO SELECT THE WATER TANK GROUP AND
ALL THE PARAMETERS CONCERNING WATER
TANKS SHALL APPEAR AT THE PARAMETERS LIST
BELOW. SIMILARLY, SELECTING OTHER GROUPS
OF PARAMETERS SHALL DISPLAY THE
PARAMETERS RELATED TO THAT GROUP.
FOR THIS EXERCISE, LET US SELECT THE WATER
TANK GROUP. OUR OBJECTIVE IS TO ADD ALL
THE SIX PARAMETERS TO OUR FAMILY:
1) Tank Width
2) Tank Length
3) Tank Height
4) Effective Volume
5) Effective Height
6) Tank Material
SELECT THE DESIRED PARAMETERS ONE BY ONE UNTIL IT APPEARS IN THE FAMILY PROPERTIES.
Module 1: MEP Family Creation
SUMMARY
THE 10-POINT PROCEDURE OF ADDING
PARAMETERS TO YOUR FAMILY
Module 1: MEP Family Creation
6
2
7
10 - PARAMETER 5
APPEARS HERE
1
3
8
4
INITIATE DEFINE THE SELECT THE
ADD PARAMETER PROPERTIES PARAMETER
REPEAT STEPS 1 TO 10 TO ADD MORE PARAMETERS TO YOUR FAMILY!
Module 1: MEP Family Creation
RESOURCES:
Code of Practice for BIM Submissions:
P:\0000 BIM - Revit\001 - BCA Submission Guidelines, CoPs, Circulars\CP FOR BIM e-Submission
Code of Practice for BIM Submissions:
P:\0000 BIM - Revit\001 - BCA Submission Guidelines, CoPs, Circulars\BIM Guidelines from clients
Shared Parameter File Location
P:\0000 BIM - Revit\004 - Learning Materials\Module 1_Family Creation\Support Files
THANK YOU.
