1. Mastering Autodesk Revit MEP 2016 CHAPTER 19: Creating Equipment

2. Modeling MEP Equipment
Hosting Options
Non-hosted
Equipment that sits on floors
Workplane based for hosting to any orientation
Face-hosted
For wall-mounted equipment or equipment on pads
Family Categories
Mechanical or Electrical equipment
Part Type parameter for more specificity and to define behavior
Subcategories can be used also
The first thing to consider when creating an equipment family is how the family will be placed into a project model. Equipment that sits on the floor of a room or at the exterior of a building does not need to be created as a hosted family. When you place a non-hosted family into your project, it will be associated with the level of the view in which it is placed. However, if the equipment requires a pad for housekeeping or structural support, you may want to make the family face hosted so that it can be attached to the face of the pad.
There are essentially two choices for categorizing your equipment families. You can categorize an equipment family as either Mechanical or Electrical equipment. Keep in mind that with Revit you make any family whatever category you choose. It may be necessary to categorize an equipment family as some other model category, depending on how it is used in your projects.

3. Modeling MEP Equipment
Geometry for Connectors
Allows for easier management of connector locations when parametric
Allows for easier management of connector dimensions when parametric
Place by Face option can be used for connectors
MEP discipline equipment families can include connectors for ducts, pipes, conduit, and even cable tray if necessary. Connectors are added by one of two methods, either by placing them on a face of the solid geometry or by associating them with a work plane within the family. When you associate a connector with a work plane, it can be located anywhere in that plane. Connectors placed with the Face option on the Placement panel of the contextual tab will automatically attach to the center of the face.
Geometry created specifically for the placement of connectors can be easily constrained, making parametric changes easier to manage.

4. Modeling MEP Equipment
Equipment Pads
Can be built into equipment families
Can be hosted to building geometry
Visibility control for when no pad needed or is provided in another model
A nested foundation family can be used when structural data is required
When you are creating and equipment family that requires a pad to be mounted on, it may be best to include the pad geometry directly in the equipment family. This will enable you to ensure that the proper dimensions are used for the pad without having to make any changes in another file such as a structural or architectural link.
The key to creating pad geometry in an equipment family is to provide a reference for the top of the pad so that the equipment geometry can be modeled in the correct location and maintain a proper relationship with the pad.

5. Adding Connectors No Geometry Work Plane placement option
Temporary dimensions of connector can be activated and assigned to parameters
Location of connector can remain static using parameters and formulas
Can be pinned in place to avoid using constraints
The connectors that you add to an equipment family will ultimately determine its use in your Revit projects.
In most cases the location of connectors on equipment families is easily handled by geometry modeled specifically for the connector. However, it is not always necessary to have connector geometry. If you do not need extra geometry to define the location of a connector, you can dimension directly to the connector by selecting it and then activating the temporary dimension shown to the center of the connector. Once activated, you can associate the dimension to a parameter. This can be done only if you use the Work Plane option for placing the connector. The decision to use the Face or Work Plane option for connectors depends on how you want to control the location of the connector. Whatever method you choose, once a connector is placed, you can adjust its properties so that the equipment family will behave as desired in your projects.

6. Adding Connectors Duct Connectors Various system types available
Properties can be applied to define air flow behavior
In or Out at connection point
Flow Configuration
Calculated – adds all flow values from downstream
Preset – assigned value
System – percentage of entire flow for a system
Shape and Size
Mapped to family parameters
You can select the system type of a duct connector from the Options Bar when you click the Duct Connector button on the Home tab in the Family Editor.
For air systems equipment your duct connectors should be set with the properties that coincide with the behavior of the equipment that the family represents. The properties of a connector allow you to define the behavior of the air at the point of connection.

7. Adding Connectors Electrical Connectors Conduit Cable tray Electrical
Individual – single conduit at connector location
Surface – single or multiple conduits at any point on a surface
Cable tray
Electrical
Defines point of electrical system connection
Properties determine electrical system (voltage, load, poles) for use with distribution systems in projects
There are three kinds of connectors for electrical systems: Conduit connectors, Cable Tray connectors, and Electrical connectors.
When an equipment family with a surface connector is used in a project, conduit can be drawn to or from the surface using the Conduit tool on the Home tab.
Cable tray connectors are similar to the individual conduit connector, having properties for the angle and for setting the height and width of the connector.
Electrical connectors are a point of connection for wiring, which will also define what type of system the equipment can be used in. The Options Bar allows you to define the system of the connector prior to placement. Many of the properties for an electrical connector can be associated with family parameters for easy management and creation of family types. The Voltage parameter will determine what distribution systems in your project the equipment can be used in.

8. Adding Connectors Multiple Connectors Primary Linked connectors
First connector of each type used in family
Linked connectors
Allows system behavior to pass from one connector to another
Based on Primary connector settings
Many MEP equipment families have multiple types of connectors. Your work environment may determine the connectors that you add to equipment families.
It is possible to link connectors in a family. This is useful for when you want the system behavior to pass through from one connector to the other. Linked connectors will take on the Flow Configuration value of the primary connector. So even if you have a connector in the family that has a Flow Configuration set to Preset, if it is linked to a primary connector set to Calculated, the behavior of the connector when in a project will be as if the connector is set to Calculated.

9. Modeling MEP Equipment
Clearances modeled in an electrical panel family
Clearance Spaces
Extrusion(s) modeled in equipment families
Useful for interference checking, even when not visible
Can be a subcategory for easy visibility management
Custom material can be used for view clarity
Can be a separate family used in projects
Face hosted to equipment families
Most MEP equipment requires some sort of clearance space for safety or maintenance reasons. Modeling the clearance spaces directly in your equipment families is useful for model coordination.
You can choose to keep the spaces visible during modeling for visual reference to avoid such interferences. Even if you choose to turn the visibility of the spaces off, any interferences will still be detected.
Clearance spaces can be created by modeling an extrusion in the family that is associated with a reference plane at the appropriate face of the equipment. Other reference planes can be used to control the size of the clearance space and constrain it to the equipment.