To modify and create new system pipes, in the Project Browser select Families

Figure 11.1. Renaming pipe types

Now that you have your pipe types created, you will want to change some of the parameter options. First right-click the pipe you want to edit and select Properties. This will open the Pipe Type parameters. Under Mechanical, you will find Material, Connect Type, and Class parameters. Change these settings to the appropriate types. (Refer to Figure 11.2.)

Figure 11.2. Changing the Mechanical parameters to the desired settings

Under the Identity Data parameters group, the following parameters are available: Keynote, Model, Manufacturer, Type Comments, URL, Description, Assembly Description, Assembly Code, Type Mark, and Cost. If you have a certain manufacturer, model, or other special note that you may want to denote on the plans, you can use these settings to further describe your pipe type. (Refer to Figure 11.3.)

Under the Fitting Parameters group, there are Elbow, Preferred Junction Type, Tee, Tap, Cross, Transition, Union, and Flange settings. Before you can adjust the rest of your system pipe type parameters, you need create the fittings that go with your system pipe types. To accomplish this, you must go to the Project Browser and select Families Pipe Fittings. Once you are under Pipe Fittings, you'll want to select the fittings that will be required for your pipe type parameters. You will right-click each of the family fittings and duplicate standard generic Elbow, Cross, Coupling, Tee, and Transition. After duplicating each one of these, rename them to the associated material of each pipe that you previously duplicated to create your pipe types. (Refer to Figure 11.4.)

Figure 11.3. Identity Data parameters group

Figure 11.4. Duplicating and renaming fittings to match pipe types

Once you have all your pipe fittings, go to the Mechanical parameters to find parameters for Material, Connect Type, and Class. Change these settings to the appropriate types. Also, you may need to modify the Loss method to K Coefficient From Table; also verify that the table is set to the appropriate setting. (Refer to Figure 11.5.)

Figure 11.5. Setting the K coefficient to the appropriate setting

Once the pipe fittings have been created, go back to the Pipe Type parameters, and under Pipe Fitting select the proper pipe fitting for your pipe type. Doing this will allow you to filter and schedule piping for takeoff purposes. (Refer to Figure 11.6.)

Figure 11.6. Selecting the proper pipe fittings for pipe types

To get to the pipe material settings, go to Home

Figure 11.7. Duplicating pipe material and renaming to new material

If you want to adjust the sizing table, go to Home

Figure 11.8. Selecting default pipe sizes using the pipe sizing table

You can add to the Fluids table information concerning temperature, viscosity, and density. To do this go, to Home

Ideally you have everything set up in your pipe types to begin routing piping. To start automatic pipe routing, select one of pieces of mechanical equipment that you have added to the mechanical piping system. Next press the Tab key until the autorouting feature highlights its suggested path. Then you can select Generate Layout

Figure 11.9. Fluids table settings

Figure 11.10. Generating layouts from systems

You have four options to select for generating the layout: Network, Perimeter, Intersections, and Custom, and each one has several routing solutions to choose from that consist of a main (blue) and branches (green):

When using the autorouting feature, the number-one mistake that everyone makes is to try to select every unit at one time. This will nearly always lead to failure. The process is to use the Add To System/Remove From System tool that is part of the General Layout ribbons. (Refer to Figure 11.11.)

Figure 11.11. Adding to and removing from systems

By making the autorouting smaller, you can actually modify the runs better. Make sure this offset is at the same height as your piping, because this helps ensures that you are routing your piping at the correct offset. Once you have everything routed, connect the smaller piping systems together to make the overall system.

Manual routing of piping is the next method. When routing, manually start the piping run at the elevation that you know will be most likely out of the way of other disciplines. Use the following steps to set up and place mechanical equipment, create a hydronic supply and return, and manually route pipe to all pieces of equipment.

Real World Scenario: Coordination Is Key

In 2007, Michael Brady Incorporated used Revit Systems for MEP and Revit Architecture to design First Baptist Church in Farragut, Tennessee, and to produce contract documents. Because of the design timeline, the structural team used AutoCAD 2007 to lay out its structure.

Charles Merriman, the mechanical designer on the project, linked in the structural CAD plans and decided to mass objects above the ceiling space to represent the depth and location of the bar joists and beams. Although this was a little time-consuming, it helped show some of the conflicts he was facing with his design.

By using this technique, he was able to avoid some very large problems associated with the mechanical pipe routing and duct layout. When the project was in the construction phase, the general contractor began to ask for a potential change order. Charlie opened his Revit file and printed a 3D view of the area in question. Because of Charlie's earlier commitment to coordinating his design, the area in which the contractor thought was an issue was easily resolved.

Understanding pipe fitting controls can really make life easier if you are routing a lot of piping. Several fittings have this ability. When you are laying out your piping, turn 90 degrees to create a elbow. If you click the elbow, you will notice a plus (+) sign. If you click that sign, it will change from an elbow to a tee allowing you to add more piping and continue your pipe routing. If you click the minus (−) sign, it will downgrade the fitting. When you see the

When you need to add valves to your piping, select the Home tab, select Pipe Accessories, use the Type Selector, and select the type of valve you want to use. Most valves are "break into" types, so you can place them into a pipe run, and it will break into the piping, maintaining connections at either end. (Refer to Figure 11.21.)

Figure 11.21. Fitting breaks into piping system

When creating or editing families, use the family parameter Part Type, which will define the ability to Breaks Into. (Refer to Figure 11.22.)

Figure 11.22. Fitting Breaks Into definition