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Tutorial 10 - Create MEP Schedules

Well we are finally to the MEP part of the journey and first up is the MEP schedules. 

Before we create our MEP schedules, we are going to create a schedule template known as a master schedule.  We will then use our master schedule to create the electrical, plumbing, mechanical, and ventilation schedules.  Once you have a master schedule, creating new schedules is a breeze.  I will also give you a special family that will speed up the process.  But first let's learn the how and why.

To create these schedules, we are going to need to use some more shared parameters, but this time we don’t want to create our own shared parameters, we want to use the industry standard parameters.  Let me explain why we need to use shared parameters first, then I will explain why we want to use the Industry Standard Parameters instead of creating our own.

Let’s go back to the last time we created shared parameters, the submittal parameters for our title block family.  Do you remember why we had to create shared parameters for that? 

We had to use to shared parameters because that allowed us to create multiple title block families for each of the different sheet sizes and use those title blocks interchangeably, basically we could swap one size for another at any point in the project and any of the Submittal data that we have created would migrate over to the new title block. 

The only way to create an identical Submittal 1 Name parameter in the 24”x36” title block and in the 30”x42” title block is by using shared parameters.  If we tried to create a parameter named Submittal 1 Name in both of those title block families, the parameter would never automatically move from one title block to the other and you would have to type in the same submittal every time.  This means we would not be able to use the title blocks interchangeably, instead if we started the project in 30” x 42” and the architect decided to change to 24” x 36” then we would have to manually type in all of the Submittal data into the new title block, none of that data would just migrate over.  Not too big of a deal, right?  It gets worse.

Since we create schedules based off parameters, you would also not be able to use the same submittal schedule for all your title block sizes and instead you would have to use a different schedule for each size.  And that is why we must use shared parameters for the submittal parameters.

Now let's think of this in context.

Instead of having different sheet sizes, you have every foodservice project.

Instead of submittal parameters, you have MEP parameters for every piece of equipment in every project.

If we didn't use shared parameters, we would need to type in our MEP data for every piece of equipment in every project we design.  Shared parameters are a must.

Shared parameters are parameter definitions that can be used to create shared project parameters or shared family parameters. Shared parameters can be used as project parameters to create MEP schedules and then those same parameters can be used in equipment families as shared family parameters.  The data in the equipment families shows up in the MEP schedules since they are the same shared parameters from the same parameter definitions.  This is one of the hardest concepts to grasp in Revit, take your time with it.

So that answers the first half, now why should we use the Industry Standard Parameters?

Click Here to Download the Tutorial 9 Revit Template to use with this tutorial 👈⏩💾.

Tutorial 9 – Create Smart Schedules

Alright this is where we start to make our template smart. Smart schedules are schedules that will support you while you are designing, kind of like a supporting cast.  These schedules will be used internally to make you a better designer and to give you the ability to hide equipment in your MEP schedules.

The first schedule we are going to create is a Level Schedule. 

This is a tool that you can use to quickly see the height of every level in your project.

Way back when we created the Equipment Schedule I had you right-click the project browser which is still a great choice, but I will use the Schedule button on the View ribbon this time.

Why the View ribbon?  To Revit everything that goes on a sheet is a view, legends, schedules, details, floor plans, elevations, 3D, to Revit those are all views, just different types of views.

For category, select Levels.

For name, let’s change the name to Level Schedule.

Then click OK.

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Tutorial 8 – Create a Revision Cloud Tag

Welcome back.  Last tutorial was quite the achievement, this tutorial will be much easier.  We're going to build on what we learned about Revisions and Revision Clouds when we created the Title Block.  You are probably wondering what a Revision Cloud Tag even is and why it is necessary so let’s start there.

The Revision Cloud Tag is just what is sounds like, a tag for Revision Clouds.  It’s that little triangle with a number inside that we are all used to seeing next to a revision cloud or in the title block on the revision schedule.

Let’s create a Revision Cloud Tag family now. 

First go to the Revit main menu, then hover over New, then click Annotation Symbol.

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Tutorial 7 - Create a Title Block

We have made some incredible progress in only six tutorials and now we will start to bring everything together with our own personalized title block.  Title blocks come in many shapes and sizes and act like a giant business card for architectural design services.  They are almost always branded, there is no industry standard dictating where each element must be placed, and they are one of the few opportunities where you are sharing your company with the world.

In this tutorial we will go over the steps to make your own custom Revit title block as well as learn a lot of Revit concepts.  I will try to keep it simple while also covering all the main components so you have all the skills you need to build your perfect title block.  We will include each of the following sections in our title block.

Designer Info - Includes company logo, company name, company address and company contact info.

Project Info - Includes project name and project address.

Submittals - A spreadsheet like area typically with grid lines that displays the name and date of each submission.

Sheet Issues/Revision Schedule - Revit has a built-in feature called Revisions that allows you to enter the information about a revision, mark a revision as issued, and control the visibility of Revision Clouds and tags.

Management Info - Includes Drawn By, Checked By, Designed By and/or Approved By parameters which are all standard Revit parameters that are included in every Sheet.

Sheet Name

Sheet Number

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Tutorial 6 - Create an Elevation Mark

When we last left off, we had just placed our Section View onto our sheet and finished our Section Tag.  Our model was really starting to look good. 

I now notice this erratic line in our Section View, let’s fix that first.

The line is actually the Level and if you are curious why it is not being cropped by the Crop Region, well you already know.

Levels are Annotations, and like all other Annotations they cannot be partially cropped by Crop Regions.

So we will use the Visibility/Graphics Overrides instead.

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Tutorial 5 - Create a Section Marker

Our last blog ended with our shiny new View Titles under each View.  I also re-arranged the views to prepare them to be placed with our Titleblock.  In this Blog we will start by Creating a Section Marker for our Section View.  We will see where it goes from there…

The Section View Marker is the last unfinished line in our current model, and if you are wondering where it is, it is the one in the Equipment Plan view.

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Tutorial 4 - Create a View Title

Alright welcome back, this week we are going to create a View Title.  What is a View Title? In Revit, each view can have a title that can contains the view name, the view scale, the detail number and the sheet number.

It will replace these unfinished looking lines in front of our Views and afterwards it will look great.  

But before we can start working on our View Title, I want to explain the difference between Viewports and the View Title.  The wide unfinished lines that are below each of our views are the View Titles, the titles of the Viewports.  When you add a view to a sheet, a Viewport displays on the sheet to represent the view. 

Viewports apply only to project drawings, such as floor plans, elevations, sections, and 3D views. They do not apply to schedules.

Viewports don't contain any settings or options to control what the View looks like, instead they are just a few settings that control what the View Title looks like, and they have no control over the View itself. 

The View is controlled by the Properties window when the view is selected.  When you want to Save the settings in the Properties window and use them on other views, there is something called View Templates and they are great.  We will get to those in a later blog post since they are a must have for any professional.

Let's start by selecting the Equipment Plan, once you have it selected your Properties window should look like the one to the right.

Next click Edit Type to open the Viewport Type Properties. 

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Tutorial 3 – Create an Equipment Plan with Equipment Tag

In this tutorial we will create an equipment plan with an equipment tag, a Foodservice Equipment Plan to be exact. 

To begin let’s open our floor plan view, Equipment Plan. 

Ok so now we are ready to Tag our convection oven Family.  Let’s take a look at the Annotate ribbon, specifically the Tag group. 

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Tutorial 2 - Create a Floor and a 3D View

Last tutorial we created our Equipment Schedule and placed it on a blank sheet to see what it would look like. In this blog we will create a Floor and then a 3D View and place it on our blank sheet with our Equipment Schedule. Let’s start with a bit of housekeeping.

First let’s remove the Structural Plan and the Ceiling Plan from our template. These will not be used. The quickest way to remove them is to right click the view in the Project Browser and select Delete. You can also highlight the View and just press the Delete key on your keyboard.

Let's also rename our sheet from A101 to QF101 and change the name of the sheet from Unnamed to FOODSERVICE EQUIPMENT PLAN.

Tutorial 0.5 - Mouse in the House

Alright here we go.  Before we begin, I want to make sure you have a much-needed piece of hardware. You must have a mouse with a mouse wheel (and a mouse wheel button that works), and if you don't know what a mouse button is, basically your mouse wheel should be able to be clicked. The mouse wheel button makes Revit work. 

1) Spin the mouse wheel to zoom in and out in a Revit view.

2) Press the mouse wheel button and drag it to pan, a.k.a., drag the view or move around the view.

3) When in a 3D view, hold SHIFT and press the mouse wheel button then drag it (pan) to rotate.

These three mouse wheel-related maneuvers will be second-nature in no time.

If you want a tip on purchasing a new mouse, get one that allows you to change the DPI with the click of a button, that changes the speed at which the mouse cursor moves and can be very helpful.

Tutorial 1 - Create an Equipment Schedule