Create SMART Plumbing Fixture Schedules in Revit MEP

[@mep_guy]

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[@patrickryan5790]

I created a bunch of Plumbing fixture families with shared parameters that work with our standard fixture schedule. I also added a yes/ no parameter in every fixture family that I can use to include or exclude from the fixture schedule. The schedule filters out any fixture that has the yes/ no box unchecked.

[@mep_guy]

Great idea! Just curious, what is an example of a fixture you might not want to schedule?

[@patrickryan5790]

@MEP Guy we do a lot of senior living facilities that have commercial kitchens, and we wouldn't include the kitchen fixtures in our schedule. Typically, the kitchen consultant will own those. But this allows me to use my pre-built families for connections. There are also some in our office that don't like scheduling floor drains. I just put the parameter on all the fixture families so the end user can control what they want shown.

[@mep_guy]

@@patrickryan5790 ahh yes that makes sense. Great tip!

[@jayblake682]

Great video. One of our biggest complaints, especially with our HVAC guys, is the lack of incorporating notes in the schedule itself. Maybe Autodesk will add that feature one day. Have you heard of any MEP changes in Revitalize 2023?

[@mep_guy]

You definitely can add notes as a parameter value. I'd recommend making the notes a Multiline text field parameter. Sometimes we have to adapt and come up with new ways to do things. I honestly think most of the notes that people want to add to schedules should be in their book specs, not necessarily on the drawings. I always try to keep schedules in Revit as simple as possible. When there are additional requirements I recommend using a text field like shown, or use a legend view for requirements for certain types of fixtures that can be used on all jobs. Always appreciate the feedback Jay!

[@jayblake682]

@@mep_guy I agree completely about schedule notes. On the plumbing side we rarely use them. Like you, I prefer to have that type of info in book specs. Our HVAC guys use the text notes. I like the idea of using a parameter value.

[@joecincoify]

Nice job, working on my plumbing template, still would like to see a P-trap family that swings at the joint

[@mep_guy]

I think creating a custom p-trap like that is probably gonna have to wait. But if you're persistent on asking I'll definitely attempt it in the future lol!

[@joecincoify]

@@mep_guy Cool, really enjoying your work, I've been through schedules before, what I like about what your doing is the custom fixtures, this makes it a lot easier to use different models and manufacturers, some of the family's out there on so great

[@mep_guy]

Yea Joe, using custom fixtures in my opinion is probably the most important thing to do for MEP modeling. I've spent a lot of time thinking about this and can't wait to create a template for everyone with custom fixtures that are easy to work with and automatically schedule. I'll have them available when I launch my course. Hopefully in the next couple months.

[@Satishkumar-lm1sm]

Great video again...keep doing more..❤️

[@mikemccall169]

How do you model the faucet for each of these sink/lavatory fixtures and show them in the same schedule? Newbie!

[@mep_guy]

well you can put the sink and faucet on the same line/row. Maybe use the comments section to call out each item or call them out like sink/faucet for each parameter. For the model you would spec the sinkmodel/faucetmodel. I've always just used the same row in my schedule to spec both the sink and faucet. If you wanted them separate, you'd have to create another family for the faucet and add that on the face of the sink. I think this method has too many problems. Sometimes in revit we just have to adapt to the way it works.

[@joecincoify]

I do a lot of coordination work, ever think about getting into hangers?

[@mep_guy]

You're the second person to ask that. I know a great video on hangers by my favorite Revit youtuber. It's pretty fast and advanced but it's an amazing hanger he creates. kzbin.info/www/bejne/f4qreaWked-AfKc

[@joecincoify]

@@mep_guy Aussie Bim Guru, he is one of my favorites as well, he did the unistrut family a while ago...

[@mintberry6014]

I have a question that I cannot find an answer too. On a typical fixture schedule all associated items are listed under the "host" fixture. So for example a lavatory labeled L-1 would have everything associated, such as the faucet or p-trap, listed under "L-1" on the Fixture schedule. Is there a way to do that in revit with out having five different L-1s displayed on the schedule? As a sort of visual reference, in excel you can combine vertically adjacent cells in the same column to become one large cell but this appears to not be possible in revit? thank you for any help in advance.

[@mep_guy]

I think what you are asking is can you combine adjacent horizontal cells into one cell. Kinda like "merging" the cells in excel? So you would want the p-trap, faucet and other items all in the same cell? Yes you can do that. It requires combining parameters. See this video kzbin.info/www/bejne/qKGcpYmhmM-heZY If you are talking about something else let me know with some more explanation and I'll try to help ya out.