Electrical Building Information Modeling (BIM) for Revit® MEP Families Now Available from Siemens

Distribution families to be AutoDesk Seek RMC Styleguide compliant

BUFFALO GROVE, Ill. – Siemens Industry, Inc., announces the availability of Building Information Modeling (BIM) for the company’s low voltage distribution equipment, making its Revit® MEP Family of products more easily available to architects and engineers during the design phase. Siemens continues its industry leadership, not only by offering the most comprehensive set of BIM families, but by being the first and only provider delivering BIM low-voltage distribution product families developed in full compliance with AutoDesk® Seek® RMC SG standards.  The Siemens library of electrical distribution products will be available on the AutoDesk Seek website starting March 15.

 

Siemens BIM families were specifically developed to meet all Revit MEP standards. Siemens Revit families include all Sentron panelboards and switchboards, Siemens WL low voltage switchgear, VBII safety switches, and both Sentron and XJL busway solutions.  All configurations are selectable including flush, surface or NEMA 3R for panelboards, NEMA 1, 3R and 4X for safety switches, and both indoor and outdoor for switchgear.  The Siemens busway BIM families are comprehensive and detailed, and Siemens provides a 14-minute tutorial video for advanced Revit designers to acclimate themselves to the application and quickly move on to mastery of the routines.

Because the Siemens BIM families are fully Revit MEP and AutoDesk Seek compliant, they are available both from within Revit MEP itself, as well as on the internet from the AutoDesk Seek website http://seek.autodesk.com/.  Simply search by keyword (Siemens, panelboards, busway, etc.) for the full families.  In addition to the Revit files, both the families and the AutoDesk Seek website include links to technical information on the specific Siemens equipment.

For more information on the complete Siemens Revit families, contact your local Siemens representative. Call 1-800 241 4453 reference code Siemens BIM Families or visit www.usa.siemens.com/cebim.

Press Contact

Steve Kuehn 

steve.kuehn@siemens.com

Troubleshooting Revit MEP

A 20 minute video from Autodesk's Harlan Brumm and Jerry Lee Smith covering:

Overview of the Revit MEP Workflow

• Create new project using MEP template
• Save Arch model as central file on server
• Link in models using origin-to-origin
• setting links to be room bounding
• copy/monitor levels
• Setting up views and apply view templates to views
• create levels to account for plenum spaces

Troubleshooting Spaces and Zones

• space not visible in view
• rooms are "unoccupied"

Troubleshooting Revit MEP Performance

• Not following workflow
• not creating logical systems
• large connected duct networks
• complicated families
• poorly connected elements
• Limit color schemes
• place endcaps on open ducts
• ensure flow direction on connectors is correct

Family Jewels Blog - Creating Quality BIM Content for Revit MEP

A new Autodesk Website dedicated to BIM Content.  Familiy Jewels - Creating Quality BIM Content

I've talked to a lot of users who have dabbled in Revit MEP, and have quit saying they will try again when Revit gets more family content.  I don't remember AutoCAD coming with blocks back in the day.  We ended up creating all of our AutoCAD blocks to match our company standard.  It was a 25 year process.  Every company seems to have their own standard which varies from the National CAD Standard, or even the National BIM Standard.  If people end up waiting for someone to create all the content needed for for Revit MEP, you'll be waiting forever and never use the program.  The idea of waiting for someone else to make my content didn’t seem to be a proactive approach.  It's going to be another 25 year process of creating BIM content.  A job that will never be complete.  So getting started as soon as possible seems to be the best approach before falling behind.

People who have been using Revit Architecture or Revit MEP for a long period of time have either modeled from scratch or heavily customized nearly every family that is used in their projects. This means every piece of mechanical equipment, valve, air terminal, electrical device, lighting fixture, plumbing fixture, annotative tag, schedule, parameter and view reference.  These users have done this not because they want to work with Revit, but because they want Revit to work for them.  So how do you get Revit MEP work for you? One way is to seach for content directly from the manufacturer like Greenheck Fan, or by using Autodesk's Seek website.  But the other way is by creating your own families. The families you create can be as simple as a box, yet still provide information about a mechanical system and help with coordination of your BIM model.

This blog will feature some tips and tricks of creating quality content, some free content, some links to manufacturer Revit content, and all sorts of information related directly to BIM content.

Upgrading Your Custom Revit MEP Library from 2010 to 2011 Format

Because some architects might be early adopters to 2011, and some architects might wait until the first service pack is released before upgrading their projects to 2011, engineers will find themselves working with architects using different versions of Revit.  Because Revit is not backwards compatible, engineers will have to run multiple versions of Revit MEP to match each architect that they are working with.

The history of this issue is that everybody working on a Revit project must be using the same version of Revit.  Architecture, Structural and MEP must all be the same.  If one team is using an newer version, the other teams who are using an older format won't be able to read the newer format.  The new format has new tools, new objects, and new settings that older versions don't understand, and weren't written to automatically know what new objects would be coming out in the future.  Now if one team is using an older version, the other teams will be able to open an older version, and upgrade that project to the newest version, but the team using the older version won't be able to open the new format version of the other team members.

So now that we understand why we have to install multiple versions of Revit MEP on our workstations, we will also need to have multiple versions of Revit Libraries on our server.  The 2011 directory, obviously will have the newest contect, and that content can only be used for 2011 projects.  That content cannot be used for 2010 projects.  So any 2010 project must use content from a 2010 content directory.  Any custom 2010 content can be copied, and the copies can then be upgraded and added to the 2011 directory.


To Use the Content Batch Upgrade Utility:

1. Copy Upgrade_RFA.txt and Upgrade_RFA.bat into the root directory of the library that you want to upgrade.
2. Run the Upgrade_RFA.bat to create the file list to upgrade, famlist_rfa.txt.
3. To launch the utility, from the library directory, drag Upgrade_RFA.txt onto the Revit icon on your desktop.
4. After upgrading, delete all backup files from the library.

Make sure all of your .rfa files are not read-only and delete all backup files from the library. If a particular family fails to upgrade properly, the utility will stop.  If this occurs, open famlist_rfa.txt in Microsoft Notepad, and remove all previously upgraded families and the failed family from the list. Save famlist_rfa.txt, and re-run the utility.

Automatic Transfer Switches in Revit MEP

http://inside-the-system.typepad.com/my_weblog/2010/03/automatic-transfer-switches.html

Automatic Transfer Switches in Revit MEP

by Martin Schmid, P.E. - MEP Customer Success Engineer


How do I incorporate an automatic transfer switch (ATS) into my electrical distribution model? Revit doesn’t have a family category for transfer switch, nor does it have a transfer switch part type for the Electrical Equipment category. Nonetheless, you can modify the provided “Automatic Transfer Switch.rfa” family that ships with Revit MEP 2010 to allow you to connect an emergency panel to both a normal power branch and an emergency power branch.

Say, for example, you have emergency loads, such as certain receptacles, connected to a panel EP1. You want to connect EP1 to an ATS, and then connect the ATS to an emergency distribution panel EDP, and a normal distribution panel MDP. Follow the steps below to make the necessary changes to the ATS family.

1. Open the “Automatic Transfer Switch.rfa” family in family editor.
2. Add an additional electrical connector. What surface you place it on does not matter.
3. In the Instance Properties for the new connector, set the following properties (basically, copying the settings from the existing connector):
4. Number of Poles > map to Number of Poles
5. Load Classification: set to Other
6. System Type: set to Power – Unbalanced
7. Voltage > map to Switch Voltage
8. Apparent Load Phase 1 > map to Apparent Load Phase A
9. Apparent Load Phase 2 > map to Apparent Load Phase B
10. Apparent Load Phase 3 > map to Apparent Load Phase C
11. Load the family into your project, overwriting the existing family if applicable.

Make sure to check the voltage settings are consistent between the ATS and the panels you are connecting.

Now, you can connect EP1 to the ATS, and connect the ATS to both EDP and MDP. When you inspect the load information on EDP and MDP, you should see that the load information from EP1 feeds into both. The ATS doesn't actually 'switch' from normal to emergency in Revit, however, it should provide you with the connected load information you are looking for.

Loren Cook families for Autodesk Revit MEP

Autodesk Revit families are available for every model and configuration of Loren Cook product. Each 3D parametric family is a full-scale representation of the product and contains all sizes available for that model. Each family includes information on duct connection size, electrical connection location, mounting holes (where applicable) as well as user defined attributes for airflow, static pressure, RPM, horsepower, voltage, phase, etc.

The files designed by Loren Cook are for use in Autodesk Revit MEP 2009 or later. The files are free to download and are intended to be inserted using the standard Mechanical Equipment placement commands. Each family will need to be loaded into the user's project proir to use.

Click here to access their library of Revit files.

Download the Revit Model Style Guide V2.1

From Autodesk's Seek Manufacturers website, you can find the latest Revit Model Style Guide.

Autodesk has put out another revised version of the Model Style Guide. The purpose of this guide is to define Autodesk guidelines and standards for model content creation in Revit Architecture, Revit MEP, and Revit Structure. Model content refers to the two‐dimensional and three‐dimensional standard component families that are used to create elements that represent manufactured content (for example, windows, furnaces, heat pumps, and structural steel members).

By following the guidelines and standards in this guide, content creators will ensure the portability and performance of their content, and fulfill the necessary distribution requirements for the Autodesk Seek web service. The Autodesk Seek web service requires:

• the uniform display of products offered by a single manufacturer
• complete, consistent, and accurate presentation of product data across manufacturers
• the full use of Autodesk Seek search capabilities

Go with the leaders. Working with industry experts and standards organizations, Autodesk has developed the Revit Model Style Guide to help you develop consistent, useful Revit models that design professionals can use with confidence.

Revit Model Style Guide
(zip - 3910Kb)

AEC Exchange tool in Revit MEP

See Video Demo here

Interoperability and Data Exchange

The enhanced AEC Exchange tool in Autodesk Inventor 2010 simplifies the exchange of data for use in building design. AEC Exchange allows users to publish data files with simplified 3D representations and intelligent connection points for use in building models created using Autodesk Revit MEP, Autodesk Revit Architecture, Autodesk AutoCAD MEP, and Autodesk AutoCAD Architecture software.

http://download.autodesk.com/us/inventor/videos/2010/5-inventor_aec_exchange/inventor_2010_aec_exchange_1300x860.html

McQuay Adds More Revit Family Files

McQuay Adds Revit® Family Files for Variable-Geometry Air Handling Units in Support of Building Information Modeling Vision™ indoor and Skyline™ outdoor air handler family files can be easily customized to simplify design and specification.

Minneapolis, MN (Vocus/PRWEB ) September 9, 2009 -- McQuay International has expanded its library of Revit® family files for building information modeling (BIM) to include variable-geometry products such as Vision™ indoor and Skyline™ outdoor air handling units. The files are in Autodesk® Revit® MEP 2009 format and are available free from a McQuay sales representative.

"Air handlers are the most requested and yet among the most difficult products to model because of the tremendous variability in their geometry and connector locations," said Don Winter, vice president of marketing, McQuay. "Creating a standalone model for each variation would require engineers, architects and contractors using Revit MEP to wade through thousands of files to identify a model representing the correct size and connector locations for their project. McQuay's solution saves time by allowing users to start with a few base files and easily customize them to arrive at a fully functional model, with defined clearances, for each air handler in their project."

Because the air handler family files require customization, McQuay has developed an instructional video, available free from a McQuay sales representative, to help users fully benefit from their functionality. All other McQuay Revit family files can be downloaded from the McQuay website.

McQuay Vision indoor and Skyline outdoor air handler units are designed on a custom-modular platform and with McQuay's Variable Dimensioning™ feature, along with multiple configurations and component options. This flexibility allows engineers to design the exact air handling system to meet requirements for operating efficiency, indoor air quality, quiet operation and low installed and operating costs.

McQuay offers Revit MEP Families

McQuay has been creating a library of Building Information Modeling (BIM) object models and content for our HVAC products in support of our architect, MEP and contractor customers using Revit® technology.

http://www.mcquay.com/McQuay/BIM/Revit-BIMFiles

McQuay Revit® object models are available for download from the Downloads tab, and are also available on the Autodesk® Seek website. Autodesk® Seek is among the leading providers of CAD content, with advanced search capabilities that help you pinpoint the right object models for your design project.

McQuay will continuously be adding and updating content on this web site, so please check back often for the latest models of McQuay and Daikin products.

While they’re always creating more content, not all McQuay products are available in Revit format yet. Please check back often, or subscribe to get e-mail updates.

Vision™ and Skyline™ Customized Air Handlers

Air Cooled Chiller Unit

AWS-DH Pathfinder High Efficiency Air Cooled Screw Chillers - (4,445K) (Pub: 2009/06/01)

Models:AWS

Zipped Revit 2009 content for 300 - 405 ton AWS-DH Pathfinder™ R-134A high efficiency air cooled screw chillers. Includes instructions, shared parameters file and sample schedule.

AWS-DS Pathfinder Standard Efficiency Air Cooled Screw Chillers - (2,491K) (Pub: 2009/06/01)

Models:AWS

Zipped Revit 2009 content for 280 - 350 ton AWS-DS Pathfinder™ R-134A standard efficiency air cooled screw chillers. Includes instructions, shared parameters file and sample schedule.

AGZ-C Air Cooled Scroll Chillers - (12,504K) (Pub: 2009/04/16)

Models:AGZ

Zipped Revit 2009 content for 30 - 190 ton AGZ-C R-410A dual-circuit air cooled scroll chillers and optional remote evaporators, with and without pump packages. Includes instructions, shared parameters file and sample schedule.

AGZ-B Air Cooled Scroll Chillers - (4,122K) (Pub: 2009/04/30)

Models:AGZ

Zipped Revit 2009 content for 10 - 34 ton AGZ-B R-22 single-circuit air cooled scroll chillers and optional remote evaporators. Includes instructions, shared parameters file and sample schedule.

AGS-DE High Efficiency Air Cooled Screw Chillers - (6,554K) (Pub: 2009/03/17)

Models:AGS

Zipped Revit 2009 content for 140 - 450 ton AGS-DE R-134A high efficiency air cooled screw chillers. Includes instructions, shared parameters file and sample schedule.

AGS-DP Premium Efficiency Air Cooled Screw Chillers - (5,712K) (Pub: 2009/03/17)
Models:AGS
Zipped Revit 2009 content for 226 - 501 ton AGS-DP R-134A premium efficiency air cooled screw chillers. Includes instructions, shared parameters file and sample schedule.

AGS-DS Standard Efficiency Air Cooled Screw Chillers - (7,348K) (Pub: 2009/03/17)
Models:AGS
Zipped Revit 2009 content for 140 - 450 ton AGS-DS R-134A standard efficiency air cooled screw chillers. Includes instructions, shared parameters file and sample schedule.

PTAC Units

Applied PTAC 16x42 Revit 2009 Models - (3,594K) (Pub: 2009/03/31)
Models:PDAA,PDAF,PDAN,PDHA,PDHF
Zipped Revit 2009 content for 16x42 Applied PTAC units (excluding replacement units). Includes models for PTAC and Heat Pump as well as PTAC with Top-mounted Hydronic Heat. Includes instructions, shared parameters file and sample schedule.

Rooftop Systems

Commercial Packaged Rooftop (Maverick I, R-410A, 3-25 Ton) Revit 2009 Models - (9,235K) (Pub: 2009/04/30)

Models:MPS

Zipped Revit 2009 content for Commercial Packaged Rooftop Maverick I units rated 3-25 tons using R-410A refrigerant. Includes instructions, shared parameters file and sample schedule.

Commercial Packaged Rooftop (Maverick II, R-410A, 30-50 Ton) Revit 2009 Models - (3,018K) (Pub: 2009/03/17)

Models:MPS

Zipped Revit 2009 content for Commercial Packaged Rooftop Maverick II units. Includes instructions, shared parameters file and sample schedules.

Commercial Packaged Rooftop (Maverick I, R-22, 3-6 Ton) Revit 2009 Models - (6,539K) (Pub: 2009/03/17)

Models:MPS

Zipped Revit 2009 content for Commercial Packaged Rooftop Maverick I units rated 3-6 tons using R-22 refrigerant. Includes instructions, shared parameters file and sample schedule.

Commercial Packaged Rooftop (Maverick I, R-22, 7.5-12.5 Ton) Revit 2009 Models - (5,502K) (Pub: 2009/03/17)

Models:MPS

Zipped Revit 2009 content for Commercial Packaged Rooftop Maverick I units rated 7.5-12.5 tons using R-22 refrigerant. Includes instructions, shared parameters file and sample schedule.

Commercial Packaged Rooftop (Maverick I, R-22, 15-20 Ton) Revit 2009 Models - (5,559K) (Pub: 2009/03/17)

Models:MPS

Zipped Revit 2009 content for Commercial Packaged Rooftop Maverick I units rated 15-20 tons using R-22 refrigerant. Includes instructions, shared parameters file and sample schedule.

VRV-Daikin

Daikin VRV III Air Cooled Condensing Units - (6,767K) (Pub: 2009/07/17)

Models:VRVIII

Zipped Revit 2009 content for 6 - 20 ton Daikin VRV III Air Cooled Condensing units. Includes instructions, shared parameters file and sample schedule.

Daikin VRV III Indoor Units (Fan-Coils) - (6,827K) (Pub: 2009/07/17)
Models:VRVIII
Zipped Revit 2009 content for 0.6 - 4 ton Daikin VRV III Indoor Units (Fan-Coils). Includes instructions, shared parameters file and sample schedule.

Daikin VRV III piping accessories (Branch Selectors, Manifolds and Headers) - (2,970K) (Pub: 2009/07/17)

Models:VRVIII

Zipped Revit 2009 content for Daikin VRV III piping accessories (Branch Selectors, Manifolds and Headers). Includes instructions, shared parameters file and sample schedule.

Water Cooled Chiller

145 Ton WMC-D Frictionless Water Cooled Chillers - (3,522K) (Pub: 2009/07/17)

Models:WMC

Zipped Revit 2009 content for 145 ton WMC-D dual frictionless magnetic bearing compressor water cooled chillers. Includes instructions, shared parameters file and sample schedule.

145 Ton WMC-S Frictionless Water Cooled Chillers - (5,523K) (Pub: 2009/07/17)
Models:WMC
Zipped Revit 2009 content for 145 ton WMC-S single frictionless magnetic bearing compressor water cooled chillers. Includes instructions, shared parameters file and sample schedule.

150 Ton WMC-D Frictionless Water Cooled Chillers - (11,570K) (Pub: 2009/07/17)
Models:WMC
Zipped Revit 2009 content for 150 ton WMC-D dual frictionless magnetic bearing compressor water cooled chillers. Includes instructions, shared parameters file and sample schedule.

250 Ton WMC-D Frictionless Water Cooled Chillers - (11,615K) (Pub: 2009/07/17)
Models:WMC
Zipped Revit 2009 content for 250 ton WMC-D dual frictionless magnetic bearing compressor water cooled chillers. Includes instructions, shared parameters file and sample schedule.

290 Ton WMC-D Frictionless Water Cooled Chillers - (10,573K) (Pub: 2009/07/17)
Models:WMC
Zipped Revit 2009 content for 290 ton WMC-D dual frictionless magnetic bearing compressor water cooled chillers. Includes instructions, shared parameters file and sample schedule.

400 Ton WMC-D Frictionless Water Cooled Chillers - (2,521K) (Pub: 2009/07/17)
Models:WMC
Zipped Revit 2009 content for 400 ton WMC-D dual frictionless magnetic bearing compressor water cooled chillers. Includes instructions, shared parameters file and sample schedule.

Water Source Heat Pump

Console WSHP (Enfinity) Revit 2009 Models - (1,454K) (Pub: 2009/03/23)
Models:MHC,MHW
Zipped Revit 2009 content for 1/2 to 1-1/2 ton R-410A Console Enfinity Water Source Heat Pumps. Includes instructions, shared parameters file and sample schedule.

Horizontal WSHP (Enfinity) Revit 2009 Models - (2,793K) (Pub: 2009/03/23)
Models:CCH,CCW
Zipped Revit 2009 content for 1/2 to 6 ton R-410A Horizontal Enfinity Water Source Heat Pumps. Includes instructions, shared parameters file and sample schedule.

Large Horizontal WSHP (R-22) Revit 2009 Models - (1,554K) (Pub: 2009/03/23)
Models:CMG,CMS
Zipped Revit 2009 content for 6 to 10 ton R-22 Horizontal Water Source Heat Pumps. Includes instructions, shared parameters file and sample schedule.

Large Vertcial WSHP (R-22) Revit 2009 Models - (2,371K) (Pub: 2009/03/23)
Models:LMG,LMS
Zipped Revit 2009 content for 6 to 25 ton R-22 Vertical Water Source Heat Pumps. Includes instructions, shared parameters file and sample schedule.

Vertical WSHP (Enfinity) Revit 2009 Models - (2,108K) (Pub: 2009/03/23)
Models:VFC,VFW
Zipped Revit 2009 content for 1-1/2 to 6 ton R-410A Vertical Enfinity Water Source Heat Pumps. Includes instructions, shared parameters file and sample schedule.

Greenheck Fan offers Revit MEP Families

Last year, I had the pleasure of working with Jason Spleha of Greenheck Fan and working with them to get some of their equipment created in Revit. They've done a wonderful job in creating the content. Jason came with knowledge of using Inventor software, so creating parametric families was nothing new for him.

Greenheck is pleased to offer downloadable CAD drawings and Revit families for BIM (Building Information Modeling). The AutoCAD drawings are in a .dwg format and are accessible in AutoCad 2002 or newer. The Revit families are in a .rfa format and include a .txt file. They are accessible from Revit 2009 Architect, Structure or MEP programs.

Drawings will be added as available, so keep checking back for the latest CAD and Revit drawings.

http://www.greenheck.com/drawings/

Scaled Drawings

• Roof Mounted Fans
• Gravity Ventilators
• Inline and Ceiling Fans
• Sidewall Fans
• Utility, Centrifugal and Radial Blowers
• Energy Recovery Ventilators
• Laboratory Exhaust
• Fan Coils
• Louvers
• Make-Up Air
• Dampers

Installation Drawings

• Kitchen Hoods

Jason Spleha
System Specialist (BIM)
Building Information Modeling
Greenheck Fan Corporation
Phone: 715.355.3962
bim@greenheck.com

Visa Lighting 3D Models Available in Sketch Up

http://www.prweb.com/releases/2008/06/prweb1015834.htm

Visa Lighting is pleased to announce the expansion of BIM content with the release of the Solution Visa catalog product line in Google Sketch Up. Sketch Up is a 3D software tool that combines a tool-set with an intelligent drawing system. Designed to be an intuitive, flexible, and easy to use 3D modeling program, Google Sketch Up is an excellent tool to introduce designers into the world of 3D modeling. The availability of Visa Lighting files direct from the manufacturer provide free and complete access to the Visa Lighting catalog product information and give users the ability to incorporate specifiable lighting into Sketch Up 3D renderings. Available on disk and the Visa Lighting website as .skp files, the product line can also be found in the Google 3D Warehouse.

In addition to Sketch Up, Visa Lighting is already established in Autodesk Revit and Microstation Bentley formats. Revit families are available on disk, the Visa Lighting website, at bimworld.com and in Autodesk SEEK. SEEK is an online file source for building product information, including 3D models, 2D drawings, visual images, and product specification data. Bentley files are currently available on the BIM World website. BIM World is a free service for designers and architects seeking manufacturers' content.

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BIM is the direction of the industry, integration of software requires continuous improvement to ensure the best quality of information to BIM users.

Providing BIM files in several different formats, Visa Lighting supplies free product content across a range of BIM software platforms. As seen in Architectural Lighting's 2008 Product Guide, Visa Lighting is a recognized pioneer in the development of manufacturer content files. Jimalee Dakin, Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Visa Lighting, explains, "BIM is the direction of the industry, integration of software requires continuous improvement to ensure the best quality of information to BIM users."

Tip When Creating Revit MEP Content

There are various family's that come out of the box with Revit MEP, and they work well when placed directly in an architectural model. But most consultants will link an architectural project into their MEP project, and element hosted families don't insert well into linked files.

For example, you cannot place a ceiling-hosted family on a linked ceiling or a wall-hosted family in a wall. The ceiling or wall needs to actually exist in the "host" model for you to be able to host a Light Fixture on it. This is how element hosting works in Revit.

The solution here is to use a Face-hosted Light Fixture family. Revit can detect the face of a ceiling through a link and therefore the Lighting Fixture can be hosted on that face.

Second, element-hosted families will be deleted if the linked element host is deleted. This is not true for Face-Hosted families. Face-Hosted families will be unhosted if their host face is deleted. which makes them sit in 3D space where they were originally. You can then re-host them to another face if you'd like.

So if you are creating your own MEP families, use a Face-hosted template so that your content can be placed in a linked file.

Following are the basic kinds of family templates:

• Wall-based
• Ceiling-based
• Floor-based
• Roof-based
• Standalone
• Line-based
• Face-based

Wall-based, ceiling-based, floor-based, and roof-based templates are known as host-based templates. A host-based family can only be placed in a project if an element of its host type is present.

The wall-based template is for components inserted into walls. Wall components can include openings, such that when you place the component on a wall, it also cuts an opening in the wall. Some examples of wall-based components include doors, windows, and lighting fixtures. Each template includes a wall; the wall is necessary for showing how the component fits in a wall.

The ceiling-based template is for components inserted into ceilings. Ceiling components can include openings, so that when you place the component on a ceiling, it also cuts an opening in the ceiling. Examples of ceiling-based families include sprinklers and recessed lighting fixtures.

The floor-based template is for components inserted into floors. Floor components can include openings, so that when you place the component on a floor, it also cuts an opening in the floor. An example of a floor-based family is a heating register.

The roof-based template is for components inserted into roofs. Roof components can include openings, so that when you place the component on a roof, it also cuts an opening in the roof. Examples of roof-based families include soffits and fans.

The standalone template is for components that are not host-dependent. A standalone component can appear anywhere in a model and can be dimensioned to other standalone or host-based components. Examples of standalone families include columns, furniture, and appliances.

The line-based template is for creating detail and model families that use 2-pick placement similar to structural beams. For information about detail families with 2-pick placement.

The face-based template is for creating work plane-based families that can modify their hosts. Families created from the template can make complex cuts in hosts. Instances of these families can be placed on any surface, regardless of its orientation.