For MEP, Revit 2017

Fabrication detailing: Convert generic, design-intent Revit parts to LOD 400 fabrication parts.

Create fabrication-ready models inside Revit using content from Autodesk Fabrication CADmep, Fabrication
ESTmep, and Fabrication CAMduct for a more coordinated model, for MEP contractors and detailers. Fabrication
components provide detailed connection definitions, more granular control on fitting definitions, and standardized
segment lengths, leading to more accurate lengths, quantities, and coordination. Gain greater certainty that the
model accurately reflects the intended fabrication and installation. Model and coordinate MEP LOD 400
components within the Revit environment.

Route and Fill: Simplifies the process for completing a fabrication model by stepping through possible routing
solutions. Preview which fittings will be inserted in each option and specify required fittings and force only
solutions that incorporate those fittings.
Quick Connect: simplify the process for filling a gap between a fitting and a straight.
Trim/extend: fill a gap between two straights
Swap fabrication parts: Use the Type Selector to quickly swap fabrication parts.
Fabrication parts optimization: use in-canvas controls to reposition short straight segments and to extend fitting
extensions. Review warnings to find fittings that are longer than specification-defined lengths.
Hanger bearer position: To avoid clashes in the model, use the hanger controls to modify the length and
position of the hanger bearer and its corresponding rod location.
Hanger placement: Place a fabrication hanger on the straight portion of a fitting extension. Hangers can be
placed on other hangers to model trapeze conditions or in free space.
Tag fabrication parts: To support workflows for construction documentation for fabrication, use additional
fabrication parameters for tagging fabrication parts.
Fabrication parameters: To improve tagging, scheduling, and filtering capabilities for MEP fabrication modelling,
several parameters are now available for fabrication parts.
Fabrication family categories: To improve annotation, scheduling, and filtering capabilities for MEP fabrication
modelling, family categories have been added for MEP Fabrication Containment, MEP Fabrication Ductwork,
MEP Fabrication Hangers, and MEP Fabrication Pipework.
Hidden lines for fabrication parts: fabrication parts now display hidden lines.
Insulation and lining: Fabrication parts display separate sub-components for insulation and lining for duct and
pipe elements, allowing more control of display properties.
Rise drop symbols: Rise drop symbols for a fabrication run in Revit are defined in the Autodesk Fabrication
products, and are mapped to the rise drop symbols used for duct, piping, and electrical containment systems in
Revit.
Tooltips for fabrication parameters in the Properties palette: Tooltips provide descriptions for fabrication
parameters in the Properties palette.
Fabrication settings: specify a fabrication profile.
MEP Fabrication Content for Revit: This fabrication configuration is now available as part of the Revit
installation.

MEP User Interface and Workflow Enhancements

New annotation families: annotation families are now available for tagging ductwork and pipework. Tags for
offset, elevation, spot elevation, invert elevation (pipework only), set up, and set down to tag generic and
fabrication elements. Use the Mechanical Settings dialog to customize the labels for the tags.
Electrical settings: Specify the load calculation method for how Revit sums electrical loads.
Temperature Difference family parameter type: The Temperature Difference parameter is now available for
HVAC, Electrical, and Piping families.
Calculate pressure drop for taps: associate an ASHRAE table for duct tap fittings.

MEP Performance Improvements

Duplicate marks: To improve performance, the Mark parameter is not populated when placing elements for the
multiple MEP categories.
Volume calculations: To improve performance, Revit performs pipe system volume calculations as a
background process.
Faster display of ducts: Revit regenerates only walls visible on the screen and displays small views as simplified
lines
*Energy Analysis: Advanced thermal zoning. Improved accuracy and appearance of analytical surfaces
resulting in better and smaller XML file.
*Electrical settings: specify a default rating to use for creating circuits in a model.
*Distribution system assigned automatically If there is only one distribution system applicable to an equipment
instance.

For MEP, Revit 2017.1

• Resize connected parts: Resize runs of connected fabrication parts using the Properties palette or the Edit
Parts dialog. See Resize Connected Fabrication Parts.
• Exclude parts from auto fill tools: When using certain automatic fill tools, you can specify fabrication parts
to be excluded. For more information, see Exclude Parts from Auto Fill Tools.
• Change service: Easily change the service on MEP fabrication parts in a model using the Properties palette.
See Change the Service for a Fabrication Part in Revit.
• Change the diameter of hanger support rod: Change the size (diameter) of a hanger support rod while
maintaining accurate costing data. See Change Hanger Support Rod Diameter.
• Add or modify damper: Add or remove a damper or change the damper type on fabrication parts that
support built-in dampers. See Add or Modify a Damper.
• Split fabrication part: Use the Split Element tool and Split with Gap tool on any fabrication straight.
See About Splitting Elements.
• Route and Fill tool: The Route and Fill tool now supports adding mechanical tees and pipe traps. See Fill
Gaps in a Revit Fabrication Model.

MEP Engineering

• Space naming: Formerly an add-in, the Space Naming tool is now incorporated into the software. Use this
tool to rename spaces in the MEP model using space names from a linked architectural model. See Assign
Space Names from the Architectural Model to the MEP Model.
For MEP, Revit 2018
Fabrication modeling improvements in Revit 2018 help you to more efficiently model fabrication-ready elements
using routing capabilities, and now supports detailed modeling of sloped piping elements.

Model MEP fabrication elements with multi-point routing

Key new or enhanced features include:

• Mechanical design improvements help you capture early stage energy requirements more effectively
with outdoor air settings for user-definable space and building types.

Define space types and include outdoor air inputs in energy analysis
 • Hydronic system capabilities include new analytical connections to facilitate easier design iteration.
Improvements for mechanical engineers include closed-loop hydronic piping analysis — connecting flow
and pressure-drop data to pumps– and utilizes a new analysis engine that computes in background
processes, improving model editing performance.

flow and pressure drop data connected to pump, and computation processes in the background

• Electrical design improvements include new capabilities to edit circuit pathways to better capture more
accurate voltage drop and analytical design data.

Manipulate and define the intended circuit pathway for downstream analysis
For MEP, Revit 2018.1

..includes several fabrication modeling improvements that continue the story of functionality that was

released with Revit 2018.

• Sloped pipe in multipoint routing: With this feature you can more easily route sloped piping by
specifying the slope as you are routing the pipe. For example, specify a slope like a ½” = 1’-0” as you are
routing the pipe. When you branch off the main run you can continue the same slope or change the
slope to 1/8” = 1’-0” so that the branch has a different slope than the main run and all fittings are at the
correct slope. Any taps into the pipe will automatically pick up the slope of the connected pipe.

YOUTUBE VIDEO >> https://youtu.be/raL1ZL8Z1Rs

• Dynamic holes: When you place a tap on a duct, the hole in that tap will be sent from the Revit detail
model to Fabrication CAMduct for manufacturing. The shape of the hole doesn’t matter. You can tap into
a duct with a Square-to-Round and the pattern will be sent to Fabrication CAMduct. You can view the
hole location in a flat pattern on sheet metal in development and all the holes will be in the correct
location when you fabricate the part.

YOUTUBE VIDEO >> https://youtu.be/Dc5BrfevETQ

• API for Center line length on fabrication parts: The API now allows you to interrogate the centerline
length of fabrication parts to facilitate automation and point load calculations. By user request we have
exposed the centerline length parameter that we have on the fabrication side in the API for Revit. It
enables you to access the centerline length on fittings like elbows, tees and crosses. The centerline
length parameter is useful information that can be used in several ways to benefit MEP contractors.

• API for creating a MAJ file The API gives you the ability to improve manufacturing workflows by
customizing your MAJ export to suit your company standards and how you want the data to come back
into Fabrication CAMduct. You can create a MAJ file which is used for advanced spooling tool which lets
you modify how you export your jobs whether by section or by certain details you have in a fabrication
part. This facilitates the spooling process when going back into Fabrication CAMduct or Fabrication
CADmep.

• Fabrication Reports and Worksheets. Revit now lets you use and modify new and existing Fabrication
CADmep reports in Revit for fabrication parts. You can setup Item, Ancillary, or Linear Nest reports, as
well as Worksheets. You can customize the reports per your company standards, as with other Revit
reports. It pulls the parameter data automatically from fabrication parts you have selected and produces
a printable report.

YOUTUBE VIDEO >> https://youtu.be/x8-0OMbr0ls

For MEP, Revit 2018.2

For duct and pipe detailing, we have a few gems as well

1. Change service and change size You can now more easily iterate detailed pipe and duct layouts
made up of MEP Fabrication Pipework and MEP Fabrication Ductwork. Revit provides the ability to
change, for example, welded piping layouts to grooved layouts. The functionality also allows you to
modify a selection of elements from one size to another.

Fabrication change service

2. Visibility / Graphics Overrides on MEP Fabrication Elements MEP Fabrication elements can now be
color coded by applying a solid surface pattern in view settings.

Fabrication solid fill

For mechanical design, here are some improvements to streamline deployment and production

1. P&ID Modeler released as an add-in shortly after Revit 2018.1 was released is now incorporated into
2018.2. This streamlines the process of creating a model based on P&IDs. Coming to Autodesk University in
Las Vegas November 14-16? Check out this related class.

2. Direction Arrows on Duct and Pipe Connectors When using connect-into and analytical connections, the
connectors on MEP elements now indicate their flow direction, making it easier to identify the desired
connection to connect to.