I was asked last week if there is a quicker method of adding openings to beams for service voids.

I have been asked this question a few times in the past and thought I might have a look at possible methods to speed up this process.

I came up with the idea of using a beam as a void opening. The advantage of this method is that you can cut

through many beams and very quickly align this to duct runs and change levels etc. I used a CHS section and

moved the swept solid onto a sub category called void openings. This allows me to switch this off in the view

templates. Once this is completed then you can draw a beam in the normal way and then use the notching

tool to create the voids. You can set the notching distance to the clearance you require and if the beam moves

it will automatically update the notches. Another good use is to reference the MEP model into Revit Structure and

then simply align the beams to the ducts, pipes etc.

If the model is going out for analysis then you just need to make sure that the beams used as void formers are set ‘Not for Analysis’.

It’s not a perfect solution but at least speeds up the process!

LawrenceH

Just a small but simple change to Revit 2011 is the behaviour and display of temporary dimensions.

In previous versions of Revit if you repositioned the temporary dimensions but did not make the dimension

permanent then Revit reset the dimension to its previous position, very annoying!

This has now been addressed and furthermore you can now change the text size

of the temporary dimensions in the Options dialog.

Simple but effective!

Lawrenceh