10 Reasons to Use Revit MEP for MEP Coordination

Autodesk Revit MEP is an important component used for design by the AEC industry. Globally, AEC firms are increasingly using Revit MEP to produce 3D M&E (MEP) coordinated drawings, and Revit MEP tools to update their BIM models with MEP information, and thus, enhance their architectural and engineering design development and construction documentation process. Businesses using Revit MEP are starting to realise the potential of this technology to deliver more value to the AEC industry and also manage their own budgets and profitability at the same time. Before we look at the reasons to use Revit MEP for MEP coordination, let’s briefly cover the subject of Autodesk Revit MEP for MEP coordination.

Autodesk Revit MEP for MEP Coordination

Autodesk Revit MEP, a building information modelling (BIM) software is a leading Autodesk product that is used by users engaging in MEP engineering projects. MEP is an acronym for Mechanical, Electrical and Plumbing which forms the three engineering disciplines addressed by Revit MEP. Using BIM software rather than CAD (computer aided drafting), Revit MEP consists of dynamic information in the form of intelligent models, letting complex building systems to be precisely designed and documented in a shorter amount of time. Within Revit MEP there are a series of intelligent models that combine to form a complete project, all stored in a single database file. With this, the changes made in one part of the model can then be automatically propagated to other parts of the model, thus reducing the timeframe to alter designs during the design process. As far as MEP coordination is concerned, it involves coordination of all building services (HVAC, pipework, public health and electrical systems) with other disciplines making up the structure of the building, fabric and external envelope, i.e. steel, concrete, false ceilings, etc.

Having refreshed our memories with Autodesk Revit MEP, let us focus on the reasons why it is useful for MEP coordination. There are of course many reasons, however a few are listed below that will hopefully demonstrate the value of this tool for coordination.

10 Reasons to Use Revit MEP for MEP Coordination

The top 10 reasons to use Revit MEP during MEP design and coordination are summarised below:

• Revit MEP produces high end building information models that represent realistic, real time design scenarios, helping users to make more informed design decisions earlier in the process. The team working on the project can better meet goals and sustainability initiatives, execute energy analysis, examine system loads, and produce heating and cooling load reports with native integrated analysis tools
• Revit MEP software’s modelling and layout tools let engineers create mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems more easily and precisely. Also, the software’s parametric change technology means that any change to the MEP model is automatically coordinated throughout the model
• The complexities of today’s buildings require leading edge system’s and engineering tools to optimize performance in both use and efficiency. As complexities increase in the projects, communicating design changes among MEP engineers and their extended teams is critical. Revit MEP’s purpose built systems analysis and optimization tools lets team members receive feedback about their MEP designs in real time, resulting in better performing designs in the process
• Using Revit MEP, the MEP engineers can more effectively collaborate and interact based on workflow and project requirements through use of a range of compatible collaboration tools such as BIM360. The software also helps to minimize design coordination errors among the extended project team, and helps to reduce design conflicts with real time clash and interference detection.
• In Revit MEP, all model information is stored in a single, coordinated database. Revisions and modifications to information are automatically updated throughout the model, helping to significantly reduce errors and omissions. Autodesk refers to this database driven simultaneous update to file output as multi-directional associatively which explains that a change in one area manifests in all other parts of the file.
• Parametric components, also called families, are the basis for all building components designed in Revit MEP. These components provide an open graphical system for design thinking and form making and offer the opportunity to adjust and express design intent at increasingly detailed levels.
• Revit MEP software is a much more streamlined and intuitive user interface that is easier to learn and adopt. Users can thus find favourite tools and commands faster, identify tools more efficiently, and discover relevant new features easily.
• Revit MEP works holistically, treating information in terms of entire building, linking mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems with the building model - thus increasing collaborative working and a team based approach to projects.
• Revit MEP updates model views and sheets, thus helping to maintain document and project consistency. With its help MEP engineers can for example, create HVAC systems with mechanical functionality and offer 3D modelling for ductwork and piping.
• Revit MEP has built in calculators that allows MEP engineers to execute sizing and pressure loss calculations as per the industry standard methods and specifications

At XS CAD, we have developed the required expertise and extensive knowledge of providing Revit 3D BIM Modelling and MEP coordination drawings services to MEP engineers, MEP consultants and MEP trade contractors in the US, UK, Canada, Australia and India. To learn more about our Revit MEP Services, drop us an email or call us for more information.

Detailed Retail Construction Drawings Play a Key Role in Design-Bid-Build Projects

The design-build model of project delivery is one of the most used approaches, particularly for large-scale, high-end architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) projects. These include infrastructure projects, such as healthcare and medical research facilities, airport terminals, bridges, educational institutes, and large custom homes. Nevertheless, very few residential and retail construction/redevelopment projects, primarily with tight budgets, use the design-build delivery method. Department stores, supermarkets, warehouse stores, and shopping centres / malls which are not linked to multinational retail owners and have a limited geographical reach fall into this category.

In case of such projects, a design/architectural firm is contracted to come up with the designs, plans, drawings, and detailed specifications which clearly convey the architect's / designer's intent. After initial meetings between the owner and architect/designer, all retail construction drawings are finalised. Depending on the scope of the project, this set includes floor plans, internal& external elevations, construction plans, setting out drawings, composite plans, finishing plans, lighting plans, ceiling plans and sections.

Once all the plans and CAD drawings are in place, the project undergoes a competitive bidding process used to shortlist a general contractor (main contractor) to implement the construction work mapped out in the detailed retail construction documents. Since this design-bid-build method of project delivery involves roping in distinct teams for design/planning and construction, detailed and accurate retail construction drawing sets play a key role in ensuring that the change orders on-site are avoided. Owing to a significant reduction of change orders during construction, the time, effort, and resources that would have been wasted on rework or modification are saved.

Whilst the retail construction drawing sets are important to seek site permits and regional building licenses, the level of detail/development necessitated by the permit documents are far less than what ideally need to be passed on to the general contractors (main contractors). Moreover, in the design-bid-build method, the amount of information incorporated in the construction drawing sets determine, to a large extent, the number of change orders. Since the construction documents are made especially to seek permits from the local authorities feature less detail, the competitive bids from all the participating general contractors (main contractors) will be lower; however, the lower bids will not truly reflect the nature of project's requirements.

As a result, detailed, clear, and unambiguous retail design drawings significantly lessen the chances of unanticipated change orders on site. When the chances of change orders reduce, the project becomes more profitable and completes on time, which is precisely what all the key parties involved in the project strive for. In order to achieve this, designers/architects involved in such design-bid-build projects perform constructability review of design at regular phases during the pricing phases.

In some cases, designers/architects rope in offshore CAD services providers to prepare detailed production drawing sets for them. Experienced companies providing retail design and documentation services take basic conceptual and schematic designs or sketches from the architects and deliver detailed construction drawing sets as per requirements. This enables architects to efficiently focus on seeking client's and local council's approvals over schematic designs, manage the project effectively, and administer construction-related issues.

All things considered, detailed retail construction drawing sets and specifications not only benefit designers, architects, and contractors but also reduces construction change-orders, which effectively leads to on-time and within-budget project delivery for relatively small-scale retail construction projects using design-bid-build delivery method.