I successfully loaded a couple Bradley Revit family files into my Revit project.

Revit Project: Bradley OmniDeck 4010 3-Bowl Sink/Lavatory

However, when I opened the Bradley Revit Family File (RFA); I saw more items than what appear in my Revit project file (RVT).

Why does the Revit family file look so different?

Bradley OmniDeck 4010 3-Bowl Sink/Lavatory Revit Family

Let’s use the Bradley OmniDeck 4010 3-Bowl Round Sink Family to explain.

All of the options for the OmniDeck Revit family are modeled in this family. So every solid , void, and nested family will be displayed for every level of detail.

• 1 faucet (nested family)
• 2 soap dispensers (nested family)
• right, left & front aprons (solid)
• right, left & back splashes (solid)
• trap covers (nested family)
• 2 round countertop openings for waste (void)
• 2 square countertop openings for waste (void)
• MEP connections for water source & waste

Each item is assigned an ON/OFF visibility parameter; that determines the IF and WHEN it should be displayed in the project.

• In the Revit Family Editor, these visibility parameters can be reviewed under “Family Types“.

• In the Revit Project Editor, these visibility parameters will appear when you select the  family; in the PROPERTIES palette or dialogue box.

Coarse-Medium-Fine Detail Display

This display parameter is also assigned to each component in the Revit Family.

It determines the IF and WHEN the component is displayed in the view, based on the Coarse, Medium or Fine Setting in the project.

• Coarse = Display Lowest Level of Detail
• Medium = Display Medium Level of Detail
• Fine = Display Highest Level of Detail

Testing the Family Display Settings in a TEST Project

We encourage Bradley clients to open and review the Bradley Revit family files; PRIOR to loading them into their projects.

I also recommend, testing Revit family display settings in a test Revit project, PRIOR to loading it into your live Revit project.

3 Steps for conducting your test:

1. From a PLAN View, insert/place the lavatory on a wall in your project.

2. Next, flip to a 3D View, and adjust the Detail Level from Coarse, Medium or Fine.

3. As you change the Detail setting, the Lavatory will begin to display additional detail and voids.

When the family is viewed in the project; the family “pieces” will be confined to display for ONLY their assigned Detail Level.

Related Article(s)

• Bradley Revit Family Components Feature Coarse-Medium-Fine Detail Levels
• Bradley BIM Team Targets Biggest Revit Family Quality Concerns

Visit the Bradley Revit-BIM FAQ Page for additional Revit technical support for Bradley Revit-BIM Family Components.

When you open a Bradley Revit family, like the Bradley Verge Lavatory System, you will see more than a dozen green dashed lines. These are Revit Reference Planes.

Bradley Corporation | Verge Lavatory Sink Revit Family | Front View

Revit Reference Planes are used extensively in the Bradley Revit Family Library.

Bradley uses Revit Reference Planes to set these key dimension locations within the Bradley Verge Lavatory Revit family.

• Top of Surfaces (Installation Height)
• Ends faces of lavatories
• Faucets
• Soap dispensers
• Electrical connections
• Water connections
• Drain connections

Once the Verge Revit family is loaded into a Revit project, users can dimension to these (invisible) reference planes embedded in the family.

Reference Planes are 3D planes, so users will dimension to the same (invisible) plane in both PLAN & ELEVATION views to clarify dimensional locations & clearances.

Reference planes play an important role in a Revit project for setting dimensions to key positions on a Revit family.

Revit Project Elevation: Dimensioning MEP Connection Locations

Reference Planes were used to set MEP connections in the family so they could be dimensioned in the Revit Project.

Related Article:

• Why Revit Family File Content Looks Different in a Revit Project File

This briefly describes the Revit tagging and Revit scheduling test process that is applied to the Bradley Revit Library.

Bradley Revit Family Library Components are loaded into Revit test projects.

• Next, Revit families are inserted into Revit test floor plans views,

Revit Specialty Equipment Tags | Plan View | Bradley Diplomat Accessories

• We apply a single category tag to each family and also test using the “Tag All Not Tagged” Revit command.

• Tags are applied to both PLAN View and ELEVATION Views of Bradley families.

Revit Specialty Equipment Tags | Elevations | Bradley Diplomat Accessories

• A schedule(s) is created using a Revit Plumbing Fixture or Specialty Equipment Schedule Template.

Revit Specialty Equipment Schedule | Bradley Diplomat Accessories

Images above captured from the Bradley Diplomat Revit Family Test Project.

Visit Bradley Diplomat Toilet Accessories Product Page

Related Article(s)

• How to Insert a Face-Based Revit Family Into a Project | 3 Options
• Bradley Revit Family | MasterFormat – OmniClass – Uniformat – Assembly Code

Bradley Express SS-Lavatory Systems are installed in what Americans voted as the “Best Restroom” for 2011.

The Field Museum in Chicago, Illinois was the winner of Cintas Corporation’s annual “America’s Best Restroom” contest.

The Field Museum features two large restrooms on the ground floor, each with artwork of a beautiful night sky painted on the ceilings. The restrooms are cleaned every hour to accommodate the 3,500 visitors the museum welcomes each day.

The contest was open to any non-residential public restroom, and attracted nominations from a wide range of businesses including restaurants, hotel and museums. The finalists were selected based on hygiene, style, public accessibility, and usability.

View-Download Bradley Express Lavatory Systems Revit Family

The top 10 finalists were announced in July, and the winner announced in September. Tens of thousands of votes were cast on the programs website.

The Field Museum received plenty of national media attention for winning the contest, and was featured on ABC’s Good Morning America, and covered in both The Chicago Tribune and The New York Times.

Read the complete story and view-download the restroom images:

http://www.bestrestroom.com/us/Hall_of_Fame/2011/default.asp

America’s Best Restroom 2011 Contest is Sponsored by Cintas.

The Bradley Revit Family Library surged past another milestone in October 2011; as the Bradley Revit library now exceeds more than 900 Revit families.

Bradley’s 900+ Revit families represent 10s of thousands of Bradley Plumbing Fixtures and Washroom Accessory (Specialty Equipment) products.

Designers can download the pre-built Bradley Products Revit Material Catalogs;

• Available Downloads: Evero, Metal, Plastic, Quartz, Terrazzo, Terreon

The Bradley BIM Team that was formed in June 2009, “can see the light at the end of the tunnel”…1,000 Bradley Revit families!

“We are very grateful to the hundreds of Revit Fans that are downloading thousands of Bradley Revit family models each month.”

We welcome our Revit Fans’ comments and encourage their suggestions. We thank them for their ideas that identify additional improvements to the Bradley Revit Library.

In March 2011, working with Autodesk Seek, the Bradley Revit Library was loaded onto  Autodesk SEEK (Bradley Revit Families).

This gave Revit users the ability to load Bradley Revit families into their Revit projects using the “Autodesk Seek Search Bar” within Revit software products.

The Bradley Revit Library is scheduled for a parameter update; which will also update the library to the Revit 2011 Version. Bradley is coming out with newer products, so we will continue to update the Revit library to keep pace with the Bradley Corporation Product Library.

View Related Article(s)

• Bradley Revit-BIM Family Quality Standards | Top 10 FAQs
• Bradley BIM Team Targets Biggest Revit Family Quality Concerns
• Bradley Revit-BIM FAQ Page | Links to Revit Technical Support-Tutorials

Bradley Revit Toilet Partitions continue to be one of Bradley’s Number 1 Revit family download from the Bradley Revit Family Library.

Bradley Revit family components can be used individually or separately to achieve the correct architectural requirements. The files can be manipulated for:

• Stall Count
• Stall Dimensions
• Door Swing Options
• Multiple Stall Configurations: Standard Stalls, ADA and Ambulatory
• Other Options

Currently, our Revit Toilet Partition Family Library includes families for each of our five (5)  Mills® Toilet Partition Product Lines

1. Baked Enamel Toilet Partition Families

1. Overhead-Braced | 400 Series
2. Floor-Braced | 500 Series
3. Ceiling Hung | 600 Series
4. Floor-to-Ceiling Braced | 700 Series
5. Urinal Screens

2. Bradmar™ Solid Plastic Toilet Partition Families

1. Overhead-Braced | 400 Series
2. Floor-to-Ceiling Braced | 700 Series
3. No Site™
4. Urinal Screens

3. Plastic Laminate Toilet Partition Families

1. Overhead-Braced | 400 Series
2. Floor-Braced | 500 Series
3. Ceiling Hung | 600 Series
4. Floor-to-Ceiling Braced | 700 Series
5. Urinal Screens

4. Phenolic Toilet Partition Families

1. Overhead-Braced | 400 Series
2. Floor-Braced | 500 Series
3. Ceiling Hung | 600 Series
4. Floor-to-Ceiling Braced | 700 Series
5. Urinal Screens

5. Stainless Steel Toilet Partition Families

1. Overhead-Braced | 400 Series
2. Floor-Braced | 500 Series
3. Ceiling Hung | 600 Series
4. Floor-to-Ceiling Braced | 700 Series
5. Urinal Screens

After you download and unzip the contents of a Bradley Revit Toilet Partition Family, please look in the download folder at the contents.

You will find a 12-page document that uses screen shots of the Revit properties box to describe the use of the partitions built-in parameters.

• “README-Bradley_Partition_Instructions_RevitReadMe.pdf“

Please be sure to download the Bradley Revit Material Catalog for the Revit Toilet Partition Types. ( metal, plastic)

Based on clients’ design criteria, we were asked to create a more sophisticated Revit toilet partition family model.

The majority of Bradley’s Revit families have file sizes that range from 260-720K. While the toilet partition families have a larger file size; we insured they would not minimize the Revit project performance.

• Your Revit Family File Size is Too Big | How Big is TOO BIG?

• Revit Project Performance | Revit Family File Size vs Family Visibility Settings

The most regular client compliment we receive, has been the constructability and installation detail of the partition families.

• “Thank you from our design team…Bradley toilet partition families include adjustable wall mounting brackets that simulate the “real installation” space requirements for panels, hardware and wall clearance….great design foresight”.

Related Articles

• Bradley Revit Toilet Partition Door Angle Parameter Sets 3D Partition Doors

• Bradley Revit Toilet Partition Visibility Settings | Revit Project Section Views

We will be updating the Bradley Revit 2009 Family Library to Version, Revit 2011 in 2012.

The Revit family parameters within Bradley’s 1000+ Revit Families will be updated and revised to include COBie parameters in 2012.

Briefly,

• Several static family parameters will become Revit shared parameters for improved scheduling, tagging and tracking.
• OmniClass family parameter values will be “hardwired” to the OmniClass Taxonomy.txt file.
• Keynote & Master Format static parameters will become “hardwired” and dynamic.
• COBie parameters will be added throughout 2012

Throughout 2011, Bradley has communicated with several COBie experts and organizations that are defining COBie as part of the building commissioning and owner deliverable handover process. (USACE, GSA, NBIMS, NIBS)

The COBie (Construction Operations Building Information Exchange) specification identifies the content of the information that must be captured and exchanged at each phase of the project to begin to reduce the waste associated with the current paper process.

“Create a standard(COBie) that can be specified in the contract“

COBie Process Preview Image From Whole Building Design Guide-COBie

Stakeholder Roles for Adding COBie Data

The designer is required to provide the space layout, system list, types of equipment, and the location of named equipment.

The builder adds equipment make, model and serial number and provides manufacturer literature, warranty and replacement parts information.

The commissioning agent provides the job plan data with associated tools, training and equipment requirements.

Learn More About COBie

YouTube COBie Class Video Playlist – Bill East, PhD, MS, PE – USACE

• http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL9E7A408B074B90C9&feature=viewall

COBie College Classes 1,2, & 3 YouTube Play List | Sorted Oldest > Newest

• http://www.youtube.com/user/BSADemo/videos?sort=da&view=pl

Autodesk Revit – COBie Resource

Revit to COBie Data Exchange – Autodesk (PDF)

Revit to COBie Data Exchange – Autodesk (Video)

Related Articles

• COBie Online Training | COBie College Videos | COBie in Revit
• USACE-ISC Atlanta | Technology Hall Opens Tuesday Morning
• Visit Bradley BIM at Ecobuild America 2011 | National BIM Conference | Dec 5-9th | Washington DC
• Bradley Revit Family | MasterFormat-OmniClass-Uniformat-Assembly Code
• Bradley Revit Family Library Surges Past 900 Families – Thank You Revit Fans

The Bradley BIM Team maintained time and cost records for building the Bradley Revit Family Library from the summer of 2009 to December 2011.

When I survey the Revit family modeling costs, relative to the processes we used to build Bradley’s 1000 Revit Families; it reveals the “real value” in cost savings for each pre-built Bradley Revit Family Model.

Each pre-built, Bradley Revit model, can typically save a trained and knowledgeable BIM Manager between $150-$250 of labor costs.

Whoa! How did you arrive at that dollar value?

I arrive at this value, by combining these 2 assumptions with our 7 standard steps (below) for properly creating a Revit family model. In fact, these are the initial steps I teach every professional; that needs to properly create Revit family models.

Assumption #1: I set my BIM Manager costs at $75 / hour; realizing the manager has real costs for hourly wage, software, equipment and benefits. The manager should have a billable rate (cost) for creating project Revit families (project billing cost) AND company standard Revit family library (billed back as overhead to reduce future project costs).  I identify these costs as an organization’s BIM Assets.

Assumption #2: My BIM Manager is properly trained and has the savings of pre-built, company standard Revit Family templates. These templates are embedded with their established Revit family graphic & data standards.  So these start up costs and annual maintenance of company BIM standards & templates; are NOT factored into my real costs. In reality, these costs would be amortized into the annual costs for the BIM Manager.

So the cost-savings value is conservative and assumes a very qualified BIM Manager is managing the company Revit model building process. This provides the ideal conditions for weighing the value of using pre-built manufacturer’s Revit family models.

7 Steps for Constructing a Manufacturer’s Product Revit Family

01) Collect Product Data: A BIM Manager will download Tech Data Sheets with each product’s dimensional drawing information and parameters (PDF) to begin Revit modeling of a manufacturer’s products. This includes product material images, so the product can be shaded and rendered.

• Sometimes a manufacturer will have CAD files available to use as tracing templates for modeling the manufacturer’s product. Many times, they do not have CAD files for dimensionally, accurate product profiles and shapes. The BIM Manager will then have to create models with less accurate means.

02) Component Templates: A design firm creates Revit Family Templates for multiple product categories for their ongoing Revit family model building. Templates are used as “starting points” to create and maintain consistent new Revit families.

03) Visibility Settings: Optimizing these settings is THE KEY to the performance of your Revit project. 2D plan, front and left views are optimized by turning off the 3D components’ visibility in these 2D orthographic views. Masking regions and symbolic lines are used to represent the product in the orthographic views. Each of these 2D entities in each of these 3 views are assigned a Coarse, Medium & Fine visibility setting.

• Revit Project Performance | Revit Family File Size vs Family Visibility Settings

04) Parameters: Once the product is Revit modeled and assigned 2D entities, a BIM Manager adds the instance parameters and type-based parameters\share paramenters for tagging and scheduling. (Uniformat Assembly Code, Omniclass, MasterFormat \ Keynote, Material, Manufacturer URL, material, MEP settings, etc)

05) Family Types: Next, family types or family type catalogs are created to add efficiency to the new Revit model. If a product has 5-7  simple variations ; I recommend building the family types into the Revit family file. If a product has more than 7 variations; I suggest creating a Revit Family Catalog.

• How to Load a Revit Family With a Revit Catalog

06) Purge & Optimize: CAD files imported into Revit Family files, that were used for tracing; need to be deleted in all views. CAD files’ layer definitions will contaminate the project file’s subcategories and need to be purged. Purge line patterns definitions to prevent them being added to the project and it helps minimize the family file size.

07) Quality Control: Quality control now dictates the model and ALL family types are loaded into a project, flexed, dimensioned, swapped, scheduled, tagged, shaded and rendered. In addition, EVERY view (plan, front, left) is checked against the view settings of Coarse, Medium & Fine visibility setting. If anything fails, its back to the Revit Family Editor for revision….and the QC process begins again.

• Revit Schedules – Tags | Bradley Revit Family Parameter Testing Process

Each pre-built Bradley Revit model saves on average, a trained and knowledgeable BIM Manager easily $150-$250 of labor.

Return On Investment (ROI)

When we consider the time required to complete the 7 steps I’ve summarized; the estimated Revit modeling labor savings of $150-250 is very conservative. Quality, pre-built manufacturer Revit models can be a key component to help new Revit professionals to minimize their initial costs and jump start their Revit investment.

Autodesk is now offering Autodesk Revit LT 2013. Reliable, pre-built Revit families become a valuable tool for the sole practitioner and smaller projects; that may not require the capabilities of a full version of Autodesk Revit.

Author Tip #1: Here is one of my favorite manufacturer’s Revit libraries; that I’ve recommended to Revit professionals that I’ve trained to start their company Revit Library.

• USGDesignStudio: USG Revit Wall Families with STC and Fire Rating parameters.

Author Tip #2 | The Family Harvest: At the end of every project, a BIM Manager should be harvesting the Revit families used in a completed Revit project. These families are copied either to the corporate standards folder AND/OR to their project-type templates & folders.

Daniel Hughes, Bradley Corporation BIM Strategist

Daniel has personally provided individual BIM Manager | Revit Standards Training to more than 100 Revit professionals; as they assumed the BIM Management role for their organization. More than 700 professionals have received various levels of Daniel’s Revit training, implementation and consulting services.

Since 2002, he has created more than 130 Strategic Process Reviews \ Implementation Plans to serve as his clients’ road maps for transitioning from a CAD to a Revit-BIM processes environment. Each road map delivered fiscally, responsible options that were unique to each organization’s implementation of new Revit technology and BIM processes.  His 15 years as a corporate owner and 8 years working in design firms; provided a high level of credibility for each client’s individual Revit road map.

2 Million Bradley Revit Family Downloads (09/01/2012)

The Design Build Convention in New Orleans provided a great opportunity to engage the Bentley MicroStation representatives on the technical details of their FREE i-model plug-in for Revit.

Consider this option for for transferring and integrating Bradley Revit Family Library components into your Bentley MicroStation projects.

The US Army Corps of Engineers has been  a major legacy Bentley client. USACE now includes Revit in their 2012 BIM Road Map of products. I am checking with my USACE BIM Practice Team contacts, to verify if the i-model plug-in may be an acceptable tool for their USACE Bentley deliverable.

For non-USACE projects, contact your project member(s) that are using Bentley on your team regarding the feature/functionality of i-model plug-in. The family model(s) that are exported from Revit to a Bentley format, are individual blocks; similar to an ADSK file.

I am confirming, whether these Bentley models can be edited by Bentley. The advice I received earlier today; indicates they are not editable in Bentley. Your project partners should be aware of this functionality in case it becomes a limitation for them.

WHAT is the i-model plug-in for Revit?

The i-model plug-in for Revit lets users save their Revit models to an i-model file from within the Revit application

The i-model plug-in for Revit allows users to save their Revit models in a way that lets users open them in MicroStation, Bentley Navigator, AECOsim Building Designer, and many other Bentley building products, retaining the Revit properties information from the Revit model.

The plug-in is designed to help teams working in a mixed Bentley/Revit environment to be able to reference Revit models into a MicroStation-based design workflow for coordination purposes, interference detection, and similar tasks.

The i-model plug-in for Revit works with the 2010-2013 versions of the Revit products, including Architecture, MEP, and Structure, and includes support for the 64-bit versions.

HOW does the i-model plug-in for Revit Work?

1. Select and Download the i-model plug-in (app) for your Revit software version.
2. Close Revit and Install the i-model app on your system
3. Start Revit and the Bentley i-model pull down menu appears in your Revit software.
4. The i-model plug-in exports the family content that is displaying in a Revit PROJECT file. (*.RVT) Does NOT work from a Revit family file. (*.RFA)
5. For example, if you have a Revit family, with 5 family types; ALL 5 family types MUST be placed and displaying in the project file prior to exporting.

Bentley i-model for Revit Features

1. One-step process that does not require MicroStation or other Bentley applications
2. Integrated with Bentley Navigator for redlining, clash detection, and other federated information workflows
3. Works with multiple versions of Revit products

Current List of Bentley Apps for Revit

Visit Bentley  iWare Apps for Information Mobility Page | Apps for Revit Users

i-model plug-in for Revit | Publish i-models from Autodesk Revit for open infrastructure information exchange

i-model plug-in for Adobe Reader | Leverage i-models for intelligent 3D PDF

ISM Revit plug-in | Coordinate, change, and synchronize structural data

RAM Structural System – Revit Link | Achieve interoperability between RAM Structural System and Revit Structure

Related Articles

• Download Complete Bradley Revit Library – Download All Options (1,000 Families)

• Bradley BIM | 3 Years Serving Architects-Engineers-Contractors-Facility Owners

• 2 Million Revit Downloads | Thank You Revit Design – Construction Community

Bradley Corporation currently provides downloadable 3-Part Specifications (MS Word, HTML and PDF) and support of Arcom’s MasterSpec guide specifications.

Bradley 3-Part Specs and Bradley Product Tech Data Sheets (PDF) are conveniently located in the right margin of the Bradley Revit Library (1,000 Revit Families).

Bradley Products Tech Data Sheets may be accessed from the Bradley Tech Data Sheet Library.

Each individual Bradley Product Page; contains that product’s Tech Data Sheet; which is located in the page’s right margin.

Related Articles:

• Bradley Revit Family Library Joins E-Specs Integrated Specifications Program

• e-SPECS Automated Specifications-ArchiCAD | Bradley BIM e-SPECS BPM Member

• e-SPECS for Revit – A Small Firm Perspective | CSI YouTube Learning Video

Every Revit family is assigned a specific category; based on the Revit Family Template that was originally used to create the Revit family.

The Power of a Revit Family’s Category Designation;

1. controls the family’s visibility in each view; using the View Visibility (VV) Settings.
2. defines the Revit Tag that can be used for tagging the family
3. determines the Revit Schedule Type that will list & schedule the Revit family

When your Revit family…

1. doesn’t respond to turning on/off its visibility in the view…
2. can’t be tagged with it’s appropriate category tag…
3. doesn’t show up in its designated Revit Schedule…

…You need to review and revise that family’s Category Designation.

Simple Steps to Change a Revit Family Category Designation

Open the Revit Family in the Revit Family Editor.

In the upper left corner of the Revit Ribbon, select the Family Category and Parameters icon.

In this example, a Washroom Accessory Revit Family has a Furniture Category designation.

This is why the Revit Family –

1. visibility is not controllable under Specialty Equipment Category visibility setting.
2. can’t be tagged with a Specialty Equipment Tag.
3. is not listed in the Revit Specialty Equipment Schedule.

While this dialog box is open; let’s change its category to Specialty Equipment.

Press OK — and SAVE the Revit Family.

Final Step — Load / Re-Load the Revit Family into the project.

Typically, most experienced Revit / BIM Managers will test these settings prior to releasing a Revit family into their company and project standards.

However, “things happen” — and this is a quick edit to update the Revit Family.

Related Autodesk Articles:

Download Complete Bradley Revit Family Library (1000 Families) – Download All Options

Download Bradley Revit Family Library From Autodesk Seek Building Product Manufacturer Revit Library

I successfully loaded a couple Bradley Revit family files into my Revit project.

Revit Project: Bradley OmniDeck 4010 3-Bowl Sink/Lavatory

However, when I opened the Bradley Revit Family File (RFA); I saw more items than what appear in my Revit project file (RVT).

Why does the Revit family file look so different?

Bradley OmniDeck 4010 3-Bowl Sink/Lavatory Revit Family

Let’s use the Bradley OmniDeck 4010 3-Bowl Round Sink Family to explain.

All of the options for the OmniDeck Revit family are modeled in this family. So every solid , void, and nested family will be displayed for every level of detail.

• 1 faucet (nested family)
• 2 soap dispensers (nested family)
• right, left & front aprons (solid)
• right, left & back splashes (solid)
• trap covers (nested family)
• 2 round countertop openings for waste (void)
• 2 square countertop openings for waste (void)
• MEP connections for water source & waste

Each item is assigned an ON/OFF visibility parameter; that determines the IF and WHEN it should be displayed in the project.

• In the Revit Family Editor, these visibility parameters can be reviewed under “Family Types“.

• In the Revit Project Editor, these visibility parameters will appear when you select the  family; in the PROPERTIES palette or dialogue box.

Coarse-Medium-Fine Detail Display

This display parameter is also assigned to each component in the Revit Family.

It determines the IF and WHEN the component is displayed in the view, based on the Coarse, Medium or Fine Setting in the project.

• Coarse = Display Lowest Level of Detail
• Medium = Display Medium Level of Detail
• Fine = Display Highest Level of Detail

Testing the Family Display Settings in a TEST Project

We encourage Bradley clients to open and review the Bradley Revit family files; PRIOR to loading them into their projects.

I also recommend, testing Revit family display settings in a test Revit project, PRIOR to loading it into your live Revit project.

3 Steps for conducting your test:

1. From a PLAN View, insert/place the lavatory on a wall in your project.

2. Next, flip to a 3D View, and adjust the Detail Level from Coarse, Medium or Fine.

3. As you change the Detail setting, the Lavatory will begin to display additional detail and voids.

When the family is viewed in the project; the family “pieces” will be confined to display for ONLY their assigned Detail Level.

Related Article(s)

• Bradley Revit Family Components Feature Coarse-Medium-Fine Detail Levels
• Bradley BIM Team Targets Biggest Revit Family Quality Concerns

Visit the Bradley Revit-BIM FAQ Page for additional Revit technical support for Bradley Revit-BIM Family Components.

Greetings & Welcome to the Bradley Revit – BIM Resource Portal

The Bradley Revit-BIM Family Library has more than 1,000 Revit Family Models; representing 10′s of thousands of Bradley Corporation’s Plumbing Fixtures and Specialty Equipment products.

I encourage BIM and VDC Managers to visit the Bradley BIM FAQs Page.  It provides a technical overview of Bradley’s Revit modeling standards and quality assurance procedures.

Daniel Hughes | Bradley Corporate BIM Strategist

Bradley Corporation has expanded the ARCAT – Bradley BIM Library.

The expanded ARCAT – Bradley BIM Library features 100 Bradley product samples from 23 product categories.

Select This Button to Access ARCAT | Bradley BIM Library Listing

The expanded ARCAT library provides Bradley Product Models in these file formats:

• Revit Family files versions vary from 2009-2014 (RFA),

• Autodesk DWG and DXF files

• Bentley Microstation DGN file

SELECT the round gray RFI Icon to request information from Bradley.

If you need construction specifications, use the ARCAT Spec Library & SpecWizards.

ARCAT embeds the Autodesk FreeWheel Viewer into the Revit model product pages –to provide visitors 2D and 3D views of the Bradley Revit product models.

The viewer utilizes the Autodesk DWF file format to provide 2D and 3D Viewing of “lightweight” DWF files. The Autodesk FreeWheel viewer is technology that you can embed into your corporate or project websites.

Related Article(s)

• Bentley Software Support for Native Revit RFA-File Format

• Bradley BIM Library Available for Vectorworks Service Select Members

• e-SPECS Automated Specifications-ArchiCAD | Bradley BIM e-SPECS Member

I successfully loaded a couple Bradley Revit family files into my Revit project.

Revit Project: Bradley OmniDeck 4010 3-Bowl Sink/Lavatory

However, when I opened the Bradley Revit Family File (RFA); I saw more items than what appear in my Revit project file (RVT).

Why does the Revit family file look so different?

Bradley OmniDeck 4010 3-Bowl Sink/Lavatory Revit Family

Let’s use the Bradley OmniDeck 4010 3-Bowl Round Sink Family to explain.

All of the options for the OmniDeck Revit family are modeled in this family. So every solid , void, and nested family will be displayed for every level of detail.

• 1 faucet (nested family)
• 2 soap dispensers (nested family)
• right, left & front aprons (solid)
• right, left & back splashes (solid)
• trap covers (nested family)
• 2 round countertop openings for waste (void)
• 2 square countertop openings for waste (void)
• MEP connections for water source & waste

Each item is assigned an ON/OFF visibility parameter; that determines the IF and WHEN it should be displayed in the project.

• In the Revit Family Editor, these visibility parameters can be reviewed under “Family Types“.

• In the Revit Project Editor, these visibility parameters will appear when you select the  family; in the PROPERTIES palette or dialogue box.

Coarse-Medium-Fine Detail Display

This display parameter is also assigned to each component in the Revit Family.

It determines the IF and WHEN the component is displayed in the view, based on the Coarse, Medium or Fine Setting in the project.

• Coarse = Display Lowest Level of Detail
• Medium = Display Medium Level of Detail
• Fine = Display Highest Level of Detail

Testing the Family Display Settings in a TEST Project

We encourage Bradley clients to open and review the Bradley Revit family files; PRIOR to loading them into their projects.

I also recommend, testing Revit family display settings in a test Revit project, PRIOR to loading it into your live Revit project.

3 Steps for conducting your test:

1. From a PLAN View, insert/place the lavatory on a wall in your project.

2. Next, flip to a 3D View, and adjust the Detail Level from Coarse, Medium or Fine.

3. As you change the Detail setting, the Lavatory will begin to display additional detail and voids.

When the family is viewed in the project; the family “pieces” will be confined to display for ONLY their assigned Detail Level.

Related Article(s)

• Bradley Revit Family Components Feature Coarse-Medium-Fine Detail Levels
• Bradley BIM Team Targets Biggest Revit Family Quality Concerns

Visit the Bradley Revit-BIM FAQ Page for additional Revit technical support for Bradley Revit-BIM Family Components.