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By Martha Hollowell - Senior Instructional Designer

Every year I update our training guides with anything new in the software release while also making each guide more useful than the last. This year, for the Autodesk Revit 2016 MEP Fundamentals training guide, I focused on several areas:

Reducing overlap of material
Applying MEP-specific processes rather than general Revit tool grouping
Streamlining the models and component families to test skills without unnecessary complexity

For the complete chapter-by-chapter updates and demonstrations of the updated models, view our webcast.

General Changes

Some improvements I made across the board with all the Revit training guides and through all chapters of MEP. To clarify information I added more:

Bulleted Lists
Captions in graphics
More practices between topics

Specifically, to make the training guides work better with the ACI (Autodesk Certified Instructor) guidelines, I separated out the practices so you typically teach a short topic and follow it up with a practice that focuses on that topic. (Trainers – of course you add a demo between the topic and practice.)

Reorganized Content

The Basics – Chapters 1-5 – All Disciplines

This order of topics suits how Revit MEP users work in the software rather than just standard Revit tool grouping. Early chapters include inserting MEP components and connecting the components (ducts, pipes, conduit) as well as covering the concept of systems along with standard tools like drawing aids and modify commands. The practices in Chapters 2 and 3 are built around a simple model that includes elements from the three primary disciplines of HVAC, Plumbing (shown below), and Electrical.

After this point the practices focus on building the model that will be used throughout the rest of the guide. In Chapter 4 you link in Revit models, add levels (primarily through Copy/Monitor) and do a Coordination Review. Chapter 5 is working with views with a portion about using System Filters, a critical component of working in MEP models. At this point you are ready to focus on more detailed discipline-specific information.

Discipline Specific – Chapters 6-11

Chapters 6, 7, & 8 focus specifically on HVAC.

The big change here is Chapter 8 - HVAC Networks which includes Ducts and Hydronic Piping as shown below. Previously these two system types were taught separately but had significant overlap. This chapter is called Networks, a grouping of components and connectors, because more advanced system tools are covered later.

Chapter 9 - Plumbing Networks.

Similar to the HVAC Network chapter, it focuses on plumbing piping and includes more about sloped piping. It can be taught without teaching HVAC Networks.

Chapter 10 – Advanced Systems for HVAC and Plumbing

There was so much overlap about systems that instead of teaching the concept separately for each type of system they are grouped together in this chapter. This includes creating systems without connecting components, creating automatic layouts, and testing systems. There are separate practices for HVAC and Plumbing.

Chapter 11 – Electrical Systems

This is a stand-alone chapter because the process of creating electrical circuits is somewhat different from the M and P parts of the software. Even here I was able to eliminate overlap. Instead of teaching how to place different types of electrical components such as lighting fixtures or security devices the "How to" is gathered into one place. The same is true for creating the different types of systems as shown below. The other big change here is the practices have been separated out more. Instead of just two practices there are now four.

Construction Documents – Chapters 12-15

These chapters are once again for all disciplines. They include creating sheets, adding annotation, using tags and schedules and detailing. The main change to this year's version is that the draw tools are in the annotation chapter with Detail Lines where it makes more sense for MEP designers.

Practice Model Updates

The practice models were cleaned up in a variety of ways. Many of these suggestions came from instructors who have spent many years working in their field as well as teaching Revit MEP.

Updates to the Architectural Model

The 2015 Architectural model had grids in it that were going in different directions and would show in the MEP project when you created a new view. It was a pain to have to keep turning them off. So…I just deleted them!
I also modified some of the plumbing fixtures. In the 2015 file the water closets were 2D and caused problems when you were copy/monitoring them into the MEP model. They are now replicas of the MEP fixtures with the connectors removed.

Cleaned up views

Instead of having the students clean up the views in the practices in some cases I cleaned them up in the practice file. As you can see in the lighting plan view in 2015, some stray conduit shows up as well as Occupancy Sensors. These are hidden in the 2016 view.

Real-world layouts

It is always a bit dangerous to talk about "real world" in the context of a training class. These models are not totally complete but I did a few things to make it look less formulaic such as the types of ducts – taps not tees, appropriately sized HVAC systems and showing multiple sizes of ducts in one system.

Easier connections and custom families

I made things a lot easier to do without sacrificing the application of what you are learning. For example, all of the AHU units have the piping connectors facing the hall which makes it much easier to add hydronic piping.
In several cases, especially with plumbing fixtures, I used custom families with connectors in places that make more sense rather than out-of-the box families.

Room to practice

Many instructors have requested extra practices that allow the students to figure things out themselves. While I don't have specific practices for this, there is plenty of empty space in the practice files as you can see below where people can use the general steps they have learned to work on a more complete model.

What's Next?

I'm currently (July 2015), working on the next training guide – Autodesk Revit 2016 BIM Management: Template and Family Creation. If you have any comments or requests for updates to this guide, now is the time to send them to me: feedback@ASCENTed.com.

As always, I am happy to receive any feedback that can make the training guides better this year or next.

Happy MEP!