REVITCATEGORYSPECIFICGUIDELINES:

MECHANICALEQUIPMENTCATEGORYAHUFAMILIES
ThisdocumentincludesAutodeskspecificationsforthecreationofRevitAirHandlingUnitfamilieswithintheRevit
MechanicalEquipmentcategory.FollowingthecriteriasuggestedbyboththisguideandtheRevitModelContent
StyleGuidewillenablemanufacturersandothercontentcreatorstocreateAirHandlingfamiliesthatadhereto
AutodeskandAutodeskSeekstandardsforRevitMechanicalEquipmentfamilies.
Whilethisdocumentcontainsspecificairhandlingunitfamilycreationguidelines,itisnotintendedtoprovide
specificationsforeverykindofairhandlingunit.Asampleairhandlingunitfamilyisprovidedasanexampleto
conveythestandardsoutlinedwithinthisdocument,butmanyotherairhandlingunittypesmaybecreatedusing
theseresourcesasareference.

RMCSG2.1page1

AIRHANDLINGUNITS
Category:MechanicalEquipment
Behavior:Nonhosted

FamilyTemplate(s):
ImperialTemplates

MechanicalEquipment.rft

Metric(generic)Templates

MetricMechanicalEquipment.rft

NOTE:DonotusethewallorceilinghostedfamilytemplatesastheywillnotworkinaMEPfilewithalinked
architecturalmodel.

NAMINGCONVENTIONS

Usethefollowingguidelineswhennaminganewairhandlingunitfamily:
Format:
<FunctionalType><Subtype><Manufacturer><Descriptor1><Descriptor2>
Note:RefertotheRevitMasterPartTypeList(includedinthedownloadpackage)forinformationonapproved
FunctionTypesandSubtypes.
Guidelines:

Createuniquenamesforeachairhandlingunitfamily.
Usenaturallanguagetonamethefamily.
Thefamilynameshoulddescribehowthefamilyisidentifiedintherealworld(forexample,incatalogsor
bymanufacturer).
Ifpossible,donotincludethefamilycategoryinthefamilyname.
UseaDescriptorparametertoincludeamodelnumber,coolingorflowrate,ifappropriate.
Capitalizetheleadinglettersineachportionofthefamilyname.
Keepfilenamesasshortaspossible.
FamilynamesmustdisplayindialogsandinTypeSelector.
Do not use spaces between words in file names. To separate words within a syntax element (e.g.,
ManufacturerorDescriptor),usetheunderscorecharacter(_).
Ifatypecatalogistobeusedwithafamily,namethetypecatalog(.txtfile)withthesamenameasthe
family.

RMCSG2.1page2


Examples:

Air_Handling_UnitPackagedAcme_MechanicalSeries_I(3050Ton)
Air_Handling_UnitModularAcme_MechanicalSeries_3(7501200CFM)

RMCSG2.1page3

SUBCATEGORIES

Themechanicalequipmentfamilytemplate(mechanicalequipment.rft)thatisprovidedwiththeRevitsoftware
createssubcategoriesthatyoucanusetocontrolthedisplayofairhandlingunitgeometry(seeTable1below).
Youmaynotneedtousethedefaultsubcategorythatisprovidedbythemechanicalequipmentfamilytemplate.
Youmayalsoneedtoaddsubcategories.Table2belowcontainsalistofAutodeskapprovedsubcategoriesthat
youcanaddtomechanicalequipmentfamilies.IfyouneedtoaddsubcategoriesthatarenotlistedinTable2,use
thesubcategorynamingconventionsandapprovalproceduredescribedintheRevitModelContentStyleGuide.

Table1DefaultsubcategoriesandsettingsprovidedbytheMechanicalEquipment.rfttemplate:

Category/Subcategory
MechanicalEquipment
HiddenLines

LineWeight
Projection
Cut
1

LineColor
Black
Black

LinePattern
Solid
Dash

Material

LinePattern
Solid

Material

Table2Createtheseadditionalsubcategoriesasneeded:

Category/Subcategory
AirHandlingUnit

RMCSG2.1page4

LineWeight
Projection
Cut
1

LineColor
Black

CONNECTORSETTINGS

ThissectionincludestheparametersfortypicalconnectorsusedinAirHandlingUnits.Itisimportanttoverifythe
connectorsettingsbeforetestingthefamily.

TypicalAHUConnectors
ID
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8

ConnectorDescription
EquipmentPower
ChilledWaterConnectionInlet
ChilledWaterConnectionOutlet
HeatingWaterConnectionInlet
HeatingWaterConnectionOutlet
SupplyAir
ReturnAir
CondensateDrain

Discipline
Electrical
Piping
Piping
Piping
Piping
HVAC
HVAC
Piping

Placement
Face
Face
Face
Face
Face
Face
Face
Face

Shape/Type
Power
Round
Round
Round
Round
Rectangular
Rectangular
Round

HVACConnectorParameters:
ID
FlowDirection
SystemType
FlowConfiguration
Flow
LossMethod
PressureDrop

PipeConnectorParameters:
ID
Connector
Description

2
ChilledWater
ConnectionInlet

FlowDirection
SystemType
AllowSlope
Adjustments
Flow
Configuration
Flow

6
Out
Supply Air
Calculated
ActualSupplyAirflow
NotDefined
N/A

7
In
Return Air
Calculated
ActualReturn Airflow
NotDefined
N/A

4
Heating Water
ConnectionInlet

In
HydronicSupply
No

3
ChilledWater
Connection
Outlet
Out
HydronicReturn
No

8
Condensate
Drain

In
HydronicSupply
No

5
HeatingWater
Connection
Outlet
Out
HydronicReturn
No

Preset

Preset

Preset

Preset

Preset

Family Actual
ChilledWater
Flow

Family Actual
ChilledWater
Flow

Family Actual
HeatingWater
Flow

Family Actual
HeatingWater
Flow

Family Actual
Condensate
DrainFlow

Out
Sanitary
Yes

RMCSG2.1page5

ID
LossMethod
PressureDrop

2
NotDefined
0

Radius

Family Chilled
Water
ConnectionInlet
Radius

ElectricalConnectorParameters:

ID
PowerFactor
ApparentLoad
Voltage
SystemType
LoadClassification
PowerFactorState
BalancedLoad
NumberofPoles

RMCSG2.1page6

3
SpecificLoss
Family Cooling
CoilWater
PressureDrop
Family Chilled
Water
Connection
OutletRadius

4
NotDefined
0

Family Heating
Water
ConnectionInlet
Radius

1
1.0
Family ApparentLoad
Family Voltage
Power Balanced
HVAC
Lagging
Yes
Family NumberofPoles

5
SpecificLoss
Family Heating
CoilWater
PressureDrop
Family Heating
Water
Connection
OutletRadius

8
NotDefined
N/A

Family
Condensate
Drain
Connection
Radius

REFERENCEPLANES

Usereferenceplanesinairhandlingunitfamiliestocontroldimensioningandsnapping.Anumberofpredefined
andnamedreferenceplanesareprovidedbythetemplateusedwhencreatinganairhandlingunitfamily.(See
Table1below)
Table1ReferencePlanesprovidedbytheMechanicalEquipment.rfttemplate:
Name

Center(Left/Right)
Center(Front/Back)

IsReference(strength)

Center(Left/Right)(Strong)
Center(Front/Back)(Strong)
NotaReference

DefinesOrigin?
Yes
Yes
Yes

Table2ReferencePlanestobeaddedtotheMechanicalEquipmentfamilyfile:
Name

RenametoBottom
Top
Front
Back
Left
Right

IsReference(strength)

Bottom
Top
Front
Back
Left
Right

DefinesOrigin?
Yes
No
No
No
No
No

Whenyouneedtoaddreferenceplanestoanairhandlingunitfamily:

Anyreferenceplanesthatyoudonotneedtodimensionorsnapto,shouldbesettoanIsReferencevalue
ofNotaReference.

Keepreferenceplanenamingconsistentwiththoseprovidedbythetemplate.

RMCSG2.1page7

PARAMETERUSAGE

AlistthatcontainsallAutodeskapprovedparameters,RevitMasterParameterList.xls,isprovidedinthedownload
package.TheMechanicalEquipmentsectionofthislistcontainsalloftheapprovedparametersforAirHandling
Unitfamilies.Inthefollowingimage,asmallsampleofthesharedparametersforMechanicalEquipmentisshown.
IMPORTANT:RefertotheRevitMasterParameterListforcompleteinformation.

Inaddition,amastersharedparameter.txtfilewhichincludingstandardAutodesksharedparametersisalso
includedinthedownloadpackage.
MakesurethatanyparametersaddedtoanairhandlingunitfamilyareincludedintheRevitMasterParameter
List.Ifnewunlistedparametersareneeded,usetheparameternamingconventionsandapprovalprocedure
describedintheRevitModelContentStyleGuide.
Thenextsectionsdescribesomeoftheparametersthatshouldbeconsidered,orpossiblyincludedwhencreating
anairhandlingunitfamilyfordistribution.

RMCSG2.1page8

DIMENSIONPARAMETERS
Themaindimensionparametersforairhandlingunitfamiliesare:

Width
SupplyAirConnectionWidth
SupplyAirConnectionHeight
ReturnAirConnectionWidth
ReturnAirConnectionHeight
Length
Height

TheHeightandWidthparametersdeterminethebasicdimensionsoftheairhandlingunitfamily.TheSupplyand
ReturnAirConnectionWidthandHeightparameterscontrolthedimensionsfortheairconnectionsandgeometry.
Whenthefamilyisloadedintoaprojectandanairhandlingunitiscreated,height,lengthandwidthdimensions
willdisplaytheHeight,LengthandWidthparametervalues.

CSIOMNICLASS1.0,MASTERFORMAT2004,ANDUNIFORMATIIPARAMETERS
OnAutodeskSeek,airhandlingunitfamiliescanbelocatedbytheappropriateCSIOmniclass1.0,MasterFormat
2004,andUniFormatIIcodes.WhensharingcontentwithAutodeskSeek,indicatethecodewithinthe
classificationthatshouldbeassignedtothecontent.
RefertotheRevitModelContentStyleGuideforinformationonincludingCSIClassificationCodeswithRevit
families.

AUTODESKSEEKSPECIFICSHAREDPARAMETERS
Inadditiontothesystemparameters,thereareanumberofsharedparametersthatcanbeaddedtoairhandling
unitfamilies.Manyoftheseparameterscanbeusedtofilterresultswhensearchingforairhandlingunitfamilies
onAutodeskSeek.Itisrecommendedtoaddtheseparameterstomanufacturedairhandlingunitsintendedfor
distributiononAutodeskSeek.
RefertotheRevitMasterSharedParameterFile.txt(includedinthedownloadpackage)foralistoftheAutodesk
approvedsharedparameters.

COSTPARAMETER
When creating a manufactured air handling unit for distribution on Autodesk Seek, it is recommended to not
specifyactualdatafortheCostparameterasthevaluewillchangewithtimeand/orconfigurationofthespecified
product.(TolocatetheCostparameter,opentheFamilyTypesdialogforthefamily,andscrolltotheIdentityData
section.)

RMCSG2.1page9


TYPES

NAMINGCONVENTIONS
All air handling unit families must include one predefined type. Predefined types should be generated for
familiesthatareavailableinstandardsizes.Unlesstheyrepresentnominalsizes,typenamesshouldinclude
unitsorcapacityandincludeaunitindicator.
Format:
Formanufacturerspecificairhandlingunitcontent:
Useadescriptive,catalogcodefortheairhandlingunitnameandsize:
<size>Ton<value>BTU<descriptor1><descriptor2>
Ifthefamilynameincludesanyspecificproperty,excludethatvaluefromthetypename.
Example:
Family: Air_Handling_UnitPackagedAcme_MechanicalSeries_I(3050Ton)
Types: 30TonElectricHeat208V/60Hz/3Ph
40TonNoHeat230V/60Hz/3Ph

RMCSG2.1page10

AIRHANDLINGUNITREPRESENTATIONSINSTANDARDVIEWS
TYPICALELEVATIONVIEW
ViewScale:

1/2=1=0(Imperial)

1:20(Metric)

Representationfeatures:

Minimaldetail,optimizedforperformance

TYPICALPLANVIEWCOARSE/MEDIUMDETAIL
ViewScale:

1/2=1=0(Imperial)

1:20(Metric)

Representationfeatures:

Minimaldetail,optimizedforperformance

RMCSG2.1page11

TYPICALPLANVIEWFINEDETAIL
ViewScale:

1/2=1=0(Imperial)

1:20(Metric)

Representationfeatures:

Moredetail
ModelLinesrepresentingadditionalunitfeatures

Origin:
InsertionPoint:LeftandBackCorner

RMCSG2.1page12


PREVIEWVIEW
Representationfeatures:

A3Dviewoftheairhandlingunit
TurnoffvisibilityofannotationcategoriesinVisibility/Graphics
SettheModelGraphicsStyletoShadingwithEdges
SetDetailLeveltoFine
UseaTemporaryHide/Isolatetohideanyconnectionobjects

NOTE:SeetheRevitModelContentStyleGuideforPreviewviewcreationguidelines.

RMCSG2.1page13

BESTPRACTICES

InadditiontotheguidelinespublishedintheRevitModelContentStyleGuide,usetheseMechanicalEquipment
specificbestpractices:

T YPE C ATALOGS

CreateatypecatalogforMechanicalEquipmentfamiliesthatcontainmorethansixtypes(sizes).

P ERFORMANCE

Donotmodelhiddenfacesorinternalcomponents.
Avoidmodelingcurvedsurfaceswherepossible.Onlymodelcurvedsurfaceswhereessentialtodepictthe
partdesign.
Avoidexcessiveuseofvoids,formulas,andarrays.

C ONNECTORS

Addadescriptionforeachconnector.Thedescriptionshoulddetailtheintentoftheconnector(for
example,HeatingWaterSupplyIn,HeatingWaterReturnOut,ChilledWaterSupplyIn,SupplyAir,Return
Air,etc).

RMCSG2.1page14

TESTINGGUIDELINES

UsetheseMechanicalEquipmentspecifictestingguidelinesasasupplementtothegeneraltestingguidelinesin
theRevitModelContentStyleGuide.

1.

Openatestproject:

Totestanimperialfamily,usetheMEP_AHU_Testing_Template_Imperialproject(includedinthe
downloadpackage).

Thetestprojectincludespredefinedsystems,rooms,andspacestotestthefamilysabilitytointerface
witheachkindofelement.Eachoftheviewsissettothecorrespondinglevelofdetail.Theprojectalso
includesCoarse,Fine,andMediumversionsofcertainviews.Theviewsaresetthiswaysoyoucanaddan
elementtooneview,andthenopenthetwootherviewstoinspecttheelementthedifferentlevelsof
detail.

RMCSG2.1page15


2.

Loadtheairhandlingunitfamilyinthetestproject:

Ifthefamilyusesatypecatalog,selectandloadallthefamilytypestoverifythattheyloadcorrectly.(To
selectalltypes,selectthefirsttype,pressandholdShift,andselectthelasttype.)

Inaplanview(Level1MechCoarse):
3.

Usingthedefaulttype(size)thatdisplaysintheTypeSelectorwhenyoustarttheMechanicalEquipment
command,placeanairhandlingunitintotheproject.

4. Testeachairhandlingunitinstance:

Checktheinsertionpointoftheairhandlingunit.
Verifythattheairhandlingunitconnectorobjectsfunctioncorrectlyformechanical,electricaland
piping.
Drawpipeorductofappropriateduct/pipetypefromeachconnector.
o Verifyappropriatephysicalconnectivityforeachpipe/duct.
o Verifythatallfiltersinthetestingenvironmentapplytoeachdrawnpipe/duct.
Createmechanical,piping,andelectricalsystemsandverifytheproperfunctionoftheunitineach
system.
EditelementpropertiesandverifythattheAHUupdatescorrectly.

5. RepeatSteps34,placingairhandlingunitsofthelargestandsmallesttypesinthefamilyintotheproject
space,andverifythattheconnectionsandsystemsareretained.

6. Forallairhandlingunitsinthetestproject:

OpentheCoarse,Fine,andMediumplanviews,andverifythateachairhandlingunitplan
representationdisplayscorrectlyinthedifferentlevelsofdetail.
Dimensiontoallexpectedreferencesandverifycorrectsnappingbehavior.

RMCSG2.1page16

Intheremainingviews(elevations,sections,3Dviews,preview):
7.
8.

InspecttheairhandlingunitineachviewinCoarse,Medium,andFinedetaillevels.

In3DView,inspecttheairhandlingunitgeometry:

SpintheairhandlingunitswiththeSteeringWheel,andverifythatallgeometryisconstrainedas
expected.
Checkforunconnectedgeometryand/orplanrepresentationsthatmaybedisconnectedfromthe
geometry.

ApplythefollowingModelGraphicsStyletotheview,andverifythatanymaterialsappliedtotheair
handlingunitdisplaycorrectly:

HiddenLine
ShadingwithEdges
Modifythematerialparameters,reapplytheHiddenLineandShadingwithEdgesgraphics
styles,andverifythechangeofmaterialsisrepresented.

9. Inelevationviews(North/South/East/West)andinthe3Dviews,verifythattheairhandlingunit
geometrydisplaysasexpected.

10. ThePreviewviewissettothecurrentview.
o
o
o

Inanyview:
11. Createamechanicalequipmentscheduleandverifytheairhandlingunitparameters(includingany
sharedparametersthatwereapplied)schedulecorrectly.

12. Selectanairhandlingunitinthetestproject,and:

Verifytheairhandlingunittypeproperties.
Checkallparameternamestoensuretheyadheretonamingconventionsanddonotcontainerrors.
Foreachmechanicalconnection:
13. EnsureproperconnectionofappropriateHVACcomponentstotheAHU.

Connectsupply,return,exhaustandoutsideairducttoairterminalsandVAVboxes.
Connecthydronicsupplyandreturnpipefortheheatingandchilledconnectionstopumps,chillers
andboilers.
o Forchilledwaterandheatingwaterconnections,createthelogicalhydronicsystem
separatelyfromthetestAHU,andthenconnecttheconnectionswithpipe.
o Forcondensatedrainconnections,createthelogicalsystemsfromthetestAHUassystem
typeSanitary,andthenconnecttheconnectionwithpipe.

RMCSG2.1page17

VerifythatairflowdataupdatesattheappropriateAHUconnector.
Theimperialtemplateincludes1diffuserforareturnairsystemat500CFMand2diffusersfora
supplyairsystemat500CFM/ea.
Modifytheairflowforatleastonecomponentconnectedtoeachmajorductrun.
Reverifytheairflowdata.
VerifythatflowdataupdatesattheappropriateAHUconnector.
Modifytheflowforatleastonecomponentconnectedtoeachmajorpiperun.
Reverifytheflowdata.

14. Ensurepropertransferofelectricaldatatoacircuitandpanel.

CreateapowercircuitforeachelectricalconnectorontheAHU.
Connectthecircuittoanappropriatepowerpanel.
Verifythatthenumberofpolesandapparentloadvaluesareproperlyreflectedinthepanelcircuit
manager.
ChangetheAHUpropertiestoanalternatetype.
Verifythattheelectricaldataupdatesasexpectedinthepowerpanel.

RMCSG2.1page18