Revit MEP 2011 - more cool stuff

Surface connectors - if you want to add a connector to a surface (for example, a conduit connection to a panel), use the surface connector - a dialog opens up along with a surface tool that allows you to use dimensions to locate the connection on a surface - and as soon as you add the connector, the pipe/conduit creation tool kicks in. It also works with duct, where you can use the surface locations to control how something that runs along a duct is placed.

Cable tray fittings have a new instance parameter that lets you change the radius of a curved fitting...nice....doesn't work yet with pipe/duct/conduit, but that would be a good wish list item....

Someone asked me in a support case if conduit will be able to be shown with true cut lengths - and my answer so far is yes...in both Revit MEP and AutoCAD MEP.

After seeing the MEP object copy monitor that allows you to map lights, air terminals, plumbing fixtures and mechanical equipment from an architectural mode to MEP specific types in your project, I'm impressed...and it lets you know that are any new fixtures that weren't previously copied or monitored.

With the new panel schedule templates, if you started a panel in a release prior to 2011, you can update these panels using one of the new panel templates - and you can customize panel schedules from the examples provided. The template options for the panels allows you to also set the size of the schedule itself, making page layout much easier. Load summary items can also be added and edited to the schedule as well, based on what types of power are used (i.e. lighting, receptacles, etc.) or you can show them all. Headers can be set to be horizontal or vertically oriented. Calculated values can be defined to add date for local/regional code requirements. Load classifications can also be created so the name matches the demand factor, and can easily be edited.

In the panel schedule, when balancing loads, if you don't want a circuit to move, you can lock it in place - and it shows up highlighted in the preview. Spares and Spaces can be added to a schedule, along with setting the default size for the circuit spares (i.e. 15, 20 amp). Rebalancing will not push loaded circuits into locked slots, whether it's assigned a load, or labeled as spare/space.

Armundo/Dave/Martin - you guys are my hero today!!! You've come to the product chasm, and leaped over it...I'm impressed!!!

More coming soon...

thanks - David B.