IVAR modular manifolds together with brackets and orientable terminal

23 May 2018

New Revit families for IVAR modular manifolds

Today we announce the publication on the MEPcontent platform of new Revit families for modular manifolds from manufacturer IVAR.

The modular manifolds EASY LOCK series are characterised mainly by their ability to be connected to each other in an easy and practical way. Threads are designed in order that EASY LOCK manifolds can be connected together having an aligned and sealed connection without using any sealing element. Manifolds are only externally nickel plated, therefore, yellow inside, making them suitable for drinking water use.

They are available in several versions: with manually operated isolation valves (with blue or red hand wheel), with manually operated isolation valves (with blue or red hand wheel) and 30° inclined connections and plain (with no manually operated isolation valves). Download the new IVAR content now!

For Stabicad users: Product Line Sheets for IVAR press fittings

Product line sheets for several IVAR press fittings are also available to be downloaded by users with a MEPcontent subscription.

The IVAR press fittings guarantee their usability and reliability with features such as the water leakage function in case of failed pressing. The absence of sealing if not pressed will prevent damage in case of forgotten pressing. Thanks to the system, the installer can immediately identify leaks and repair them. The PLS can easily be imported into Stabicad for Revit and AutoCAD with the Product Line Importer functionality in Stabibase. Import the IVAR PLS files in your project now!

Your short guide to avoiding communication errors for MEP openings in Revit

22 May 2018

Faster, better, safer: the old vs. the new construction process

The construction industry is in essence no different than other economical trades: the best business decisions prove to be the ones based on a rigorous risk analysis that aims to increase efficiency and reduce failure. Usually, the question we ask ourselves is:

“How can we realize our work faster without sacrificing quality for cost and time reduction?”

In construction, it seems to be rather the norm than the exception that a completed building presents significant variations from the initial design. But why does this happen? It could be due to differences in the ways of working of the contractors, unrealistic expectations or the lack of a stable communication platform between the modeller and the structural engineer or architect. These are just a few reasons why buildings have been designed one way and executed another. Want to know how to avoid these in the future? Read on.

What about failure costs?

Misunderstandings can be caused by the lack of available information or by a partial understanding of the designed model because of poor collaboration between the parties.

A single coordination error can take three times more time and resources as initially planned, if not more.

In any case, without complete information, getting it right is like trying to catch a fly in a dark room.

MEP Openings in BIM

Misunderstandings about MEP openings can be especially costly. Openings in large buildings can become very wide in dimensions, which makes measuring them on site very difficult if not impossible.

In buildings with complex installations and heavy structures, it is therefore essential to specify the exact location and properties of the openings that need to be made in walls, floors, ceilings and all other structural elements to allow MEP elements to intersect them.

That’s why it is so important for openings to be included in the initial design of the building. By knowing the exact place where voids need to be created, all of the elements will fit perfectly at the time of the execution. Modelling the installation and collaborating at a high level early on in the project becomes crucial for avoiding failure costs. A good communication between all involved parties (MEP designer, architect, structural engineers, etc.) is the key to a successful project.

So, what can you do about it?

As a MEP engineer, you can build up your tool kit of Revit plugins and use exactly those that help you most. The Stabiplan Openings for MEP for instance is a great plugin that allows you to communicate about openings with the structural engineer in real time. That way, the structural engineer will be informed of the voids they need to take into account and the construction party will have the right information at the time of the execution.

The plugin works in a few easy steps:

      Step 1: Model your system in Revit and identify those MEP elements (pipes, ducts, cable trays, etc.) that intersect with structural elements (walls, floors, roofs, etc.).

      Step 2: Create the openings in your project on the places where MEP elements intersect with structural elements. You can fill in all relevant information about the opening such as shape, orientation, depth, etc.

      Step 3: Select the openings which you would like to include in the opening request and send it to the structural engineer. In the "Openings Monitor" window from within the App, you will be able to see the status of your request: is it approved, pending or disapproved?
 
      Step 4: Once the structural engineer processes your request and decides wheather they approve or dissaprove the request, they can create a void in the structural element that corresponds to your measurements input. Structural engineers can process the openings requests using the free Openings Manager App for Revit.

      Step 5: You can now continue your work, with the satisfaction that you have just contributed to a avoiding a whole lot of unnecessary work that may have been caused by an execution failure.

Keeping up with BIM is essential

Communication is key in successful projects and that’s exactly what this new App and BIM are all about. This is also why more and more professionals are rapidly adopting the BIM methodology and why BIM regulations are being imposed in countries all around the world. Are you going to ride this high speed wagon? Start by downloading the Stabiplan Openings for MEP plugin for Revit here to manage your openings with maximum efficiency and reduce failure costs.
 

Different color combinations for ABB frames and cover plates with the ABB Switch Range Configurator App

18 May 2018

Work with different frames and colors for ABB switch ranges

The ABB Switch Range Configurator App for Revit now offers more support with the completion of the future® linear with more frames and covers. With this update, you can also realize different color combinations of the frames and cover plates. Over 120 articles have been added to the ABB Switch Range Configurator App.

Reduced file size for your projects

This new App update brings with it a series of other benefits, too. The ABB Revit families are loaded in your project more efficiently now, which means that in the end you will have less families in your project, which reduces the final size of your file. This is especially relevant for projects where a large amount of switch ranges need to be placed. Because of the boosted speed in loading families within the App, you are now able to accomplish your work faster and easier.

The ABB Switch Range Configurator offers supports for Revit 2019 which extends your area of possibilities even more.

What is the ABB Switch Range Configurator?

It is a free tool (Revit plugin) that makes it very easy for MEP engineers to configure, place and manage Revit electrical families for ABB switch ranges. The number of combinations is endless. Once placed in a BIM project, the switch component Revit families contain the relevant data to link with wholesale information and GTIN or article numbers. The App is free to use and can be downloaded here.

Why do you need more color possibilities for ABB switch ranges?

Different customers have, of course, different tastes and since switch ranges are partly evaluated based on aesthetic value, it is important to be able to meet different requirements. Besides their great functionality, the many combinations that are available for the ABB switch ranges (now also possible with the ABB Switch Range Configurator App) can adapt to the individual tastes of customers. ABB wiring accessories are offered in numerous design ranges, in various shapes, finishes, colour combinations and materials used.