Noticias

Why do we need BIM content?

BIM content is essential for your project. BIM articles equipped with the correct technical and geometric parameters can be an invaluable asset in the processes of forecasting, calculating and ordering. It can potentially save a lot of time and extra costs. Here you can find out more about why MEP engineers need BIM content.

There are several aspects that come into discussion when talking about BIM content. How do you make the information is correct? And do you avoid overloading your project by using large size article files? Moreover, how will you make sure that the content you use is up-to-date with the latest changes announced by the manufacturer? Taken separately, all of these issues have their solution. Which doesn’t mean that solving them separately will be fast, nor easy.

The MEPcontent Browser

The MEPcontent Browser is a plugin that can be used both in Revit and AutoCAD to easily browse, filter and insert 3D BIM content in your projects. It is a gateway to MEPcontent.com, the largest BIM library for MEP engineers, directly from within your project environment. The plugin is free to download and to use from the MEPcontent App Store.

Uniform and high quality content

In order to provide MEP engineers with reliable 3D content, we work in close collaboration with over 300 building product manufacturers worldwide. That is how we make sure that the content we make available on the MEPcontent platform and in the MEPcontent Browser is always up-to-date, uniformly build and evaluated according to the EMCS Standard and ready to be used in your projects.

Quick access to your files

You can access the BIM library directly from within your project. No need to switch to an external window or download files locally. Using the advanced filtering options such as category, manufacturers, or availability you can find the articles that you need within seconds. If you have to take some time to decide what item you want to use, you can visit the manufacturer URL included in the article description to consult the documentation provided.

A source of BIM news

The Communication Channel available in the plugin is your constant source of information about new content releases, new manufacturers joining the platform, product updates, news from the BIM industry and a lot of valuable information to help you realize better building installations.

Download the MEPcontent Browser straight away and start working faster with BIM content!

Image: CityLife Milano, by Deerns

Levels of BIM adoption vary across the world. However, no country remains unaffected by the new way of working. Italy is no different. In fact, according to the latest figures the value of BIM projects in the public sector reached over 2,6 billion in 2016, with a 30% increase in comparison to the year before. Kim Smit, business development specialist at MEPcontent, talks about the latest BIM developments in Italy and gives an insight into the changing industry.

How does Italy compare to other countries when it comes to BIM?

Although Italy has not been at the forefront of BIM adoption in Europe, we have seen a very significant growth in 2018. Italian manufacturers who recently started with the BIM implementation in their organization have learned from the challenges of (competing) early adopters and are using this to their advantage. Now it’s the right time for manufacturers in Italy to get BIM ready. More importantly, manufacturers can profit now from the latest, most innovative BIM solutions available on the market, which go far beyond the - let’s say – traditional content creation. Engineers will of course benefit from these solutions in their daily workflows and manufacturers are increasingly considering this when it comes to their BIM strategy.

See what your country is doing in terms of BIM adoption.

So, BIM adoption seems to be increasing, right?

If we look at the the number of Italian users of our platform we see a significant growth of 48.5% in 2018, bringing Italy to the top 10 of both number of visitors and of downloads of the MEPcontent platform. We also see leading Italian engineering firms that are willing to test our apps for Revit. So BIM is definitely gaining ground in Italy.

Additionally, BIM maturity varies a lot across regions. Especially in cities in the northern regions of Italy, like Milano, Bergamo and Brescia, firms are already operating at a high BIM maturity level similar to advanced BIM countries. We’ll see that first large and international projects are being realized with BIM, and later the smaller projects will follow.

What challenges are there when it comes to BIM adoption?

First, the Italian MEP landscape is quite dispersed: there are many small engineering firms scattered widely across the country. It will take some time for everyone to invest in the knowledge and education and the software required for BIM. Also, software incompatibility and bureaucracy can be issues to get started with BIM. These are a few things that slow the adoption of BIM down, but there’s no doubt BIM is the future, also in Italy.

What is the government’s approach to BIM?

The government is definitely supporting the development of BIM. A decree has been issued with a multi-year plan stating that all public projects have to be realized with BIM in 2022. From January 2019 this will be a requirement for all projects worth more than 100 million euros; in 2021 for the more complex projects, and in 2022 for all public projects. This will give the smaller firms some time to prepare themselves for BIM. Additionally, an Italian norm is being developed: the UNI 11337 (Normativa UNI 11337). Different parts of this standard have already been published, providing guidelines and a framework for managing digital information processes.

Are there other ways to accelerate the BIM adoption?

What will help is the drive of manufacturers to keep a competitive position. Increasingly, MEP engineering firms are taking the quality of BIM objects into consideration when selecting a manufacturer. Therefore internationally oriented Italian manufacturers have been working with BIM for quite some time as part of their strategy. Manufacturers that are in business with countries like the Netherlands, the United Kingdom or Australia, have already embraced BIM to meet the demand for BIM content. Who wants to be part of big international projects, can’t stay behind. Furthermore, we see that these manufacturers are also investing time in educating MEP engineers on working with Revit and BIM, which helps the BIM adoption increase.

What can other countries learn from the Italians when it comes to BIM?

In Italy, quality is not just a word. In my experience, everything is done with passion and with eye for detail and quality. On the one hand, this can delay processes. On the other hand, it also ensures the quality that Italian products are known for across the world. Therefore Italians typically will take more time, evaluate potential issues and all options before making a decision. However, this also means that the results are likely to be impressive too. This becomes clear when looking at the remarkable BIM projects that have already been realized in Italy, such as the Brennero Tunnel, the Scala theater and the Citylife Building in Milano.

The pursuit of quality is also reflected in the interest in the Extended MEP Content Standard, which is matched to multiple international standards. When we talk to Italian manufacturers we hear that they are looking for a BIM standard that guarantees the quality of the content in Italy as well as on a more global scale.

We also get positive feedback from Italian engineers who use the BIM objects from MEPcontent, as they have experienced the quality of the content guaranteed from the EMCS.

Any final tips for starting with BIM?

Content is very important to the quality of your BIM project. So if you’re an engineer; make sure you work with high quality content. If you are a manufacturer, keep in mind that the BIM solution(s) you offer are primarily for the benefit of the engineer.

Also, it’s easy to find a software supplier able to create BIM models, but it’s more important to find an innovative, MEP specialized BIM partner who knows what manufacturers and engineers need; now and in the future.

The ABB series of consumer units "System pro E comfort" is designed to reduce cabling times as well as allow the total integration of several kind of devices for DIN-rail and also devices to be installed on mounting plates or on blind front panels.

• Protection class: II
• IP protectionn class: IP41 and IP65
• Rated current: from 63 A up to 125 A

Download Revit families for System pro E comfort from MEPcontent!

Emergency Lighting Fixtures, Sensor for Ventilation and Induction Ventilator

Manufacturer ExcelAir has joined the MEPcontent platform! The first ExcelAir content is published in the categories emergency lighting fixtures, CO sensors/gas sensors and induction ventilators.

About ExcelAir

ExcelAir offers complete solutions in the field of parking garage ventilation systems, gas detection / and fire detection systems; from advice to delivery and from installation to maintenance.

"In order to optimally serve customers in the transformation to 3D modeling, ExcelAir has chosen to work with MEPcontent" says Bert Bron, Director for ExcelAir.

"MEPcontent and Stabicad are number one when it comes to design software for electrical and mechanical installation technology in which standards are laid down. This collaboration has enabled ExcelAir to process its most common components as Revit families. The complete package of ExcelAir products can now be downloaded here as Revit families, CAD and IFC files, so that you always work with the most recent content. ExcelAir is proud to publish this content on the website."

More information about ExcelAir products and services can be found at www.excelair.nl.

When it comes to flexibility, usability and design ABB’s MISTRAL series of consumer units can convince installers as well as end users in any kind of electrical distribution system in residential, commercial and industrial environments.

Additionally, MISTRAL65 is suitable for outdoor applications and MISTRAL65H even for harsh environments. In order to meet the requirements of smart homes-/smart offices-applications MISTRAL Multimedia provides the very best to realize all your installation ideas efficiently – now or in the future.

BIM doesn’t stop at national borders - globalization is a major trend. But how do we make sure that everyone around the world can collaborate successfully in BIM projects?

Levels of BIM adoption vary across the world, which has led to different public and private standardization initiatives. These standards aim to get construction firms on the same page when managing digital building information processes. Well-known international standards include ETIM in the Netherlands and COBie originating from the UK, but there’s also a wide range of national level norms out there, such as the German VDI 3805 and the Italian UNI 11337.

However, the fact that every country has its own norms and regulations, makes it difficult to come to an agreement on European or even global BIM norms. Which is a shame. Because with globalization on the rise and an increase in international projects and international teams, there’s a growing need for global BIM standards. Also, content from one country may be perfectly useful in another and something we learn in one country can be applied somewhere else. In order to work successfully in BIM, we need to make agreements in a language that we all understand.

A global standard for BIM content

In recognition of the need for standardization and uniformity in BIM projects, Trimble’s MEPcontent team has developed the Extended MEP Content Standard. With the release of EMCS 4.0, engineers are provided with a platform independent and global standard for BIM content. This standard has been developed in close cooperation with leading contractors and manufacturers, with a user base of over 50.000 MEP engineers in mind. It clearly describes how BIM objects are built and can be easily used in BIM projects across the world, ensuring high quality und uniform content.

Unlike local BIM standards, content that meets the EMCS matches the requirements of MEP engineers globally. This is why the EMCS is the foundation on which the MEPcontent content factory builds BIM objects. MEP engineers can find the latest content with the EMCS 4.0 quality stamp on the BIM files overview page.

In order to work successfully in BIM, we as an industry need to make agreements in a language that we all understand. Indeed, it’s a challenge to come to an understanding of global rules that we can all work with. But when it comes to BIM content, it’s a challenge that we are happy to take on.

Download the EMCS 4.0 here.

International manufacturer ABB increases its presence on MEPcontent. The Twinline N55 Cabinet System has been added to the ABB library of content.

ABB Twinline N55 Cabinet System

The Twinline N55 is a complete universal cabinet system, available in both protection classes: earthed and double insulated. The system has a high degree of protection: IP55 with door and IP30 without door.

Why choose the ABB Twinline N55 Cabinet System

• Wide range of wall and floor mounted cabinets up to 424 different sizes
• Innovative flange technology with tool-free installation and more usable area for cable entry
• All cabinets can be easily connected in series both, horizontally and vertically within each respective cabinet depth

Download Revit families for the Twinline N55 Cabinet System double insulated and earthed now.

MEPcontent and Niessen are pleased to announce this first App for Revit specifically developed for the Spanish market. The Niessen Switch Range Configurator.

Experiment with the variety of design options and functions with the correct annotation offered by this App to streamline your design in both 2D and 3D. Always up-to-date with the latest Niessen product data available in Spain.

Spanish and English
The App interface is available in Spanish and English so MEP engineers who master any of these two languages can work with the Sky Niessen products within the Switch Range Configurator, directly within Revit. Please be aware that the products are only available in Spain/showing the product information such as article number for the Spanish market.

Switch ranges in a few clicks
With just a few clicks you can configure, place, and manage Revit electrical families for Niessen switch ranges. Easy to design in both 2D and 3D, even when working on linked models or architectural models.

More than 30 functions
Configuring a switch range is fast and easy: just choose a function for each element (like one pole or two-way switch, socket with or without earth, loudspeaker, digital radio, and many more) of your switch range. And always get the correct annotation for each function in the floorplan.

Choose the hosting type
Choose whether you want to place a switch range on a faced object like a wall, or anywhere without being dependent on a hosting object.

To find the Niessen Switch Range Configurator, please go to the MEPcontent store

You can download this App for free!

The pressure boosting systems from the Premium Line have been improved by DP pumps. With this update they are ready for the new EEI2020 norm. The systems are available with IE5 engines by default. The pumps can be applied conform to the needs or wishes required for a building. It is the only booster system on the market where a 100% continuous flow is guaranteed. This makes the systems legionella free! Thanks to accessibility via apps or bluetooth it is now even more easy to use the system.

These updates have been done in close collaboration between DP pumps and MEPcontent. The new families contain all necessary parameters and dimensions for engineers in order to select the right pump.

HW252-F Wall junction box

The ABB catalog on MEPcontent now also features some items available with localizations for the Netherlands and Belgium. The HW252-F wall junction box is equipped with 2 entries x 16/19/20 mm.

Central junction box C60

The central junction box C60 for wall and ceiling mounting is another ABB product available for download on MEPcontent. It features 8 x 16 mm and 8 x 19/20 mm entries.

Read more about the ABB company here and download Revit families and CAD files for free now!

Boilers may run on different types of fuel such as natural or liquid gas, the HP part will be fueled by electricity. The Remeha Tzerra HP hybrid boiler series combines the energy saving advantages of heat pumps with the efficiency of fuel based boilers.

Tzerra HP

The Remeha Tzerra HP boiler has a C.O.P. (coefficient of performance) between 3.13 and 4.1, depending on the heating conditions. This guarantees a high reduction in heating costs, especially in the long run.

Tzerra ACE

The Tzerra ACE is a small and compact boiler that is prepared for smart coupling with sustainable technologies such as solar systems and heat pumps.

Download the Remeha boilers now as Revit families or AutoCAD files to be sure that you always work with the latest and most updated Remeha content. The content includes a lot of information without slowing down your project and the materials are then easy to order from the material list.

Following the success of the first BIM and Blockchain article, we received a lot of comments and responses from people both inside and outside of the construction industry on why this pursuit for progress and technological improvement is important. At first, we thought that Blockchain was receiving an unwarranted amount of attention from our community; after all, construction is so technologically regressive, we’re still fighting an uphill battle to digitize field work with basic apps and office-to-field-to-office communication.

Surely the priority for today’s growing number of BIM, VDC and innovation managers should begin with basic automation of data communications and the increased adoption of technology on the job site to improve productivity (the low hanging fruit to immediate profitability).

Having thought a little deeper about this, however, we decided that perhaps the focus is indeed well placed. Perhaps the push to make the job site adopt innovations in process improvement is too difficult, fettered by tight schedules, a reluctant workforce and reduced budgets, and we should be focussing on a stage further, reaching for the next gen of tech adoption and skipping the field adoption stage (despite the need in the face of a skilled labor shortage only immediately (and partially) satisfied with tech adoption in skill replacement).

Read the full article on Constructible

Why do Revit families disconnect?

Revit families can sometimes lose connectivity in certain situations. One such situation occurs when taps which connect branches to trunks are not properly aligned. If the main and branch are not at the same elevation, you will get an error notification warning you about this.

Another common case when disconnecting issues appear is when the model contains demolished elements. Even when the connectors are already lined up perfectly, the routing settings can fail to reestablish the correct connections.

Did you ever run into a problem with disconnected elements or orphaned Revit families? Let us know here.

How does Revit deal with reconnecting elements?

In Revit you would have to reconnect your families element by element. Sometimes this can be done easily, if you only have one instance of disconnected elements. However, when you are dealing with thousands of families that have been disconnected in bulk, it will take you at least a couple of hours to solve all of the errors.

There is another easier way to do this

Since we know that disconnected families can waste a tremendous amount of time, we developed a Revit plugin that works in a fast and simple way. You only need to select the elements you want to reconnect and your system will be connected instantly. You can directly download the plugin here: store.mepcontent.com/productivity-tools.

If you found this information useful, you will also want to read this article about how to connect Revit families.