archetype companion aug 2016 newlogo
TRANSCRIPT
ARC Companion ©
Revised 30 Aug 2015
Companion
ARC Companion Disclaimer This Companion is provided to each Customer, as per the License Agreement with Latemore Design.
Errors and Omissions Excepted.
Latemore Design makes every reasonable effort to ensure the accuracy and validity of the information provided in this Companion and does not make any representations,
warranties or guarantees express or implied, as to the accuracy or completeness of the Companion. As Revit and techniques for Revit are continually changing, Users must be
aware that updates and amendments will be made from time to time to the Companion. It is the user's responsibility to determine whether there have been any such updates or
amendments. Neither Latemore Design nor any of its directors, officers, employees or agents shall be liable in contract, tort or in any other manner whatsoever to any person
for any loss, damage, injury, liability, cost or expense of any nature, including without limitation incidental, special, direct or consequential damages arising out of or in
connection with the use of the Companion.
This Companion is proprietary to Latemore Design. No part of the Companion shall be used, reproduced, translated, converted, adapted, stored in a retrieval system,
communicated or transmitted by any means, for any commercial purpose, including without limitation, sale, resale, license, rental or lease, without the prior express written
consent of Latemore Design.
ARC Companion ©
Revised 30 Aug 2015
Contents
1 Introduction .......................................................................................................... 0
1.1 ARC Origins ....................................................................................................................................... 0
1.2 What is ARC? .................................................................................................................................... 0
1.3 Release Frequency + Naming ........................................................................................................... 0
1.4 ARC Delivery ..................................................................................................................................... 2
1.4.1 ARC via Dropbox (default) .................................................................................................. 2
1.4.2 ARC via Google Drive .......................................................................................................... 3
1.5 New in Release – August 2015 ......................................................................................................... 3
1.5.1 Transferring New Items ...................................................................................................... 3
1.5.2 Changes This Release .......................................................................................................... 4
1.6 AS1100 ............................................................................................................................................. 8
1.7 No Need for the ARChetype? ........................................................................................................... 8
2 Getting Started with the ARChetype ...................................................................... 9
2.1 Download the ARChetype ................................................................................................................ 9
2.2 Loading your Customised Titleblocks ............................................................................................... 9
2.3 Insert your Text & Other Standards ................................................................................................. 9
2.4 Load the ARChetype Keynote file ................................................................................................... 10
2.5 Customising your ARChetype (Template) ...................................................................................... 10
2.6 Optimised Usage of the ARChetype and Farms ............................................................................. 10
2.7 Mapping your drive for rendering textures ................................................................................... 10
2.8 New Product Releases .................................................................................................................... 10
2.9 Starting a New Project ................................................................................................................... 11
3 ARChetype Features ............................................................................................. 12
3.1 ARChetype Overview ..................................................................................................................... 12
3.2 Levels (& associated plan views) .................................................................................................... 12
3.3 Phases & Phase Filters.................................................................................................................... 13
3.3.1 Phases for Relocated Buildings ......................................................................................... 14
3.3.2 Phase Filters beyond Standard ......................................................................................... 14
3.4 Views .............................................................................................................................................. 14
3.4.1 Working Views .................................................................................................................. 14
3.4.2 Views on Sheets ................................................................................................................ 15
3.4.3 Specific Notes for Views ................................................................................................... 16
3.4.4 Sea Level Plan View .......................................................................................................... 16
3.4.5 Plan Regions...................................................................................................................... 16
3.4.6 View Ranges ...................................................................................................................... 16
ARC Companion ©
Revised 30 Aug 2015
3.4.7 Building Envelope Drafting Views ..................................................................................... 17
3.4.8 Other Drafting Views ........................................................................................................ 17
3.4.9 Creating Extra Views ......................................................................................................... 18
3.4.10 Shadow Studies................................................................................................................. 19
3.4.11 Shadows Relative .............................................................................................................. 19
3.5 Sheet Numbering ........................................................................................................................... 20
3.5.1 XXX00 ................................................................................................................................ 20
3.5.2 Flexibility within the Set System ....................................................................................... 20
3.5.3 Hints .................................................................................................................................. 20
3.6 Titleblocks ...................................................................................................................................... 21
3.6.1 Sheet and Project Names ................................................................................................. 21
3.6.2 Titleblock Styles ................................................................................................................ 22
3.6.3 Issues ................................................................................................................................ 22
3.6.4 Drawing List at Issue ......................................................................................................... 24
3.6.5 Revisions ........................................................................................................................... 24
3.6.6 North Point ....................................................................................................................... 26
3.6.7 Scale Bars .......................................................................................................................... 28
3.6.8 Project Condition and Project Watermark ....................................................................... 29
3.6.9 Wind Rate ......................................................................................................................... 29
3.6.10 Project Status on Existing Sheets ...................................................................................... 30
3.7 Grids ............................................................................................................................................... 30
3.8 Guide Grids ..................................................................................................................................... 31
3.9 Object Styles ................................................................................................................................... 31
3.10 Autocad Imports ............................................................................................................................ 32
4 Annotations .......................................................................................................... 33
4.1 Annotations Overview.................................................................................................................... 33
4.2 Store of Lines + Hatches + Dimensions .......................................................................................... 33
4.3 Line Styles ....................................................................................................................................... 33
4.4 Text and Dimension Types ............................................................................................................. 34
4.4.1 Text ................................................................................................................................... 34
4.4.2 Adding extra Fonts ............................................................................................................ 34
4.4.3 Dimension Types............................................................................................................... 35
4.4.4 Model Text ........................................................................................................................ 35
4.5 Hatch Styles .................................................................................................................................... 35
4.6 Keynotes ......................................................................................................................................... 36
4.6.1 Auto Keynoting ................................................................................................................. 36
4.6.2 Keynote Annotations – Architectural ............................................................................... 37
4.6.3 Keynote Annotations - Structure ...................................................................................... 41
ARC Companion ©
Revised 30 Aug 2015
4.7 Annotation Symbols ....................................................................................................................... 43
4.7.1 Z100 .................................................................................................................................. 43
4.8 Spot Dimensions ............................................................................................................................ 46
4.8.1 Spot Elevations ................................................................................................................. 46
4.8.2 Spot Coordinates .............................................................................................................. 48
4.8.3 Spot Slopes ....................................................................................................................... 48
4.9 Arrowheads .................................................................................................................................... 48
4.10 Detail Items as Annotations ........................................................................................................... 50
4.10.1 Grid Dimension ................................................................................................................. 50
4.10.2 Fall Arrow .......................................................................................................................... 50
4.10.3 Service Lines ..................................................................................................................... 50
4.11 Detail Items as 2D Detailing ........................................................................................................... 50
4.12 Tags ................................................................................................................................................ 51
4.12.1 Door & Window Tags ........................................................................................................ 51
4.12.2 Room Tags ........................................................................................................................ 51
4.12.3 Ceiling Tag ......................................................................................................................... 51
4.12.4 Keynotes ........................................................................................................................... 51
4.12.5 Bracing Tags ...................................................................................................................... 51
4.12.6 Future Tags ....................................................................................................................... 51
4.13 ARChetype Annotations Extras ...................................................................................................... 52
5 Schedules and Legends ......................................................................................... 53
5.1 Door and Window Schedules and Legends .................................................................................... 53
5.2 Area Plans & Schedules .................................................................................................................. 55
5.3 Room Schedule and Room Tags ..................................................................................................... 56
5.4 Drawing Lists .................................................................................................................................. 57
5.5 Bracing ........................................................................................................................................... 58
5.5.1 Bracing Families ................................................................................................................ 58
5.5.2 Bracing Elevation .............................................................................................................. 60
5.5.3 Bracing Plans ..................................................................................................................... 60
5.5.4 Bracing Schedule............................................................................................................... 61
5.6 Floor Plan Icons Legends ................................................................................................................ 61
5.6.1 Icons Floor Plan Existing ................................................................................................... 61
5.6.2 Icons Floor Plan Proposed ................................................................................................ 61
5.7 Services Legend .............................................................................................................................. 63
6 Building Element Farms ........................................................................................ 64
6.1 Overview ........................................................................................................................................ 64
6.2 Rendering ....................................................................................................................................... 64
ARC Companion ©
Revised 30 Aug 2015
6.3 Walls ............................................................................................................................................... 64
6.3.1 Wall Sweeps ...................................................................................................................... 65
6.3.2 Curtain Walls .................................................................................................................... 65
6.3.3 Stacked Walls .................................................................................................................... 66
6.3.4 Walls with Intrinsic Sweeps .............................................................................................. 66
6.4 Rooves ............................................................................................................................................ 67
6.5 Fasciae, Gutters and Cappings ....................................................................................................... 67
6.5.1 A note about gutters: ....................................................................................................... 67
6.5.2 Making ridge and hip cappings at different pitches. ........................................................ 68
6.5.3 Hints and Tips for Fascias, Gutters and Cappings ............................................................. 70
6.6 Stairs & Railings .............................................................................................................................. 71
6.6.1 Stairs ................................................................................................................................. 71
6.6.2 Railings .............................................................................................................................. 71
6.7 Floors .............................................................................................................................................. 71
6.7.1 Floor Fasciae ..................................................................................................................... 71
6.8 Ceilings ........................................................................................................................................... 72
6.9 Structure ........................................................................................................................................ 72
6.10 Columns ......................................................................................................................................... 72
6.11 Assemblies ..................................................................................................................................... 73
6.12 Materials ........................................................................................................................................ 73
6.12.1 Materials Overview ........................................................................................................... 73
6.12.2 Loading the ARC Materials ............................................................................................... 73
6.12.3 Directing Revit to the Materials ........................................................................................ 74
6.12.4 Directing Revit to the Materials Manually ........................................................................ 75
7 Families (or Components) ..................................................................................... 76
7.1 Families Overview .......................................................................................................................... 76
7.2 Family modeling in ARC .................................................................................................................. 77
7.3 Family Nomenclature ..................................................................................................................... 77
7.4 On-Demand Families ...................................................................................................................... 79
7.5 Families By Others .......................................................................................................................... 79
7.6 Helpful Hint for Windows: ............................................................................................................. 79
8 Support ................................................................................................................ 80
8.1 Companion ..................................................................................................................................... 80
8.2 Check Lists ...................................................................................................................................... 80
8.3 Articles (Tips) .................................................................................................................................. 81
ARC Companion ©
Revised 30 Aug 2015
A Appendices ........................................................................................................... 82
A.1 APPENDIX - Sheet Numbering and Naming Conventions .............................................................. 83
A.1.1 Sheet Number System ...................................................................................................... 83
A.1.2 Sheet Type System ............................................................................................................ 85
A.2 APPENDIX - ARC Line Styles ............................................................................................................ 86
A.3 APPENDIX - ARC Hatch Types ......................................................................................................... 88
A.4 APPENDIX - ARC Text & Dimension Types ...................................................................................... 89
A.5 APPENDIX – ARC Level Heads ......................................................................................................... 90
A.6 APPENDIX – View Titles .................................................................................................................. 91
A.7 APPENDIX - ARChetype AnnotationsExtras .................................................................................... 92
A.7.1 Annotations Extras – Line Styles ....................................................................................... 92
A.7.2 Annotations Extras – Hatch .............................................................................................. 93
A.7.3 Annotations Extras – Text + Dimensions .......................................................................... 93
A.7.4 Annotations Extras – Model Text ..................................................................................... 94
A.7.5 Annotations Extras – View Names + Grid Heads + Level Heads ....................................... 94
A.7.6 Annotations Extras – Tags + Keynotes .............................................................................. 94
A.7.7 Annotations Extras – Spot Coordinates ............................................................................ 94
A.8 APPENDIX – ARC Door and Window tags ....................................................................................... 95
A.9 APPENDIX – All Annotations........................................................................................................... 96
A.10 APPENDIX – Schedules ................................................................................................................. 100
A.10.1 Area Schedules ............................................................................................................... 100
A.10.2 Material Quantity Schedules .......................................................................................... 101
A.10.3 Topography Schedule ..................................................................................................... 102
A.10.4 Notation Schedules ......................................................................................................... 102
A.10.5 Bracing Schedules ........................................................................................................... 102
A.10.6 Drawing Schedules (Lists) ............................................................................................... 103
A.10.7 Door & Window Schedules ............................................................................................. 103
A.10.8 Framing & Slab Schedules (Legends) .............................................................................. 103
A.10.9 Note Blocks for General Notes & Sheet Specific Notes .................................................. 103
A.11 APPENDIX – Tips (Support Articles) .............................................................................................. 104
A.12 APPENDIX – ARC4Revit Blog ......................................................................................................... 104
A.13 APPENDIX - Exporting to CAD ....................................................................................................... 105
A.13.1 CAD for Consultants ........................................................................................................ 105
A.13.2 CAD for Clients ................................................................................................................ 106
A.14 APPENDIX - Sharing Revit file ....................................................................................................... 107
A.15 APPENDIX – Autocad Imports ...................................................................................................... 108
B Appendices – Previous ARC Revisions ................................................................. 109
B.1 APPENDIX – Previous Revisions, November 2014 ........................................................................ 109
ARC Companion ©
Revised 30 Aug 2015
Authors & Editors:
Peter Latemore
Kaylene Tuxworth
Andrew Beaman
Copywriting:
Julie Welch
ARC Companion ©
Revised 30 Aug 2015
Page 0
1 Introduction
1.1 ARC Origins
ARC originated in 2012, out of requests by potential users, to supply a system for Revit. It
originally reflected Latemore Design's own processes, from where ARC was launched, and
has advanced significantly with endless feedback from users. We welcome your input!
1.2 What is ARC?
The ARC is a fully integrated support system for Revit and incorporates all three of these,
plus useful extras, delivered via the Cloud on Dropbox.
ARChetype from ARC is the Template, and is setup primarily for smaller projects, but suits
ALL building types, with some minor tweaking. For a full expose refer 3.1 ARChetype
Overview.
Building Elements files contain project based items like floors, walls, rooves and stairs.
You simply Copy & Paste the required elements from these files into your project. For
further information refer 6 Building Element Farms.
Families from the huge ARC library can also be loaded in as required. For a synopsis refer 7
Families (or Components).
This Companion has been prepared to enable you to use the ARChetype. It will not teach
you how to use Revit. For help with Revit basics we suggest looking at "Introducing Revit" &
"Start a Project" in Revit Help or training from your reseller.
ARC provides additional resources, including a QA system of Check Sheets, and a series of
Tips. Refer 8.2 Check Lists and A.11 APPENDIX – Tips (Support Articles).
1.3 Release Frequency + Naming
ARChetype is released annually, as a new version, around July/August. In this way, you only
need to update or create your own template once a year. It is nominally named for the year
of its release and the previous year’s Revit version. Eg ARChetype Revit 1501.rvt is released
mid-year 2015, in R2015. As such it is one year behind Revit releases, which users prefer
while Autodesk issues software updates. We release a previous & current year’s version as
well.
Elements in the main are intended to be updated, if occurring, around the same time. If we
add new and improved elements, then the elements files will be updated on an ad hoc basis.
Families as individual items are added as they are created. Family Farms are intended to be
released in batches.
Announcements of each release are made via the ARC4Revit blog. You are added as an
email follower when joining ARC. Refer A.12 APPENDIX – ARC4Revit Blog.
The Holy Trinity of good Revit use is:
Template + Building Elements + Families.
ARC Companion ©
Revised 30 Aug 2015
Page 9
2 Getting Started with the ARChetype
The ARChetype system adopts a principle of 'All Set with some Flexibility'. The ARChetype is
set up ready for use by most practices, and is customised with minor adjustments for you.
Customised items currently include:
• Titleblock
• Text Types
• Dimension Types
Standard Notes & Details may be included in later releases.
2.1 Download the ARChetype
DO NOT overwrite the standard ARChetype in the Dropbox file.
Copy the standard ARChetype to your computer and rename the file.
e.g. YourName-ARChetype.rvt
You have a choice of using a Project File (rvt) or Template File (rte). The Template file allows
you to select it each time you start a new project.
2.2 Loading your Customised Titleblocks
Load your customised Titleblocks:
1. Click Insert tab � Load Family
2. Navigate to Dropbox (or storage location).
3. Select an ARC Titleblock within your individual Dropbox folder.
4. If asked, do "Overwrite" existing titleblocks in the project file.
5. Repeat until all Titleblocks within your individual Dropbox have been loaded.
6. This changes all the standard Titleblocks across the ARChetype sheets to your customised
titleblocks.
7. Note: you can also simply drag & drop all the Titleblocks from Windows Explorer onto the
Revit window.
2.3 Insert your Text & Other Standards
Load your individual Extras:
1. Open your YourNameRevitStandards.rvt (Please note, if your Dropbox folder has a ReadMe
file instead, we have deduced you do not need this as the ARChetype has all you require.)
2. Locate the drafting view StoreTypes-YourName
3. In the Project Browser, right-click on StoreTypes-YourName drafting view and select
CopyToClipboard. Do not close file yet.
4. In YourName-ARChetype.rvt file, PasteFromClipboard (on the Modify tab)
This will insert your preferred text fonts etc as drafting views in YourName-ARChetype.rvt.
ARC Companion ©
Revised 30 Aug 2015
Page 11
2.9 Starting a New Project
• Open your customised template and save it to your project name. A standard
convention for naming project files is recommended and may have a format such as :
• JobNo-Client-ProjectStatus-Rev.rvt
• Specify the project information Manage tab � Project Information
• Move the levels to suit your project. Refer 3.2 Levels
• Adjust views to respond to level changes. Refer 3.2 Levels
• Remove the dummy elements that exist in your template. These items are placed in
the ARChetype to provide an indication of where to place your model so that it
coincides with the existing views. The dummy elements include:
- floors, walls and rooves in both the Existing and the New Construction phases
- a toposurface in the Existing phase
- property lines
• Create toposurface. Refer the support article ARChetype Topo from Survey.pdf (in
Dropbox, ARC 3.01 Support, in the folder 1.02 Tips). Or visit Revit Help.
• Specify Property lines. Refer Revit Help
• Set project north. Refer the support article ARChetype Project vs True North.pdf (in
Dropbox, ARC 3.01 Support, in the folder 1.02 Tips) and Revit Help.
• Create your model in the Working Views (Refer 3.4.1) ensuring that the correct
phasing is used. The existing building should be modeled in the views:
02.00 working Exist L0 plan, 02.01 working Exist L1 plan, 02.02 working Exist L2 plan
and 02.03 working Exist roof plan.
New / proposed work should be modeled in the views:
03.00 working Prop L0 plan, 03.01 working Prop L1 plan, 03.02 working Prop L2 plan
and 03.03 working Prop roof plan.
• Annotate the drawings with text, dimensions, tags and keynotes. Refer 4 Annotations.
• Update schedules and legends. Refer 5 Schedules and Legends.
• Ensure issue data is correct. Refer 3.6.3 Issues.
Existing phase New Construction phase
ARC Companion ©
Revised 30 Aug 2015
Page 12
3 ARChetype Features
3.1 ARChetype Overview
A couple of dummy buildings have been placed in the ARChetype to indicate roughly where
to start creating your model. These also help us develop the ARChetype. They are made up
out of simple generic versions, so that materials in any loaded elements take precedence.
The dummy buildings are totally grey and quite simple.
The ARChetype is set with the common two Phases which should be used correctly.
(eg. the toposurface goes in Existing, new building goes in New Construction).
The ARChetype includes drafting views with the prefix Store which contain elements such as
line styles and dimension styles. Do not delete them or a purge will remove important
elements.
There are many preset views, sheets, schedules, & more. The complete set can be seen by
expanding items in the Project Browser. The Project Browser is set to “ARC” which is the
same as Views Not on Sheets. This gives a clearer and less cumbersome Browser.
The ARChetype opening view provides limited instructions on getting started with the
Template. More detailed information can be found in this Companion. Read on!
Every sheet contains extensive explanatory green notes to assist you.
3.2 Levels (& associated plan views)
The ARChetype has default levels as per this table:
The table is arranged from top to bottom, just like on
views.
Level 0 has a default setting = AHD 10.000
e Level 0 has a default setting = AHD 9.400
Level 0, Level 1, Level 2 e Level 0, e Level 1 and e Level
2 are intended to be floor levels.
At Latemore Design, we have found that the top plate
levels are the most effective way to set walls and roof
pitching points. As per everything in Revit, the best
way to think about using Revit is as if you were
building a real building inside the computer. Walls
actually do go to a top plate position, regardless of
what the ceiling does. So we have found the best thing
to do is place your walls from the floor level up to the
top plate level and adjust the outer cladding correctly.
Elements like trusses or a pitched roof can be correctly
located at the roof top plate. When you place the
ceiling, use your knowledge of the edge wall roof
junction detail and place the ceiling at the correct
position. If you need to, place an extra level in your drawings to reflect the ceiling level.
When you have determined the AHD of the levels you require you will need to move the
provided levels. This can be deduced from a survey. The levels can be moved
simultaneously by selecting them in a section or elevation view and moving to the required
Proposed Existing
roof top plate e roof top plate
Level 2 e Level 2
L1 top plate e L1 top plate
Level 1 e Level 1
L0 top plate e L0 top plate
Level 0 e Level 0
ARC Companion ©
Revised 30 Aug 2015
Page 13
height. Or you can dimension between the levels, lock those dimensions and move them as
a ‘group’. The Sea level should be left in place.
The views currently have crop regions which may not show the appropriate area once the
levels have been moved. These are easily adjusted to suit. In a section, activate the view,
select the crop region and move it up or down the same amount as the levels were moved.
Existing ARChetype grids, if you wish to use them, will also need to be lifted to the AHD of
your project as well. Do this by highlighting all grids (use Select All Instances) and in a
section or elevation view, move them up the required distance.
Adjusting 3D views is not quite as easy. Select the section box in the 3D view and drag its
faces to show the model. The view on the sheet will then need to be moved back to the
required position. (Tip: you can also turn off crop box in properties, press ZA to zoom all and
then turn crop box back on. It should now crop around the located building & topo etc)
Most working plans and plans on sheets in the New
Construction Phase include a plan region associated with
the existing levels. The plan region can be moved and
resized to suit and enables the plan to display model items
associated with the existing levels that may not otherwise
be visible in the view
Levels that are not required can be deleted and all plans
associated with the deleted level will also be removed
from the project. When deleting excess levels, do not
delete Level 0 or roof top plate as a number of required
views including Site plans will be deleted.
Note: You will receive Warnings referring to the deleted level defining view ranges. These
will self-adjust and the warnings may be ignored.
The ARChetype includes a number of level head styles. Refer to A.5 APPENDIX – ARC Level Heads.
3.3 Phases & Phase Filters
A building project tends to proceed in phases. For example a ‘new’ project usually only has a
toposurface in existing phase, whereas a renovation project starts with the existing building,
parts of it are demolished and parts are added. It is important to model the correct parts in
the correct phase so that filtering by phases is successful. For a renovation the existing
building and topography are modeled in the Existing phase, and the demolition and new
building elements are undertaken in the New Construction phase.
The phases built into the ARChetype are:
Existing and New Construction.
The Existing and the New Construction phases are the ones you will be using for most
projects.
The Phase Filters have been set appropriately for the views provided and depend on the
user utilising the correct phase when building the model as described above.
Additional phases can be added to suit the project being undertaken. Refer to Revit help for
more information.
ARC Companion ©
Revised 30 Aug 2015
Page 15
3.4.2 Views on Sheets
Many of the views provided with the ARChetype have been placed on sheets. They do not
appear in the Browser list as this has been set to display only those views that are not on
sheets. Views on sheets can be found by expanding the sheet title in the Browser. All views
on sheets have their Visual Style set to Hidden View, ready for printing. If you switch a view
from Hidden Line (essentially Black & White) to Shaded (colour), make sure you switch it
back prior to printing, unless you do want colour.
When placed on sheets, the view or viewport title style can be changed by selecting the
view and choosing from the dropdown list of title at the top of the Properties window. The
ARChetype has a number of title styles including no title, ones with and without references
and ones with and without circles and underlines. Refer A.6 APPENDIX – View Titles.
On some sheets, the ARChetype adopts a practice of overlaying views. An example of this is
111FP – Level 1 Floor Plan. While there are a number of schedules and legends on this sheet,
you will also notice two Floor Plans.
On the sheet these two views are placed one over the other to show the plan and the
overhead roof lines. Note that the view with overhead roof lines is set to wireframe so that
it does not obscure the plan view below it.
This practice is used on most sheets with floor
plans and framing diagrams. It helps reduce
the drafting of items such as overhead lines for
roofs and floors above. The views with the
overhead drafting lines are set to wireframe
and VisibilityGraphics and ViewRange are used
to control the elements shown e.g. just floor or
roof outlines. The wireframe views are placed
over the other views.
Framing diagrams in the ARChetype are built up as 2 or
3 viewports so the drawing represents the structure
and supporting elements in a way that looks similar to industry expectations.
It can be a useful practice to Pin (on the Modify tab) views in place to avoid accidental
movement.
“proposed L1 floor plan” with
“proposed FloorRoof lines over L1” as placed on sheet
proposed L1 floor plan proposed FloorRoof lines over L1
ARC Companion ©
Revised 30 Aug 2015
Page 18
3.4.9 Creating Extra Views
The ARChetype has a number of View
Templates that reflect the view
properties associated with existing
ARC views and can be applied when
creating extra views. To take
advantage of these, create a new view
and in the view properties apply an
appropriate View Template. The new
view will be customised with view
properties such as view scale,
discipline, detail level, and visibility
settings that are ARC standards.
When a view has a view template
applied, it restricts further changes to
the view properties. We therefore
recommend that after applying the appropriate view template, you return to the Apply View
Template window and set the view template to none. The view properties from the view
template will be retained by the view but access to the view properties will not be restricted.
ARC Companion ©
Revised 30 Aug 2015
Page 20
3.5 Sheet Numbering
The Sheet numbering system adopted in the ARChetype was developed
by Mark Wilson of Architects Black & Wilson in conjunction with ARC.
Mark has fully tested this, finding it useful, especially on site.
3.5.1 XXX00
In general, ‘numbers’ are triple digits plus double letters, with digits being the ‘Sheet
Number’ and letters describing the ‘Sheet Type’. This provides greater power than just a
digit or two, and has similarities to the Library of Congress cataloging system. A list of sheet
and type categories is in A.1 APPENDIX - Sheet Numbering and Naming Conventions. The
ARChetype has a near complete sheet set. Delete any sheets that are not needed.
The ‘Sheet Number’ also has the ability to represent a floor level. For example, the first
level floor plan is 111FP, which is in the 100 century for plans, 10 decade for floor plans, 1
for level 1, and FP for ‘Floor Plan’.
Each section has a separator or cover sheet, if you need it. We recommend using them for
large projects. These are numbered in the centuries, i.e. 300 - Sections.
3.5.2 Flexibility within the Set System
The intent of this system is that each sheet (drawing) number, remains the same across all
projects, and therefore it is relatively easy to insert extras.
The system is flexible - change numbers as you need or prefer, but try to stay generally
within categories, so sharing of files is easier. As the ARC group grows, all users will find it
simple to work with each other.
If you need space for staged development or option views, insert these in the spare spots.
3.5.3 Hints
Too many sheets:
There are a lot of sheets in the ARChetype, which can sometimes be a little overwhelming.
What if you don’t want to sift through them all on your Project Browser but you don’t want
to delete them just in case you require them at a later stage? One idea is to rename the
sheets in question with a Z in front of the existing sheet name.
eg. 621DW – Details – Wall Type X becomes Z621DW – Details – Wall Type X
This sheet will now be listed at the bottom of the list of sheets in your Project Browser.
Additional Hints from Mark Wilson:
Mark uses an additional method, whereby he adds a “1” or “2” after the sheet number:
“1” indicates the sheet is active, while “2” means the sheet is in colour and active.
He alters 3D “visual style” depending on project status, and adds more views. For Pre-Design the
model is rudimentary, with minimal views. For Sketch Design, plants & furniture are added in
‘consistent colours’. For Design Development there are coloured 3D’s, with some renders. For
Working Drawings a couple of rendered & coloured 3D’s remain, but all vegetation is removed and
lots of 3D black and white views are included.
ARC Companion ©
Revised 30 Aug 2015
Page 24
You can elect to not use this Issue system and utilise the Revit Revision system. If you
choose to do this, it is recommended that you delete the sample text in SheetIssueList01
and make the Issue field reflect your revision number.
3.6.4 Drawing List at Issue
The ARChetype cover sheet has the schedule DwgListCover placed on it. This schedule can
be filtered based on the SheetIssue field to show only those sheets included in the Issue.
Refer Revit help for further information on filtering schedules. Also refer 5.4 Drawing Lists.
3.6.5 Revisions
Where it is necessary to identify the specific changes to a drawing, Revit's Revision process is
appropriate. Refer the suggested procedures with Issues vs Revisions above.
Changes since the documents were issued to an authority or builder should be marked with
a revision cloud in a view. Revision clouds can be added to any view (or sheet) with the
exception of 3D views. The Revision list for the sheet on which the view is placed is
automatically updated. Only revision numbers used in views on a sheet, will populate that
sheet's titleblock.
Suggested SheetIssue Naming Protocol
EX Existing first issue - EX1
second issue - EX2
SK Sketch Design Stage first issue - SK1
second issue - SK2
DD Design Development first issue - DD1
second issue - DD2
DA Development Application first issue - DA1
second issue - DA2
WD Working Drawings for Building
Approval
first issue - WD1
second issue - WD2
CD Contract Documentation and/or
Contract Administration
first issue - CD1
second issue - CD2
AB As Built Documents at project
completion
first issue - AB1
second issue - AB2
ARC Companion ©
Revised 30 Aug 2015
Page 26
3.6.6 North Point
The ARChetype includes a North Point in the Titleblocks and provides seven styles of North
Points with two referring to both True and Magnetic North.
The style can be chosen by selecting the Titleblock and, in the Titleblock properties, checking
the desired North Point. To display no North Point, leave all North Point options unchecked.
Also please note you can change the North point and its properties across all sheets as per
below.
Be careful not to check more than one option as the
titleblock will include all checked North Points on top of one
another.
The rotation of the North Point can also be controlled in the
Titleblock properties. The NorthPointRotation should be set
to the number of degrees you wish to rotate the North Point
in a clockwise direction.
The two North Points showing True and Magnetic North can
be further manipulated in the Titleblock properties. The
degrees between Magnetic North and True North can be
changed to match the project’s location. By default,
MagneticfromTrueNorth is set to 11o which is suited to the
Brisbane area. For a discussion on the intricacies of
True/Magnetic North look at our article ARChetype-TrueNorthVsMagneticNorth.pdf.
Within the ARChetype, sheets related to plans have a North Point showing in the Titleblock.
Other sheets including elevations and sections have no North Point selected in Titleblock
Properties, so therefore no North Point is displayed in the Titleblock.
NorthPoint
SingleArrow Bold
NorthPoint
MultiArrows
NorthPoint
SingleArrow Light
NorthPoint
MultiLines
NorthPoint
Outline
NorthPoint
Classic
NorthPoint
Chunky
Your individual
Titleblock may have
an extra North Point,
based on your
examples.
ARC Companion ©
Revised 30 Aug 2015
Page 33
4 Annotations
4.1 Annotations Overview
The ARChetype contains most of the annotation items that a practice will require, based on
research we conducted across ARC users. ARChetype contains the fonts Arial and Arial
Narrow, along with quite a few line styles, hatches, dimensions, tags, level & view titles and
much more.
There are a lot more available. These are in a file ARChetype AnnotationsExtras.rvt. Refer
4.13 ARChetype Annotations Extras for a description and how to use.
4.2 Store of Lines + Hatches + Dimensions
There are a number of drafting views in the ARChetype under the Coordination heading
including:
• StoreLineStyles - shown in A.2 APPENDIX - ARC Line Styles
• StoreHatchTypes - shown in A.3 APPENDIX - ARC Hatch Types
• StoreTextDimTypes - shown in A.4 APPENDIX - ARC Text & Dimension Types
As these drafting views contain examples of the ARChetype annotation items, they will not
be removed in a purge as long as the drafting view exists in the project. Do not delete these
drafting views. Read on . . .
4.3 Line Styles
The ARChetype contains a series of drafting views under Coordination to store standards.
The drafting view StoreLineStyles (shown in A.2 APPENDIX - ARC Line Styles) stores the line
style standards included in the ARChetype. These line styles can be grouped into four
categories: Revit Essentials & ARC Standard, which are kept in ARChetype; and Revit
Standards & Lineweight, which are kept in the file ARChetype AnnotationsExtras.rvt. (Refer
A.7.1 Annotations Extras – Line Styles).
Revit Essentials
These are part of the Revit standard methodology and include line styles like <Beyond>,
<Centreline>, <Demolished>, <Hidden>, <Overhead>, Thin Lines, and Wide Lines. These are
used throughout Revit.
ARC Standard
The naming convention for these line styles is _ARC followed by a description of the line
with the exception of a collection of basic lines which have descriptive names only (e.g. 0.10
black). Many of these lines have been developed to suit the needs of most users. The 0.35
pink line, for example, is used by many in-house as a ‘sketch’ as it is similar to Revit’s, and
the _ARC Building Envelope line is used to show the allowable building envelope when
required for council submissions.
Invisible lines have also been included in this section. In Revit, the invisible line is actually a
white line which masks out anything underneath it.
There are a number of useful framing lines like _ARC Framing Joist line included in the ARC
line styles.
ARC Companion ©
Revised 30 Aug 2015
Page 37
4.6.2 Keynote Annotations – Architectural
This system is similar to the more specific Renovations and Demolition symbol and note
blocks. The symbol for this system has several fields, to then ‘drive’ a variety of Note Blocks
(which are Schedules in Revit) across many sheets in ARChetype. These fields can create
sets of notes that are general or specific in nature. For example, a set of general notes for
Demolition uses the system to produce a set of notes. For a specific example, many sheets
possess a schedule for a filtered set of notes per sheet, which emulates the Auto Keynoting.
The specifics of the symbol are below.
The Drafting View 03.02
StoreSymbolsForNoteBlocks DoNotDelete
contains the additional symbol Annotations that
drive the many note blocks in ARChetype.
At left is a portion of that view. The left half
stores the symbols driving the General Notes,
which are notes of a general nature that relate
to an aspect of the project, like Demolition or
Framing. Quite a few contain suggested text,
which you are required to check. The drafting
view has and will end up containing ALL instances of the text that populates the General
note blocks throughout ARChetype. Most of these are also copied onto 732NT. If you want
to add extra lines to the General note blocks, simply copy one of the symbols, and edit the
NoteNo and NoteDescription, and the notation will appear in the relevant note block
throughout ARChetype.
The right half contains the symbols that drive the Sheet
Specific Notes. For these, the symbol itself also is placed
within views on selected sheets, like plans, elevations and
sections. Only one instance per sheet is on the drafting view,
to ensure the system can still be used if the symbols within
views are deleted. These symbols are similar to keynotes, in
that they allow you to place numbers (or letters) on the view
to then notate the item, and populate a note block on the
sheet. This allows you to place project specific notes on views
unrelated to Auto Keynoting. The symbol contains a field
SheetNo that ensures the notation only appears in the relevant note block. If you copy the
symbol elsewhere on the sheet and edit the NoteNo and NoteDescription, it will
automatically appear in that sheet’s note block, as the SheetNo field will be the same.
Please note, Sheet Notes are already setup across all the floor plans, elevations and
sections.
ARC Companion ©
Revised 30 Aug 2015
Page 43
4.7 Annotation Symbols
The ARChetype contains a number of commonly used annotation symbols which may be
placed within a view or on a sheet. These symbols can be included in your drawing set using
the Symbols tool on the Annotations tab. Also refer A.9 APPENDIX – All Annotations.
4.7.1 Z100
To maintain their presence in the ARChetype after a purge, they have been deposited in the
sheet Z100 - Sheet Add-ons.
ARC Companion ©
Revised 30 Aug 2015
Page 46
4.8 Spot Dimensions
All Spot Dimension ‘annotations’ are project based items and do not depend upon a family. As
such you will only see them when you start a Spot command. EG Annotate tab � Spot Elevation.
The editing screen for these is very extensive, just like normal dimensions.
4.8.1 Spot Elevations
The ARChetype includes many formats of Spot Elevation showing the project level of the
model item and a number which display a Relative elevation. Project based spot elevations
display the elevation of the model item above Project Level Zero. Relative spot elevations
display the elevation of the model item as a dimension from the level associated with the
current view.
The examples below show the Project based
spot elevation of a model item that has been
placed at 9150mm above Project Level Zero.
The examples below show the Relative spot elevation
of a model item that has been placed at 9150mm
above Project Level Zero where the Associated Level of
the current view is 10000mm. That is, the model item
is at 850mm below the Associated Level of 10000mm.
ARC Companion ©
Revised 30 Aug 2015
Page 52
4.13 ARChetype Annotations Extras
The ARChetype contains the most used annotation items. It
was reduced in July 2015, to gain efficiencies for users. Quite a
lot more are available in an ‘extras’ file:
ARChetype AnnotationsExtras.rvt.
This file contains all the extra fonts that most users have
requested. This can include Century Gothic, Helvetica and
others. It also contains extra view types and level types such as
Century Gothic.
If you require something that is beyond what is in ARChetype,
we suggest you open ARChetype AnnotationsExtras.rvt and
investigate what is available by expanding the project browser and looking through the
drafting views as illustrated. If you still need something else, let ARC know and we’ll add it
for other users too.
You simply copy and paste any item you require. Some of the items can be brought in using
Transfer Project Standards: Manage tab � Transfer Project Standards, mainly things like
level & view titles. Or you can copy and paste entire drafting views into your project file and
this will bring all of the extras in. We do not recommend this though for the Text/Dimension
drafting view, as you’ll insert over 200 text types and 100 Dimension types.
Refer A.7 APPENDIX - ARChetype AnnotationsExtras, for a full list of contents of the Extras
file.
ARC Companion ©
Revised 30 Aug 2015
Page 53
5 Schedules and Legends
The ARChetype includes a number of schedules and legends which take advantage of the
features offered by the Revit software to display information from the Revit model in a
tabular form. This is part of the power of BIM. The schedules & legends include:
• area schedules
• note blocks
• door and window schedules & legends
• drawing lists
• legends for floor and roof framing
• services lines legend
Schedules not only assemble data, but are an ideal place to modify the characteristics of
elements and objects within the Revit model. e.g. the sheet issue can be updated in the
drawing list schedule without opening each sheet to make the modification; and deleting a
row from a schedule will delete every instance of the item listed in that row.
Not all schedules or legends are fully explained in this section, as they are fairly self-
explanatory. Refer A.10 APPENDIX – Schedules for a more complete list of included
schedules.
5.1 Door and Window Schedules and Legends
The ARChetype uses the standard Revit methodology of documenting doors / windows with
a Schedule and a Legend. These have been placed on sheets 701SC - Window Schedule and
711SC-Door Schedule.
Schedule
The Schedule includes industry standard fields:
• mark
• quantity
• level
• head height
• width
• frame material
• window style
• glazing
• comments
The schedule gathers a lot of the information required to populate it, however, some fields
require text entry. There are green notes on the sheets to assist. Please note we intend
adding a field for panel sizes.
The schedule contains hidden fields which can be useful to the designer but not required on
the printed sheet. These fields currently include Family and Type. The columns for these
fields can be displayed by using the right-click � Unhide Columns option when editing a
schedule. To hide columns, right-click, on the columns and chose the Hide Columns option.
ARC Companion ©
Revised 30 Aug 2015
Page 55
5.2 Area Plans & Schedules
Area plans are views which enable you to show spatial relationships in your model. They are
based on the levels of your model and area schemes from which schedules are derived. The
ARChetype includes a number of common area plans with their associated schemes and
schedules. These are for:
• Existing floor area
• Proposed floor area
• New floor area
• GFA
• Site cover
• POS (Private Open Space)
• COS (Common Open Space)
• Landscaping
Each area plan has preset area boundaries with linking area tags so that they relate to each
schedule. You should adjust the boundaries to suit your model. For the GFA (Gross Floor
Area) scheme place your boundaries on the side of the outer walls that is required in your
district, and the GFA schedule will automatically update.
The Site cover area scheme is designed to check the site coverage percentage. It is important
to ensure that the site covered boundary is wholly within the site open boundary for the
calculations to work.
The new and proposed area schemes are similar to one another. The proposed floor area is
intended for renovations, where there are retained or modified portions of buildings.
As schedules can be sorted and filtered on fields within the schedule, a comments field has
been included in these area plan schedules. The comments field is a hidden column which
can be used for information which becomes a secondary header within the schedule.
Refer A.10 APPENDIX – Schedules for a more complete list of included schedules.
Snapshots of Proposed Area Schedule in schedule
editor. Comments column showing.
Snapshots of Proposed Area Schedule as placed
on sheet. Comments column hidden.
ARC Companion ©
Revised 30 Aug 2015
Page 58
5.5 Bracing
The ARChetype includes a number of structural bracing families and associated bracing plans and
elevations to assist the user with documenting bracing. To ‘start’ you may need to use the
elevation sheet first to ascertain the resistance required. Refer 5.5.2 Bracing Elevation.
5.5.1 Bracing Families
ARChetype includes the most common bracing elements as families, like ply & steel cross braces,
as well as more exotic items like piers, and masonry walls. Below is a list of those provided along
with the tag you should use, in descending order from most common. Note the less common
items are bunched together in single rows. The most common types within each bracing
element are provided, but not every option otherwise ARChetype would be overloaded. For
details on each type look at sheet 643DB. All Bracing ‘Families’ are in the Structural Framing
category, as a model item with symbolic lines. The only model portions are vertical ‘invisible’
model lines to ensure view ranges can ‘see’ them. ARChetype manages to combine into one
schedule rated items like ply sheet with items that have fixed capacity like piers.
Image Family Name & Types Family Description
What it represents
Tag Tag Name
ARC BracingPanel
PlyBracingPanel-MethodA-5.1kN/m-
3300high-80%
Ply bracing installed as per Method
A* for wall heights between 3300
& 3599mm
ARC BracingPanel Tag Note: the lower value of this tag
indicates the length of the element
ARC BracingPanel
PlyBracingPanel-MethodA-5.7kN/m-
3000high-90%
Ply bracing installed as per Method
A* for wall heights between 2700
& 3299mm
ARC BracingPanel Tag Note: the lower value of this tag
indicates the length of the element
ARC BracingPanel
PlyBracingPanel-MethodA-6.4kN/m-
2700high-100%
Ply bracing installed as per Method
A* for wall heights up to 2700mm
ARC BracingPanel Tag Note: the lower value of this tag
indicates the length of the element
ARC BracingPanel
PlyBracingPanel-MethodB-4.8kN/m-
3300high-80%
Ply bracing installed as per Method
B* for wall heights between 3300 &
3599mm
ARC BracingPanel Tag Note: the lower value of this tag
indicates the length of the element
ARC BracingPanel
PlyBracingPanel-MethodB-5.4kN/m-
3000high-90%
Ply bracing installed as per Method
B* for wall heights between 2700 &
3299mm
ARC BracingPanel Tag Note: the lower value of this tag
indicates the length of the element
ARC BracingPanel
PlyBracingPanel-MethodB-6.0kN/m-
2700high-100%
Ply bracing installed as per Method
B* for wall heights up to 2700mm
ARC BracingPanel Tag Note: the lower value of this tag
indicates the length of the element
ARC BracingPanel
PlyBracingPanel600w-MethodB-
3.0kN/m-2700high-50%
Ply bracing installed as per Method
B* for wall heights up to 2700mm
& panel width > 600mm &
<900mm
ARC BracingPanel Tag Note: the lower value of this tag
indicates the length of the element
ARC Bracing CrossSteel
CrossBrace-Steel-9kN
Steel cross bracing with a bracing
capacity of 9kN
ARC BracingkN Tag
ARC Bracing CrossSteel
CrossBrace-Steel-15kN
Steel cross bracing with a bracing
capacity of 15kN
ARC BracingkN Tag
ARC Bracing TimberStump
TimberStump 0.8kN
TimberStump 1.0kN
TimberStump 1.25kN
Timber stump with a bracing
capacity of 0.8kN, 1.0kN & 1.25kN
ARC BracingkN Tag
ARC Bracing SteelPost
SteelPost 600h 4.0kN
SteelPost 900h 3.0kN
Steel post with a max height of
600/900mm & bracing capacity of
4.0kN/3.0kN
ARC BracingkN Tag
ARC Bracing ConcStump
ConcStump 2.5kN
Concrete stump with a bracing
capacity of 1.25kN
ARC BracingkN Tag
Continued . . .
ARC Companion ©
Revised 30 Aug 2015
Page 63
5.7 Services Legend
On the site plans 101SP & 102SP is this
legend, parked off to right. It is based on:
"ARC DetailItem ServiceLines Arial.rvt"
If you use that detail item on the site plans,
move the legend onto the sheet. If you end
up using the detail item on floor plans, we
suggest you also place the legend on that
sheet. Legends are the only views that can be
placed on multiple sheets, but they cannot be
copy/pasted to another project.
ARC Companion ©
Revised 30 Aug 2015
Page 64
6 Building Element Farms
6.1 Overview
ARC supplies a number of project files known as elements and farms. The ARChetype
contains only a few elements, all generic, as mentioned earlier, instead of overloading the
ARChetype. The files currently used to store elements are:
• ARC BuildingElements Walls *
• ARC BuildingElements Rooves *
• ARC BuildingElements RailingStairs *
• ARC BuildingElements Floors *
• ARC BuildingElements CeilingsSoffits *
• ARC FamilyFarm-Structure *
• ARC FamilyFarm-Columns
• ARC Assemblies *
As you require items, open the appropriate file; select the required elements and Copy &
Paste to your project file. This is best world practice in Revit. You will need to keep both
files open as you do this as Revit clears the Clipboard when you close a project. It is best to
paste into a 3D or plan view.
Note that a hosted element such as a wall sweep will need to be copied in with its current
host (i.e. the wall).
6.2 Rendering
All elements have fully renderable materials. Refer 6.12 Materials for a full discussion on
this and what you must do on your computer to make the renders possible.
6.3 Walls
The file ARC BuildingElements Walls *
contains walls and wall hosted items such as
wall sweeps.
Revit walls have been created as proper
building elements with all the appropriate
layers. The top and bottom extensions on the
outer layer of the walls have been unlocked
to allow the extension option to function
appropriately. It is recommended that the
walls be placed to suit the main structural position and the extension option used to allow
the cladding to cover items such as joists, bearers or rafters.
It is a good practice to use grids to place walls and, indeed, most Revit elements whenever
practical. All ARC walls are shown with the core representing the structural portion. This is in
line with the Revit methodology where the core is the structural part e.g. the studs or steel
framing.
*
means:
End of names have the Revit
version
. . . Walls 2015
We release 2 or 3 Revit
versions of these each year
ARC Companion ©
Revised 30 Aug 2015
Page 67
6.4 Rooves
The ARC BuildingElements Rooves * file
contains a considerable number of rooves
and associated items such as fasciae, gutters
and cappings.
The included steel and tile rooves have
multiple layers representing the structural
and finish layers of a roof. After copying a
roof into your project we do not recommend
editing that roof. Instead, select that roof and
use the Create Similar command to start a
new roof of the same type.
6.5 Fasciae, Gutters and Cappings
The ARC BuildingElements Rooves * file
contains fasciae, gutters, hip, ridge cappings
and valleys for both tile and steel rooves at
numerous pitches. Please note – these items
act like sweeps, whereby Revit ‘runs’ the
profile along an ‘edge’ of the roof. As such,
they are ‘elements’ not families, and must be
created within a project file. So, being hosted
items (project based), they must be copied
and pasted with their host (the roof). We highly recommend you adopt these sweeps, as
your building will instantly look real for very little effort, since ARC has done it all for you.
6.5.1 A note about gutters:
In Revit, the hosted Gutters will only attach to a horizontal edge of a roof or fascia. It is not
possible to place a Revit gutter element on a non-horizontal portion of a roof or fascia.
To overcome this shortfall, the ARC gutter elements have been created as fascia elements.
These 'gutters' will follow the roof or fascia and wrap completely around any shaped roof.
To use these families choose the Architecture tab � Roof � Roof: Fascia, select a 'gutter'
family and proceed as usual.
ARC Companion ©
Revised 30 Aug 2015
Page 71
6.6 Stairs & Railings
The file ARC BuildingElements RailingStairs *
contains a collection of both stairs and
railings.
6.6.1 Stairs
Stairs by component and by sketch have been
created for ease of copy and paste into your
project file. These stairs will then need to be
modified to suit the project levels.
6.6.2 Railings
Railings are divided into handrails and railings
and are all created as Revit railings. Railings
have been grouped according to types and
materials. They are intended to be height
flexible. Please inform the ARC administrator
at [email protected] if you find
issues with the railings.
A number of railings have been included for
use as horizontal and vertical battening.
These are often easier to use than the batten components families in the ARC library.
6.7 Floors
ARC BuildingElements Floors * includes floors
and floor fasciae (slab edges). The floors are
either single elements (e.g. timber strip floor)
or layered floors which may represent a floor
finish and its supporting structure.
All floor finishes have textures applied so that
they render photo-realistically.
6.7.1 Floor Fasciae
Floor fasciae which are referred to as slab edges in
Revit, are useful for finishing off decks. Instead of
using a slab edge on a concrete slab, we recommend
creating a separate floor for the slab edge and
thickenings and using join geometry to combine this
with the slab.
You will see this in the assemblies file.
ARC Companion ©
Revised 30 Aug 2015
Page 76
7 Families (or Components)
7.1 Families Overview
The ARChetype contains only a few families in order to maintain a workable file of
reasonable size. Families should be loaded into Revit as required.
Families are a Revit term for what many CAD systems call a component. As in a real
building, nearly everything that can be supplied as a unit, is best produced in Revit as a
family. Revit does use the term Component to describe certain families like plumbing
fixtures. The term is also used to describe in-place modelled ‘families’.
ARC provides a very extensive library of Families, with many gradually being placed in ‘Farms’.
The library includes doors, windows, plumbing fixtures, furniture, generic items and much more.
The library had started as a reflection of Latemore Design’s own library which was developed
since 2005. As ARC develops this library, it is gradually being rebuilt and enhanced. Over time
you will see those families change from being prefixed with “LD” to “ARC”.
Here is the current arrangement of the family library. It is arranged to reflect
most commonly named methodologies by Autodesk and others.
Over time ARC will be rebuilding this library as family farms take over. ARC is
gradually creating ‘farms’ of families, mainly for doors, windows, fixtures
along with furniture and generic components. These are placed in hosted
elements as required with minimal naming except to differentiate something
like a hinge side. Copy & Paste Families into your project.
These farms will be
updated constantly via
Dropbox.
ARC Companion ©
Revised 30 Aug 2015
Page 79
7.4 On-Demand Families
ARC is committed to supporting the needs of ARC users and will create new families as
requested. This will be done in one of two ways:
• Users suggest families. ARC creates new families in batches, as we can.
• Urgent request for new families will be met for a fee and made as soon as possible.
Refer the Agreement for fee.
In all cases the families will be modeled to suit 1:50 views and all families, without
exception, will be added to the ARC library.
Requests for families should be directed to the ARC administrator at
[email protected] and include a full description, and if possible, an image.
7.5 Families By Others
Over time, ARC has gathered families from many other sources. Any that are free have been
included in the ARC Library. These families do not have the prefix ARC and there is no
guarantee of quality. ARC would appreciate advice if these fail, so they can be removed (or
repaired).
7.6 Helpful Hint for Windows:
Watch the head height within the family type, as compared to its instance in the model. If a
window is placed in the model with a head height remarkably higher than the head height
within the family, the window may disassemble.