🏗️

Modeling Interior Beams in Revit

Jan 29, 2025

Lecture Notes: Modeling Interior Beams in Revit

Overview

  • The process of adding interior beams on top of columns in a construction project using Revit.
  • Demonstration model uses a large piece of timber to represent the beam.
  • Importance of beams to support long web joists that span significant distances.

Reasons for Columns and Beams

  • Web joists require support over long spans, necessitating beams according to building codes and physics.
  • In residential structures, beams support where web joists land and continue.

Objectives

  1. Model the beam in place.
  2. Represent the beam accurately in drawings according to standards.

Modeling the Beam

  • Utilize a wall to represent the beam in Revit.
  • Steps to Model the Beam:
    1. Go to the Architecture tab and select "Wall".
    2. Choose "Interior 4 1/2 inch partition" as the base.
    3. Duplicate the wall type and rename it "Beam".
    4. Edit the structure to represent timber members glued together.
    5. Adjust the wall structure to have two timber members in the core, with drywall on the outside.
    6. Ensure the dimensions fit the column size (7 inches x 7 inches).

Adjusting the Wall Structure

  • Represent the beam as two glued timber members.
  • Modify the dimensions to align with column size:
    • 3 1/4 inch timber member width.
    • Total beam width: 7 1/2 inches.

Drawing the Beam in Revit

  • Set the location line to "Wall Centerline".
  • Draw the wall from column to column, ensuring alignment.
  • Address any warnings about elements overlapping.

Adjusting Beam Representation

  • Check constraints:
    • Base constraint adjustment for 9-foot ceilings: Set base offset to 8 feet.
    • Ensures beam sits directly on top of columns.

Representing the Beam in Floor Plan

  • Floor plans cut at 4 feet, beams above not visible.
  • Steps to Represent Beam in Plan:
    1. Add a new line style in Manage tab.
    2. Create a line style named "Beam".
    3. Set line weight to 5 (thick line), color to black, pattern to "Double Dash".

Drawing and Labeling Beam in the Plan

  • Use "DL" command to create beam line.
  • Draw thick line from column to column.
  • Label the beam using text tool, indicating presence of beam in ceiling.

Full transcript