Autodesk Revit is a design and modelling tool that is generally used for the purpose of Building Information Modelling. It is also referred as a ‘powerful’ BIM tool as it helps architects and designers in designing and conceptualizing construction designs, while working on a multi-disciplinary design process. The tool is best known for convenient designing, easy collaboration and effective visualization. It is a diverse tool and requires its users to learn the basics in detail. Often going for an Autodesk Revit training and certification helps architects and designers gain a better insight of working on the tool.

 

Since Revit is a globally used design tool with wide personal and industrial acceptance, its working is also in-depth and detailed. Becoming better on Revit requires hands-on-experience and knowledge of its functionalities. There are some best practices that any designer should keep in mind while working on Revit, a few handful Revit best-practices are discussed below:

 

First and foremost, it is important to understand that Revit is a 3D Modelling and 2D Drafting tool. Next, that you keep in mind a few best-practices.
 

• Detailing

You can easily implement detailing to your Revit designs. Unlike the old procedure of detailing over AutoCAD and then subsequently importing the design to Revit, being a designer, you can easily make use of Revit’s 2D and 3D combination to detail and design on the tool itself.

 

• Set levels

Setting levels is important for easy and convenient working. By making use of levels you can easily define storeys and other major vertical datums in your design project.

 

• Make use of grids

You can use grids to keep everything neatly lined-up in a plan and section. This can be used to create exterior walls, thus helping in reducing the overall effort. Grids can also be turned off, if you do not intend to use them, or on the flip-sid, you can also make use of ‘shared levels and grids’ to implement them. If the need be, you can also add additional work-sets for grids.

 

• Align walls to grids, not grids to walls

You must keep in mind that you align walls to grids rather than aligning grids to walls. This helps in underlying another floor plan to define the vertical relationship.

 

• Use Pins

Using the pin tool helps you to tame objects and refrain them from moving, while you edit their properties. You can also use pins to lock grids or any other object to a location.

 

• Turn off shadows

You should generally turn shadows off while working. These should only be used on presentation views.

 

• Purge what’s unused

Revit allows you to purge unused content with its built-in-option: ‘File > Purge unused’. This also helps you to reduce the file size and improve the tool’s performance.

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• Also, close unused views

You should keep in mind to keep a minimum number of open views. This helps in the model’s performance and can be done by selecting: ‘Window > Close Hidden Windows’.

 

• Do not overconstrain

Over-constraining should be avoided; this might result in causing problems in a further stage of the project process while modifying an(y) element.

 

• Do not explode imported CAD files

Exploding CAD files might burst one single object into many. Thus, this should be avoided.

 

•  Use blocks instead of drafting lines

Using detailed components is more efficient than using drafting lines since these are easy to implement- just need to be copied and constrained. You can also make use of ‘moves with nearby objects’ checkbox option, this will help ensure that it moves along with the model.

 

Concluding Tips:
 

These are just a few of the best practices that you can make use of while working on Revit. Though Revit is a wide application that needs better understanding and practice. The best way to optimize the tool and get familiarized to it is by undergoing an Autodesk Revit training course. A formal and structured training of Revit tool and design process will not just help you optimize your skillsets but also open better career options for you.