MEP
AutoCAD MEP It’s Our Choice!
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In recent years, the concept of Building Information Modeling (BIM) has been steadily increasing in demand in the engineering and construction industry. The software package getting the most attention is the Revit MEP Suite. At Venture Mechanical, we are primarily a mechanical contractor, with the additional capability of in-house engineering. Of the three programs included in the suite (AutoCAD, AutoCAD MEP & Revit MEP), the one we utilize most often is AutoCAD MEP due to its speed, its full 3-D BIM capability, and the familiarity of running on top of AutoCAD natively. While REVIT is widely used on the architectural and engineering consulting side of the industry we find that AutoCAD MEP provides the best set of features for us on the construction side.
Expectations We have the capability to use both AutoCAD MEP as well as Revit MEP. The majority of our projects are engineered by others, and we often receive a 2D AutoCAD file with no requirement to provide a 3D file. Our requirements are only to produce an electronic CAD file for distribution among the other construction trades, as well as a set of construction documents for the ductwork fabricator, and for accurate installation purposes in the field. In this scenario, we still find it advantageous to use AutoCAD MEP in-house since it greatly reduces the time it takes to provide a field-ready set of plans over regular AutoCAD. Also, we feel REVIT is not well suited for providing field-ready drawings as we’ll explain later. Familiarity One of the many things we really like is the fact that AutoCAD MEP still works like AutoCAD. It allows our designers to produce fully 3D mechanical models by using traditional “drawing” techniques for which AutoCAD is well known. In fact, our designers were able to climb the learning curve swiftly due to their familiarity with the base AutoCAD program. The learning curve consisted only of the added features and functionality of the new tools which are part of the “vertical product” category of the AutoCAD based software line. This is a strong argument for us. Utilizing AutoCAD MEP, as our premiere BIM platform, for most of our work essentially knocks out two birds with one stone: fully coordinated 3D models with intelligent objects, for a corresponding BIM related job, generated from the exact same model we produce the 2D views of our mechanical design. This same information can be built ground up, in the field, with zero modifications to the file.
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feature focus
by: Tannar Frampton
3D & BIM On projects that require a set of full 3-D CAD drawings for interference checking, AutoCAD MEP is still our preferred program. Not only does it provide the tools needed for 3D modeling and collaboration with other trades, but it allows us to produce accurate construction documents so that our field employees can build directly off the model with no modification of the CAD file. When we provide a set of mechanical documents, there are a number of trades that require the use of our digital CAD files. AutoCAD MEP allows flawless integration with Navisworks for clash reporting among other trades (see Figure 1) so the general contractor can keep track of the BIM project as required. In the same breath we all waste no effort dealing with file format or compatibility issues. Same for the other trades that need our mechanical design files. 3D and 2D - The Best of Both Worlds
Figure 1- AutoCAD MEP seamlessly integrates into Navisworks for clash reports
AutoCAD MEP gives us the ability to customize 3D objects in 2D plans. Construction documents sometimes need to represent data in a certain way, and not necessarily the literal view of an object. AutoCAD MEP has an optional “plan view” symbol instead of reflecting the actual size and shape of the object. This above all else is what separates AutoCAD MEP with other BIM design platforms. For example, we recently had a project which had several Opposed Blade Dampers in some ductwork. These 3D objects that are placed within the duct in the literal view would show up as a rectangular object hidden within the sheet metal (see Figure
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