Slab Openings

[tknapp]

Here is what I am trying to do. I have a Structural model with the Mechanical Revit file linked into it. I am wanting to be able to select the duct work while in sketch mode of a slab to create the openings in the floor. I want to be able to lock the opening to the ductwork for obvious reasons (size/locations changes). All sounds good, but I can't select the ductwork. I can select pipe etc., but not duct. I tried copy/monitor, but I guess you can't copy/monitor duct, unless I am missing something.

Any ideas?

[m20roxxers]

You can try using opening by face?

But I still dont think this will solve your issue, you would probably have to work in the Mechcanical file for each slab and copy it to your project once this is finish then close and don't save the mechanical file.

[tknapp]

How are others handling this? I can't be the first to try & keep track of slab opening from other disciplines.

[Steve Mintz]

I have the other disciplines copy/monitor my floor(s) and cut the openings the require in the floors they just copied.

Then I monitor my floor(s) to theirs; the new openings will be picked up. Often the Engineers/Architects need different floors (for instance, we SEs need a different element for different span directions; the architect could care less). In that case, I will often have 3 sets of floors in my model on the following worksets:

4 Structure: The floors I show on my drawing
1 LINK Architecture: The linked file from the architect, with their floors and everything else
1 Architecture by me (not visible by default): I copy/monitor the floors from the Architect into this workset.
Because it is not visible by default, it won't show on my drawings, but I will get notified when an opening or slab edge is changed. I can then use the tool to locate it, and manually coordinate my opening with theirs.

It's not perfect, but it has worked well for me. Another alternative would be to simply use the Interference Check tools within Revit to look for clashes and manually coordinate them. Make sure to somehow account for clearance, tolerance, fireproofing, and wraps.

[tknapp]

WOW! I see how what you are doing would work, but it seems like a lot of extra work. Not to mention, I can hear the MEP guys asking, why should we put a floor/roof in when there is already one in the model? This means extra work on there part, having to put an opening in everywhere they pentrate a floor or roof.
You would think that this would be a simpler task. Floor & roof penetrations are a coordination headache that is dealt with on a regular basis. Hopefully Autodesk can hear this & provide us all with a simpler solution in the near future.