Fast-tract your MEP Designs with Stabicad for Revit

Introduction to Stabicad Product

Welcome and Agenda Overview

• Good morning and welcome; the session aims to provide insights into the Stabicad product.

• The agenda includes introductions, an overview of the constructable process, a demonstration by Ahmed Redd, and a Q&A session.

Presenters Introduction

• Brad Freeman introduces himself as the Regional Sales Manager for Trimble MEP in the Middle East.

• Ahmed Abdul Mageed is introduced as the Regional Solutions Engineer for Trimble MEP's design solutions.

Interactive Session Guidelines

Engagement Encouragement

• Participants are encouraged to submit questions throughout the webinar using the question mark icon in the panel.

• Poll questions will be included; responses are anonymous but appreciated.

Understanding Constructable Process

Definition and Importance

• The constructable process philosophy emphasizes connected, content-enabled solutions within Trimble Buildings.

• Stabicad integrates MEP content to connect stakeholders through cloud services like Trimble Connect.

What is Stabicad?

Features and Functionalities

• Stabicad is a Revit-integrated software designed to enhance productivity for mechanical and electrical engineers.

• It offers modeling tools such as Palace Center for rapid system design and access to manufacturer-specific content via mepcontent.com.

Challenges Addressed by Stabicad

• Common issues with plain Revit include time-consuming model creation, loss of data when copying elements, and challenges in sourcing accurate content.

• Mechanical/electrical calculations often occur outside models leading to discrepancies between designs and engineering calculations.

Benefits of Using Stabicad

Productivity Enhancements

• Stabicad improves engineer productivity by speeding up MEP model creation while maintaining metadata integrity.

• Integrated calculations ensure synchronization during design changes, reducing human error risks.

Compliance with Local Norm Standards

• Users can select project-specific norms (e.g., BS calculations used in GCC countries), enhancing local compliance.

Collaboration Features of Stabicad

Open VM Policy

• Content is fully parametric in plain Revit, accessible even to non-Stabicad users through Trimble Connect for collaborative projects without needing licenses.

Workflow Demonstration Overview

Key Steps in Electrical Design Workflow

• Initial steps involve setting up project standards including templates, settings, preferences, and a company-level content library.

Overview of Stabicad Features

Introduction to Stabicad

• Stabicad is an application that enhances Revit, providing productivity tools aimed at improving efficiency across various workflows.

• The core module, Stabybase, serves as a central hub for company and project administration, allowing users to manage multiple projects with shared preferences.

Project Management with Stabybase

• Users can centralize project folders on company servers or BIM360, facilitating the creation of new project files in Revit using standardized templates.

• Drawing settings can be managed centrally at both profile and project levels, enabling control over specific categories like electrical installation engineering.

Content Management and Initial Design

• With centralized settings from Stabybase, users can quickly create new project files while refining company-level preferences and content libraries.

• Users can start modeling with generic content provided by Trimble without waiting for manufacturer-specific details; this allows for initial load estimations and calculations.

Using Stabicad Tools

Inserting Components into Models

• Upon opening a model from Stabybase in Revit, users access the Stabicad palette to insert components such as electrical fixtures and mechanical elements.

• Each component includes 2D symbols compliant with standards (Sipsy and IAC), along with associated 3D families.

Practical Application: Adding Components

• The presenter demonstrates adding a generic distribution board by selecting it from the small power distributors section of the palette.

• Details such as panel name, visibility tags, circuit numbers, and mounting heights are defined during component placement.

Advanced Component Placement Techniques

Copying Fixtures Efficiently

• The presenter illustrates how to copy lighting fixtures using Stabicad's tools which preserve data integrity unlike standard Revit copy-paste functions.

• Different spacing options (e.g., A-Dash A for equal spacing between fixtures and walls) are available when using the divider functionality for efficient layout design.

Finalizing Circuit Connections

• After placing components accurately within specified spaces while maintaining correct circuit data, adjustments are made to ensure all elements connect properly to their respective circuits.

Electrical Design Workflow with Stabicad

Copying Electrical Components

• The speaker demonstrates how to insert a new socket or copy an existing one using the "family multiplier" tool, referencing a specific socket and switch.

• After placing all components on one floor, the speaker explains copying these elements to another floor with the same architectural plan while maintaining panel circuit data.

Panel Copying Functionality

• The process of copying a panel is outlined, ensuring that all connected elements are duplicated correctly. The speaker emphasizes verifying which panel is being copied.

• Upon pasting the copied elements on level three, it’s noted that all circuits remain intact; only the panel name needs updating.

Modeling Containment

• The focus shifts to modeling containment using generic cable trays for accurate dimensions without manufacturer specifications.

• The speaker describes drawing cable trays at specified elevations and mentions not connecting them immediately for later adjustments.

Node Solving and Fitting Placement

• A method for solving multiple nodes simultaneously is introduced, allowing automatic placement of fittings based on drawn cable trays.

• The software automatically selects appropriate fittings (e.g., 90-degree bends or T-fittings), enhancing efficiency in modeling.

Electrical Calculations Integration

• Stabicad allows running engineering calculations directly within the Revit model, ensuring alignment between design and calculation outputs.

• After modeling elements with loads and containments, auto-routing cables within those containments is demonstrated as a next step.

Auto Routing Cables

• By selecting components and utilizing auto-routing tools, Stabicad efficiently routes cables from components to panels.

• Following routing completion, electrical calculations are performed to determine necessary cable sizes automatically.

Reporting and Capacity Checks

• Users can generate reports from integrated calculations; examples include running a cable report for analysis results.

• The calculation engine checks containment sizes for sufficient capacity, alerting users about any inadequacies found during analysis.

Adjustments Based on Calculations

• Users can adjust containment sizes based on alerts received from calculations and rerun analyses as needed for accuracy in design workflow.

Manufacturer-Specific Content Integration

Trimble's Manufacturer-Specific Content Management

Overview of Trimble's Content Management System

• Trimble manages over 600,000 manufacturer-specific content in native Revit format, facilitating easy sharing among stakeholders regardless of their software.

• Users can replace generic components with specific ones while preserving essential properties like panel and circuit numbers, ensuring data integrity throughout the modeling process.

Utilizing the Map Content Browser

• The Map Content Browser allows users to search for components by typing keywords (e.g., "distribution board") and selecting the country for availability.

• Users can filter results by manufacturer (e.g., ABB), view details of each component, and either load models directly or download them to a company-standard folder.

Managing Components within Projects

• In projects, users can create panels from different manufacturers (e.g., ABB and Eaton), allowing selection based on descriptions and article numbers for procurement processes.

• When a user selects a specific panel from the dropdown menu, the corresponding Revit family is loaded without losing any existing data or connectivity.

Advanced Filtering Capabilities

• Users can select multiple lighting fixtures using advanced filtering options that allow drilling down into family types and floor levels beyond standard Revit capabilities.

• With Stabicad’s features, users can specify various lighting fixtures from different manufacturers based on power requirements, replacing generic components seamlessly while maintaining connectivity.

Specifying Manufacturers for Containment Systems

• Users can specify manufacturers for cable trays while maintaining connectivity; Stabicad provides product lines based on modeled dimensions.

• If fittings need adjustment, users can delete them and utilize the solve node tool to find suitable replacements from selected manufacturers while keeping all connections intact.

Coordination Tools in Design Process

Stabicad: Streamlining MEP Coordination

Generating Bypass Solutions

• Stabicad allows for quick generation of bypass solutions to resolve conflicts in cable trays by using the "solve crossing" feature.

• Users can specify new elevations for cable trays, either in absolute or relative terms, and Stabicad automatically creates the bypass with necessary components from specific manufacturers.

Requesting Openings for MEP Services

• The software streamlines the process of coordinating builder's work by allowing users to define default margins around various services and request openings.

• After selecting cable trays and walls, Stabicad generates requests for openings that can be sent to the structural team for review.

Collaboration through Trimble Connect

• Stabicad integrates with Trimble Connect, an open collaboration tool that facilitates data sharing among project stakeholders who may not use Revit.

• Users can upload their models directly to Trimble Connect, which supports multiple file formats including Revit and IFC.

Managing Project Files and Stakeholders

• Upon signing into Trimble Connect, users can manage project files, invite stakeholders, set permissions, and view activity feeds related to the project.

• The platform allows uploading of various file types while providing previews and version histories for easy access.

Federating Models and Clash Analysis

• Users can federate multiple discipline models (e.g., electrical, mechanical), enabling comprehensive views that facilitate annotations and measurements.

Overview of Stabicad Electrical Subscription

Key Features and Benefits

• The Stabicad subscription includes high-quality MEP content, both manufacturer-specific and generic, along with a full suite of integrated calculations.

• Licensing is provided as a network license, allowing installation on multiple machines with a limited number of concurrent users. Updates are delivered monthly or quarterly.

• The subscription encompasses all electrical functions and workflows for river projects, including access to Pro Design applications at a reduced cost compared to previous licensing models.

• Existing Prozone customers can transition easily to the Stabicad subscription, which includes the highest tier design solution (Protozoan 400) and tools for LV/HV gradient studies.

• The package also offers mechanical system design capabilities, productivity tools like MEP openings management, and Excel import/export functionality.

Q&A Session Highlights

• A poll was conducted asking if attendees wanted more information on Stabicad; responses were appreciated before moving into the Q&A segment.

• Users can utilize their own Revit templates with Stabicad; the software allows merging custom templates for enhanced functionality.

• Custom families in electrical and mechanical designs can be integrated into Stabicad using a tool that injects necessary parameters.

• Support is available for Revit versions 2019 through 2022, ensuring compatibility with recent software updates.

• The openings request tool allows structural teams to create voids in walls based on approved requests from MEP teams.

Additional Functionalities

• Trimble Connect operates offline by allowing model downloads for use without an internet connection; changes made offline can be synchronized later when online access is restored.

• Attendees were thanked for their participation in the webinar, with encouragement to reach out via email or phone for further inquiries about the product.