How To Create A Ceiling In Revit

One thing that persistently causes issues for our junior staff is Precast or Cast in Place Concrete Structural models. Although, in principle, the modelling of such structures should be quite straightforward there seemingly is always a few concrete profiles that change from standard affair to unique profiles in order to accommodate some bespoke architectural details, previously unknown site constraints or a change in the basic structural design principles of, for example, the slabs. Therefore, it is imperative that you understand how best to approach the creation and modelling of Structural Beam Families in Revit. So, the question to be asked, How should you create a beam family in Revit if you require some sort of unique shape that does not match the standard families provided?

Well, unlike most modelling exercises, there really is only one way to Create a Beam Family in Revit. To start, we need to open a new Beam Family. To do this in Revit, navigate to New → Family → "Metric Structural Framing – Beams and Bracings". Once the new beam family is opened, navigate to you side View ("Left" or "Right" view in the project browser). Select the Beam and then select "Edit Extrusion". Once you see the boundary of the Extrusion you can then freely edit it to your desired profile. You can also add reference planes and dimension based parameters within this extrusion editing dialogue so that you can freely manipulate the dimension properties of your new beam type in your main project after loading the family into it. As you can imagine, the process of actually creating a beam family in revit is somewhat more involved than this, so let's look into how the process works from start to finish.

Note: I have created an accompanying video that illustrates the steps listed on this post on How to Create a Unique Beam Family in Revit. It is embedded below if that is your preferred learning format. Enjoy! If not, proceed passed the video for a more linear, step by step breakdown of the Processes involved in creating a Beam Family in Revit, as well as some items that the video doesn't cover in detail, such as examples of how the same process applies to Structural Steel Beams, Light Gauge Steel Members, Timber / Glulam Members and unique cases where you can leverage beam families outside of the Structural modelling utility.

Why might you need to create a Beam Family in Revit to Begin with?

There are a number of reasons why you may need to develop your own Beam Family for using in a Revit model. Here are a few considerations to make before beginning the process to check against so that you know you have covered all avenues prior to starting to create the beam family.

There is no similar beam family in the revit content libraries installed on your machine. This seems like a bit of a no-brainer but you may be surprised at the sheer volume of beam types available out of the box in Revit. Make sure you have checked the full contents of the Structural Framing family library (if you cannot find it your installed library, make sure to check C:\ProgramData\Autodesk\RVT####\Libraries\US Imperial (Us Metric / UK MEtric etc, depending on your location). If nothing is there, you may need to download the default content packs / templates form autodesk.
Beam type is known outright to be bespoke to the project.
Beam type is not available from reliable online resources / manufacturers sites (BimObject.com is an excellent resource for Manufacturer created families)
You are using a Beam to create a non structural model element (eg. you may want to create a ceiling Baffle as a beam so that you can use a Beam system to represent the timber slats of the baffle ceiling – tutorial on this can be found here).

Things to be Aware of When Creating a Beam Family in Revit:

There is little to be aware of when creating a new beam family in Revit, but a few small considerations are worthwhile before you go gung-ho and then meet problems later on.

Do not edit the length parameters and associated controlling reference planes when creating the new Beam unless you really understand how Revit beam families function in detail. It is a rare occurrence that you may need to edit these so avoid revising them unless no other option is available (see image below for reference)
Consider the relationship of your beam to the "origin" line positioned across the center of the family. You may wish to change this relationship depending on your use case, or have variable parameters for the top and bottom of your beam relative to the origin so you can change the relative top and bottom of the beam to a known level/plane in your model.
If you need to vary the profile of the beam live in your Revit Project (much as we do in this example) ensure that you only place the relevant reference planes and dimensions parameters within the "Edit Extrusion" interface. Failure to do this will mean any parameters you place outside of the extrusion edit will not function in your live project.

Detailed Breakdown – How to Create a Beam Family in Revit:

So, now that we have the considerations etc out of the way, let's look into exactly how to create a beam family in Revit.

To begin, you need to start a new Beam family. to do this, go the the "Revit" button on the top left. Then select New → Family → "Metric Structural Framing – Beams and Bracings". Once this is opened, you will be greeted by a plan view of the rudimentary beam that Revit provides as shown below. We do not need to make alterations on this reference plan view for this exercise.

This image is used to show what a user can expect to see when first creating a new beam family from the standard beam and braces family model. — When creating a new beam family in Revit, you will be greeted with this view which represents a standard, simplified beam in plan. Avoid editing this view, most scenarios will not require changes from this perspective/orientation.

Instead we need to navigate to one of the views at either end of the beam so we can begin to edit the extrusion profile of the beam to match our desired outcome. to do this, go to the project browser and enter one of the views marked "Left" or "Right". Here, you should see the basic beam as illustrated below.

This image shows what REvit users can expect to see in teh standard beam family template once the open the left or right view — This is what you should expect to see when opening the "Left" or "Right" view in your newly created Beam Family.

At this point, we need to start to edit the beam to roughly match our desired shape. To begin, select the beam. On the top toolbar, under the modify tab you should see an option to "Edit Extrusion" – select this option. You should see your beam presentation change to match the below image.

Now that you have selected "Edit Extrusion", you will see the boundary lines that constitute the beam profile shape as well as see multiple additional "bounding" reference planes which the profile perimeter lines are locked to.

As alluded to in the previous section, you only want to place Reference planes and dimension parameters in this "Edit Extrusion" format. As you can see in the above image, the basic Revit Beam Family comes complete with 4 Reference Planes already present in the extrusion edit screen. The pink lines representing the boundary of the beam profile are already locked to these Reference planes, meaning that should you change the location of the RP's you will also change the associated boundary.

From here we should begin to sketch out an approximation of the profile shape we would like to generate for this beam family. To do this, select the "line" command when in the Modify Extrusion window and draw in your desired shape, ensuring that the existing boundary lines remain locked to the Reference Planes. In the example below, I have sketched out a rough representation of the Beam Family section profile which, in this case, is representative of an Inverted Concrete T Beam.

As you can see, I have roughly sketched out the "Inverted T" shape for our proposed beam family. It is critical that you lock your outer bounding lines of the sketch to the reference planes so that further down the beam family development process we can add parameters which will allow the size and shape of the beam cross-section to change.

The next step in this process is to create the dimension parameters that are going to control the setout of the beam families' Width and Depth, as well as the notch setout on either side which.

To begin adding the parameters to the beam family, first we will ad dimensions to the various boundaries of the beam (remembering to always stay within the "Modify Extrusion" dialogue).

Starting with the Notches, use a linear dimensions (shortcut = DI) and select the vertical Right hand Reference plane first, then the Vertical line of the Right hand Side Notch. Also dimension to the top horizontal Reference Plane and select the base of the Right hand side Notch. Repeat this process on the left hand side of the Beam Family Sketch, until you have the same as the below image.

Image depicting the first dimensions being applied ot the notches on the example beam family extrusion sketch — Dimension your notches relative to the outer reference planes like shown. This will allow for parametric control of the beam family once it is completed and loaded int oa live project file.

Now, we have to apply the parameters to these dimensions so that we can edit the setout of these elements within our live Revit Project once the family has been loaded in.

To do this, select one of the Vertical Notch Dimensions. Once selected, on the action bar (just below the top toolbar) you should see a dialogue on the right hand side named "Label" with a field to the right of that stating "<none>". Select the field with "<none>" in it and then select "New Parameter" from the dropdown, as shown below.

Opening the Label dialogue and selecting "New Parameter" from the dropdown menu — This is where you can add the "New Parameter" to your Extrusion notch dimensions

Once you are in the New Parameter properties Dialogue, beside "Parameter Name" type in "Notch Height" (or whatever naming convention you would like to use for this) Make sure this is kept as a "Type Parameter" and that it is labelled as a dimension Parameter (which should be automatic as you are creating the parameter from a selected dimension). You should have settings that match the below image. OK this window.

This image shows how the "New Parameter" wiindow should be set up for the newly created beam family's extrusion dimensions. — This image depicts how your New Parameter settings should be set up on your extrusion dimensions.

Next, Select the opposing Vertical Notch dimension, and under label the label dialogue, select the new "Notch Height" dimension Parameter that you created. Now both notches on the Beam Family's section profile will act the same once the Parameter Value is updated.

The Process for the value of the Notch Cut in the horizontal is the same. Select the Horizontal Dimension on one of the sides → Expand the "label" tab → Add new parameter. Again, call the new parameter what you wish (in our example, we used "Notch Width") . Ok and close the parameter. Select the opposing Horizontal Notch Dimension and add the "Notch Width" Parameter to it. Your notches for the Inverted T Beam Family should look something like this:

In this image you can see we have applied the "Type" dimension parameters to the notches of our beam extrusion. — As you can see, we now have the descriptors appearing on our dimensions that show we have applied the Dimesnion Type Parameters to the notches in our Beam Family Extrusion

Now, we need to go through a similar process for creating the outer values / extents of our new Revit Beam Family. It is worth noting that we want to keep the setout of either side of our overall beam width equidistant to the centerline. The true is also the same for top and bottom, which we want to be equally spaced from the Horizontal "origin" line running across the centre of the beam family's profile.

To ensure the beam remains equal from the desired central reference planes, we need to use the Linear Dimensions. Bring the Dimension from one outer Reference Plane that dictates the boundary of the beam and select the central Reference Plane, then next select the opposite outer Reference Plane; click into empty space to exit the dimension tool. Above the dimensions you should see "EQ". Activate this Equidistant Parameter (should no longer see the strikethrough if active). Repeat this process in the opposite axis.

Now, we want to give the overall dimension parameters to our beams. Draw a single dimension between your two vertical Reference Planes. As before, go up to the dropdown beside "Label" and "Add Parameter". Name it "Beam Width" and ensure it is a Type Parameter. Ok this window to assign and close parameter dialogue. Repeat this Process for the Horizontal reference planes, calling the new Parameter "Beam Depth" .

Once the above Dimensions and associated Parameters are in place, your beam family profile should be representative of the following image.

Thsi image shows how users should have their dimensions and parameters completed withing the modify extrusion tool for their new beam family. — AS you can see, we have a mix of Parametric "Control" dimensions created as well as constraining "EQ" dimensions that will keep the setout of newly created beam family centred in both the X and Y axis.

Finally, before we save our changes to the Extrusion, it is wise to test the parameters in the family first. Select each of your dimensions with parameters, then select the value on the dimensions and change it. You should see your new Revit Beam Family profile "Flex" with the changes to the parameter Values, as you can see from the change in shape below.

Congratulations, you have just nailed creating your new Parametric Beam Family in Revit! However, do not be discouraged if your extrusion did not flex when the parameter values changed. Just go through the steps again and you should easily ID the error.

Press the big green "Tick" mark at the top of the screen under the "Modify Extrusion" dialogue. Make sure to save your family for later use. Go to File → Save As →"Desired Beam Family Name" (in our example we labelled it Inverted T Beam Family A). Proceed to load it into you active project.

Next, place your new beam family into your Revit project. To place a beam, go to Structure → Beam, or press "BM" for short. Proceed to place your beams at the desired location and level.

Finally, now that you have created your Beam Family in Revit and modelled it within your live project, we can test the Parametric functionality of the family. Select the new beam and under properties select the "Edit Type" dropdown menu. Here, you should see a list of data that includes the dimension type parameters you generated in the family. Edit the value of these parameters as you require and watch your masterpiece take shape! (image slides below show the flexibility of the Beam family you jsut created and the level of control you have in your project file for easily altering the shape of your new beam families)

That concludes this tutorial on how to create a Beam Family in Revit. Hopefully by now you have a good grasp on what is required to go on to generate other beam families that you may need, as well as an improved knowledge of how dimension parameters work. If you have any comments or useful tips/tricks that were omitted in the above please leave a comment below and we will add to this post over time.

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