Tyco Fire Protection Products

Revit Families

Families Created in
Revit MEP 2010 Version
Copyright © 2012 Tyco Fire Protection Products. All rights reserved.
The products and specifications published herein are for general evaluation and reference purposes only and are
subject to change by Tyco Fire Protection Products without notice. For the most up-to-date information, please
visit www.tyco-fire.com. The information provided in this application paper should not be relied on as a substi-
tute for professional advice concerning specific applications. ALTHOUGH TYCO FIRE PROTECTION PRODUCTS
HAS ENDEAVORED TO ENSURE ITS ACCURACY, ALL INFORMATION HEREIN IS PROVIDED ON AN “AS IS” BASIS,
WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED. Without limiting the foregoing, Tyco Fire Pro-
tection Products does not warrant the accuracy, adequacy or completeness of any such information. All users of
the information provided herein assume the risk of use or reliance on such information and Tyco Fire Protection
Products shall not be liable for any damages for such use including, but not limited to, indirect, special, incidental
or consequential damages.
 Table of Contents

Understanding Tyco Revit Families . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Tyco Sprinkler Families (Sprinkler Category Families) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Tyco Fitting Families (Pipe Fittings Category Families) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Tyco Valves and Accessories (Pipe Accessories Category Families) ���������������������������������������2
Loading Tyco Sprinkler Families into a Revit Project . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Using Tyco Sprinkler Families in a Revit Project . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Using the Generate Layout tool with Tyco Sprinkler Families �������������������������������������������������6
Using the Connect Into tool with Tyco Sprinkler Families ���������������������������������������������������������8
Loading Tyco Fitting Families into a Revit Project . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Using Tyco Fitting Families in a Revit Project . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Loading Families into Pipe Types . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Manually Loading Fitting Families into a Revit Project . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Loading Tyco Valve & Accessory Families with .txt files into a Revit project . . . . . 18
Using Tyco Valve and Accessory Families in a Revit Project . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Manually Loading Valve and Accessory Families into a Revit Project ���������������������������������19
Using Tyco Valve and Accessory Families in a Revit Project . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
2D Symbolic Family Representation / 3D System Model . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Coupling Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Using Tyco Valve Trim Parameters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

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Understanding Tyco Revit Families
All Tyco Revit Families are created in Revit MEP 2010 version. They are grouped in three dif-
ferent, predefined family categories, Sprinkler, Pipe Fittings and Pipe Accessories.

•  Tyco Sprinkler Families (Sprinkler Category Families)

All Tyco Sprinkler are grouped in the Sprinkler category. Tyco sprinklers are type-
based families. A sprinkler family represents a particular sprinkler series. This family
contains all the model types for that series. The different family types share common
parameters with different values. The family’s parameters are what drives or “flexes”
the model’s geometry and / or changes identity data. Tyco Sprinkler families can be
loaded into Revit projects (.rvt files) and work with Revit’s fire protection tools.

•  Tyco Fitting Families (Pipe Fittings Category Families)

All Tyco fittings are grouped in the Pipe Fitting category. Tyco Fittings are parametric
families. These Pipe Fitting families use a comma-separated value files (CSV) to link
values to the model’s parameters. The family’s parameters are what drives or “flexes”
the model’s geometry and / or changes identity data. Tyco Pipe Fitting families can be
loaded into a Pipe Type or manually inserted and “flex” with the pipe in Revit projects
(.rvt files).

•  Tyco Valves and Accessories (Pipe Accessories Category Families)

Tyco Valves and Accessories are type-based families. These Pipe Accessory families
use multiple family types within a family that share the same parameters. Tyco Pipe
Accessory families use the different family types to represent the different sizes of a
particular valve or accessory. The parameter values change per family type to “flex”
model’s geometry and/or identity data. The parameter values for each family type are
linked to comma delimited text files (.txt). This gives the user the ability to select what
size or sizes to load for their project needs cutting down the project file size.
All Tyco Revit Families contain a 3D realistic model and 2D symbolic representation (refer
to Page 21).

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Loading Tyco Sprinkler Families into a Revit Project
Before opening the Revit program the user should download the Tyco Revit Sprinkler
Fitting family/families (.rfa file). Once the files have been downloaded they can be placed
in a Revit project by selecting the Load Family button from the Insert Ribbon.

Type based family files that don’t have linked .txt or .csv lookup files (Tyco Sprinkler
Families) can also be loaded from the open family file. With the family file open in Revit’s
family editor you can add and modify type parameters.

•  With a project already open, open the family file you want to use. Select the Load into
Project button from the Family Editor section of the Create Ribbon and load into the
desired project.

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Using Tyco Sprinkler Families in a Revit Project
With the families loaded, you can insert the different models into a project by selecting
the Sprinkler button from the Plumbing & Piping section of the Home Ribbon.

The new ribbon tab will appear called Place Sprinkler. From the Element section of this
ribbon select the proper model from the sprinkler family and place into the project.

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Once the model is placed into the project you can set / change sprinkler elevation. Begin
by selecting the model or models and open their properties. From the Instance Properties
window change the Offset parameter value (elevation) to the desired height and click OK.

All Sprinkler families are built with pipe connectors. The pipe connectors allow you pull
pipe from or run pipe to the sprinkler families and add the proper fitting/transitions, simi-
lar to fitting and accessory families.
Tyco Sprinkler families can be used with Revit’s Modify Sprinkler tools (Generate Layout and
Connect Into tools).

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Using the Generate Layout tool with Tyco Sprinkler Families
Example: Placing 4 sprinkler models in a project (the number of sprinklers and location are
irrelevant for this example).

Next, select all the sprinklers so that the Modify Sprinklers ribbon will activate. From the
Modify Sprinkler ribbon select the Generate Layout button within the Layout section.

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Depending on the number of sprinklers, and their individual location, the project will
provide different layout types and multiple routing solutions.

Note: the pipe type used for the routing feature can be modified by changing the default
settings located near the solution type.
Once a suitable solution and routing method is chosen, select the Finish Layout button on
the Generate Layout ribbon. The Revit program will insert all the pipe and fittings families
for the chosen solution.

For more information on Revit’s Generate Layout feature please reference the Revit user
guide.

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Using the Connect Into tool with Tyco Sprinkler Families
Example: Placing 4 sprinkler models in a project (the number of sprinklers and location are
irrelevant for this example).

Next, select Pipe from the Plumbing & Pipe section of the Home ribbon.

Then choose which Pipe Type, Diameter, and elevation (Offset) you want to start drawing
the pipe.

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With the pipe type, size, and elevation selected; begin laying out the pipe (for this example
we will layout 4” sprinkler mains at a 10’ centerline above the finished floor). Click
anywhere in the Floor Plan and move in the direction you want to run the pipe. Click once
more in the floor plan to end and change direction or hit Esc to end the piping command.

Next, click on one of the sprinklers and select the Connect Into button from the Layout sec-
tion of the Modify Sprinkler ribbon.

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Then select the sprinkler main, the Revit program will automaticity create to branch
connection from the main to the sprinkler.

For more information on Revit’s Connect Into feature please reference the Revit user guide.

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Loading Tyco Fitting Families into a Revit Project
Before opening the Revit program the user should download the Tyco Revit Pipe Fitting
family/families (.rfa file) and related comma-separated valve file/files (CSV). Once the files
have been downloaded, the CSV files need to be moved to Revit’s Lookup Table folder.
Example of File Path: C:\Documents and Settings\All Users Application Data\Autodesk\RME
2010\LookupTables
Note: The file path may be different depending on how Revit was installed and which
version being used.
Once the CSV file is in the correct location, you can open the Revit program. If the Revit
program was open while moving the CSV file to the lookup table folder, you will need to
restart the Revit program before using the Tyco Revit content.

•  With a Revit project open, you can load the files using the Load Family button in the
Load From Library section of the Insert Ribbon.

•  You can also load fitting and coupling families into a project using the Family Editor.
With the Pipe Fittings family open, select Load Into Project in the Family Editor section

of the Create Ribbon.

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Using Tyco Fitting Families in a Revit Project
After loading families into a project, you can insert them into a Pipe Type or manually
place them into a Revit project.

•  Loading Families into Pipe Types

1. With a Revit project open, double-click to expand

the Families section of the Project Browser to reveal
the families.

2. Look for Pipe Types in the Pipes section. By default,

there are two different Pipe Types, PVC and
Standard, loaded into the generic Revit project
template.

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 3. Double-click one of the Pipe Types to open the Type Properties window. You can
create a new pipe type by clicking on the Duplicate button. For information on
Pipe Types reference the Revit Help feature. This example loads the families in the
Standard pipe type.

4. Within the Type Properties window, you can assign the Tyco Fitting families to the
proper parameter in the Type Parameters section.

After entering all of the families in the Parameters, click Apply and OK.

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 5. To test if the families were entered correctly, start drawing pipe by selecting Pipe
from the Home ribbon or type PI.

To make sure the right pipe type is selected, check the current pipe type in the Element
section of the Place Pipe ribbon.

If you completed each step correctly, the Revit families are automatically placed and sized
when laying out pipe.

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•  Manually Loading Fitting Families into a Revit Project

1. With a Revit project open, manually insert a fitting by selecting the Pipe Fitting
button from the Plumbing & Pipe section of the Home ribbon or type PF.

2. From the Element section of the Place Pipe Fitting ribbon, select the desired fitting
or coupling needed from the Change Element Type drop-down menu.

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 3. After selecting the family, you can drop it anywhere in the project simply by clicking
one of the desired floor plans. If you intend to drop it on pipe make sure the pipe is
highlighted before clicking.

4. After the fitting is inserted into a project, you can pull pipe from connections by
right clicking on the family’s connectors and selecting draw pipe.

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5. After the family is attached to the pipe, the connection sizes are linked. You can
“flex” the family by changing the pipe size to which it is connected.

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Loading Tyco Valve & Accessory Families with .txt files into a Revit project
In order for the Accessory families to function correctly the user need to download both
the Tyco Revit Valve and Accessory Fitting family/families (.rfa file) and related comma
delimited text file/files (txt). To ensure that these two files are linked they need to be saved
in the same location. The name of both files must also be identical.
Example:

Note: If you change the name of the .rfa file you must rename the .txt file with the same
name.
After downloading the files and saving them in the same location, you can insert them into
a Revit project.

•  With a Revit project open, you can load the files using the Load Family button in the
Load From Library section of the Insert Ribbon.

•  After selecting the valve or accessory to load, the Specify Types window will open. Here
you will need to select what size / sizes is needed and click OK.

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Note: Pipe Accessories Family will not “flex” in the project, the user will only be able to use
the sizes they select.

•  After the window closes, the Revit project loads the selected families. The load time
may vary depending on the number of families selected.

Using Tyco Valve and Accessory Families in a Revit Project

Once the families are loaded they can be inserted into a project. The only method for
using these types of families is by inserting them manually.

•  Manually Loading Valve and Accessory Families into a Revit Project

1. With a Revit project open, manually insert a valve or accessory by selecting the Pipe
Accessory button from the Plumbing & Pipe section of the Home ribbon or type PA.

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 2. From the Element section of the Place Pipe Accessory ribbon, select the desired valve
or accessory and size needed from the Change Element Type drop-down menu.

3. Once the desired family and size is selected, place it into a floor plan of the project.
If you intend to put it on pipe, make sure the pipe is highlighted before clicking.

Note: The direction of the placed family is related to the direction of the pipe. If pipe is
being drawn in a Floor Plan from left to right, the family’s inlet and outlet will be from left
to right.

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 4. Once the family is placed into a Revit Project, it can be rotated around its center
axis.

With the family highlighted, click on the  button to rotate.

Using Tyco Valve and Accessory Families in a Revit Project

•  2D Symbolic Family Representation / 3D System Model

All Tyco Families are made up of two different models, a 2D symbolic family
representation and a realistic 3D system model. With a Revit project open, you can
control what style you want to work in by selecting the detail level. Coarse and
Medium detail levels show the 2D schematic whereas the Fine detail level shows the
3D system model.

•  Coupling Control
The Revit MEP does not use smart connector like AutoCAD MEP for its piping program.
Therefore the program does not know what components are needed to mate to
the pipe or equipment, for example. For grooved products, couplings are needed
at each grooved connection. To solve the problem, all Tyco Families have coupling
families loaded into them. These coupling families are shared families that have been
assigned to a visibility parameter. Because these families are shared families, they can
be counted in a project schedule. When needed, these couplings can be turned off
and on to suit the project need. When a coupling is shut off, it will not show up in a
schedule.

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Turning Couplings Off and On in a Revit Project

•  With a Revit project open, right-click on the family you want to remove the couplings
from and select Element Properties.

•  By selecting Element Properties, the Instance Properties window opens. In this window,
you’ll see the Model Properties parameters with the parameter names Coupling 1,
Coupling 2, Coupling 3, etc. All couplings viable in a family will have their parameter
values checked off. The number of coupling parameters will vary depending on how
many grooved connections are in a family.

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•  To shut off a coupling, uncheck the parameter value box and press OK.

•  Using Tyco Valve Trim Parameters

Some Tyco valve families have valve trim associated with the 3D model. The different trim
configuration and options can be controlled with the family’s instances parameters.

Examples:
DV-5
Once the DV-5 valves with trim have been loaded and placed in a project, the designer
can select the valve and open the Element Properties to change the actuation. With the
Instance Properties window open a user can select ether Wet Pilot, Electric, and Dry Pilot
Actuation. The Valve Trim with change relevant to the actuation selection

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AV-1-300
Once the AV-1-300 valves with trim have been loaded and placed in a project, the designer
can select the valve and open the Element Properties to add trim components and change
trim configuration. With the Instance Properties window open a user can add pressure
alarm switches, connection for water motor alarms, and retard chambers. Also, the user
can select if they want an open or closed drain trim configuration. The Valve Trim will
change relevant to the checked off parameters.

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WORLDWIDE HEADQUARTERS CRANSTON TECHNOLOGY CENTER
Tyco Fire Protection Products Tyco Fire Protection Products
1400 Pennbrook Parkway 1467 Elmwood Avenue
Lansdale, PA 19446 Cranston, RI 02910
800-523-6512 / 215-362-0700 Technical Services
www.tyco-fire.com 800-381-9312 / 1-401-781-8220

Copyright © 01/2012 Tyco Fire Protection Products. All rights reserved.