MEP Modeling

Turns straight model or detail lines into pipes of the type, system, level and diameter you choose, and can add elbows where lines meet.

Ribbon button: Line>Pipe

1. Select the straight model or detail lines, or pick them after the command starts.
2. Open the Create drop-down on the MEP Modeling panel, click Line>Pipe, and choose the pipe type, system type and reference level.
3. Enter the diameter and middle height in mm, or tick Use each line's own height for 3D lines.
4. Tick Join runs that meet end-to-end, and Delete the lines afterwards if you no longer need them.
5. Check the preview, untick any rows you don't want, then confirm.

Before you run it: Only straight lines convert, so arcs are skipped. Tick All or nothing in the preview to roll back the whole run if one item fails.

Turns straight lines into rectangular or round ducts of the type, system, level and size you choose, and can add elbows where they meet.

Ribbon button: Line>Duct

1. Select the straight model or detail lines, or pick them after the command starts.
2. Open the Create drop-down on the MEP Modeling panel, click Line>Duct, and choose the duct type, system type and reference level.
3. Enter the width and height in mm. A height of 0 gives a round duct with the width as diameter.
4. Enter the middle height above the level, or tick Use each line's own height for 3D lines.
5. Tick Join runs that meet end-to-end, check the preview, then confirm.

Before you run it: Tick Delete the lines afterwards to clear your sketch. The lines are only deleted if every line converted.

Creates many straight pipes from an .xlsx or .csv table, one row per pipe, each with its own size, type, system and level.

Ribbon button: Batch Pipes

1. Open MEP Modeling > Create > Batch Pipes and use Save an empty template.
2. Fill in one row per pipe: start and end X, Y, Z in mm, diameter, pipe type, system type and level.
3. Type names as they appear in the project, or leave a cell empty to use the first one.
4. Save the table and open it in Batch Pipe Creator.
5. Check the preview for skipped rows, then confirm.

Before you run it: Coordinates are measured from the project internal origin, and Z from each row's level, so convert values that use another reference point first. The new pipes aren't joined to each other.

Creates many straight ducts from an .xlsx or .csv table, one row per duct, each with its own size, type, system and level.

Ribbon button: Batch Ducts

1. Open MEP Modeling > Create > Batch Ducts and use Save an empty template.
2. Fill in one row per duct: start and end X, Y, Z in mm, size, duct type, system type and level.
3. Type names as they appear in the project, or leave a cell empty to use the first one.
4. Save the table and open it in Batch Duct Creator.
5. Check the preview for skipped rows, then confirm.

Before you run it: Coordinates are measured from the project internal origin, and Z from each row's level, so convert values that use another reference point first. The new ducts aren't joined to each other.

Copies one family instance into a grid of rows and columns at the spacing you set, keeping the original's type and parameter values.

Ribbon button: Array

1. Select one family instance, or pick it after the command starts.
2. Open MEP Modeling > Create > Array.
3. Enter the number of rows and columns.
4. Enter the X and Y spacing in mm. Use a negative value to go left or down.
5. Check the preview, then confirm.

Before you run it: The original counts as row 1, column 1, so a 2 x 3 grid gives 5 new copies. Each copy is a separate element you can edit on its own, and running it again adds another set.

Copies the instance parameter values you choose from one source element to the target elements you pick.

Ribbon button: Copy+Params

1. Open MEP Modeling > Create > Copy+Params.
2. Pick the source element.
3. Pick the target elements, then click Finish.
4. Tick the parameters to copy. The source value is shown next to each one.
5. Check the preview, then confirm.

Before you run it: Your ticked list is remembered, so repeat jobs are quicker. Only parameters the target also has are changed, and read-only ones are skipped.

Sets or changes the height of selected pipes, ducts, cable trays and conduits, measured at the middle, bottom or top of the run.

Ribbon button: Elevations

1. Select the pipes, ducts, cable trays or conduits you want to change.
2. Click Elevations on the MEP Modeling panel.
3. Choose where to measure: Middle, Bottom or Top.
4. Choose Set height and enter the height in mm, or choose Move up/down by and enter the distance.
5. Check the before and after in the preview, untick any rows you don't want, then confirm.

Before you run it: Set height is measured from each run's own reference level, and Bottom and Top use the outside size. Sloped and vertical runs are skipped.

Connects equipment or terminals to a selected main pipe or duct with a simple branch: a vertical run, an elbow, then a horizontal run into the main.

Ribbon button: Routing

1. Select the equipment or terminals and the main pipes or ducts, all together.
2. Click Routing on the MEP Modeling panel.
3. Check the preview. Each open connector goes to the nearest selected main of the same kind.
4. Untick any route you don't want, then confirm.
5. Check the new runs against other services.

Before you run it: Routes don't avoid obstacles, and sloped mains are skipped. A route that fails doesn't undo the others.

Checks connected duct, pipe, cable tray and conduit joins in the scope you choose and lists the ones that don't match, without changing the model.

Ribbon button: Connectors

1. Click Connectors on the MEP Modeling panel.
2. Choose the scope: whole model, active view or current selection.
3. Choose the categories, then run the check.
4. Select a Warning row and use Select & Zoom to go to the element.
5. Use Save Excel... or Save CSV... to export the list.

Before you run it: It finds size or shape mismatches, gaps, connectors not facing each other and different system types. Use Open Ends on the QA/QC panel for open ends.

Adds, updates or removes pipe and duct insulation using rules by system name and size, each setting the insulation type and thickness.

Ribbon button: Insulation

1. Click Insulation and choose the scope: whole model, active view or current selection.
2. Add a rule for each case: Pipes or Ducts, system name contains, min and max size, type and thickness.
3. Put specific rules above general ones, because the first matching rule wins.
4. Choose the action: Add or update, Add only, or Remove.
5. Check the preview, untick any rows you don't want, then confirm.

Before you run it: Leave System name contains empty to match any system. Use Add only when you want to skip runs that are already insulated.