Revit Project Management: Clash Detection Between Structural and Mechanical Models

Identifying Clashes and Coordinating Solutions: Analyzing Structural and Mechanical Interferences in Revit

Discover how clash detection in Revit Project Management can help identify conflicts between structural and mechanical models. Learn how to import models, run interference checks, and utilize the results for improving project coordination.

Key Insights

  • The article demonstrates how to perform clash detection in Revit Project Management, specifically between structural and mechanical models, to identify potential conflicts.
  • Using the linked structural model as the current project, the mechanical model is imported and an interference check is run to produce an interference report highlighting clashes.
  • The identified clashes can be leveraged to create coordination views in the architectural model, which can be shared with consultants to address the identified conflicts.

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Hello and welcome to the CAD Teacher VDCI video series for Revit Project Management. In the last video we were looking at clash detection between the architectural and mechanical models. And we decided to try and do a clash detection between structural and mechanical.

But because of the limitations of Revit, we can only do clash detection between our current model and one of the LinkedIn ones. So what I've done is I've opened up our LinkedIn structural model, which is the BIM304struct-revised file. And I'm going to go ahead and import in the mechanical model.

So I'm going to go to my insert tab. I'm going to go to link Revit. And then I'm going to navigate to my BIM304 folder.

I'm going to go to my mechanical folder and I'm going to select BIM304 mechanical. And remember the important step here is we want to make sure we have positioning set to auto origin to origin. And I'm going to go ahead and click open.

So I'm going to go to my 3D view. And from here we can see we've got quite a bit going on here. So all of our structural systems are showing and so are our mechanical.

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So I'm going to change my visual style from wireframe to shaded. And now I can see everything pretty good here. Looks good.

And I'll adjust my detail level from medium to fine. Okay, looks good. So what I'm going to do now is I'm going to go ahead and run the clash detection.

So I'm going to go to my collaborate tab. Interference check. And then run interference check.

We want to run an interference check from our current project which will be structural framing and structural columns. We'll worry about the foundations later. And then we'll run it against our mechanical model.

And this one we're going to do all categories as well. Alright, I'm going to hit okay. And we get our interference report.

And so let's see how some of these ducts are clashing. So I'm going to go ahead and select the wide flange that's being penetrated here. And you can see it's on the other side of the building there.

And you can see it's being hit just below right in here. Okay, and so we can go to the next one. But you can see there's quite a bit here.

A lot of clashes going on there. Just about every beam has a clash or a duct hitting it. So you can see here I've got the duct selected.

And it's showing me that it's being hit by this beam right there. Okay, so I can use this information to my advantage. Some of the ones that we've already identified can also help us.

Like this one right here. That was in our lobby. And we can go back into our architectural model.

And create a series of coordination views that can be sent out to our consultants for information. And also to help them kind of pick up some of the clashes that they have.

photo of Michael Wilson

Michael Wilson

Revit Instructor

Bachelor of Architecture, Registered Architect

Mike is recognized by Autodesk as one of North America’s leading Revit Certified Instructors. He has significant experience integrating Revit, 3ds Max, and Rhino and uses Revit Architecture on medium and large-scale bio and nano-tech projects. Mike has been an integral member of the VDCI team for over 15 years, offering his hard-charging, “get it done right” approach and close attention to detail. In his spare time, Mike enjoys spending time outdoors with his wife, children, and dog.

  • Autodesk Certified Instructor (ACI GOLD – 1 of 20 Awarded Globally)
  • Autodesk Certified AutoCAD Professional
  • Autodesk Certified Revit Professional
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