Revit Tip: Modelling Heavy Duty Cables using Flexi-Pipe Families!

by Dennis Collin

I have often been asked how to model elements such as heavy-duty cables, either as supports or for electrical infrastructure. Revit’s MEP tools do have wires, but they are 2D, view specific elements and therefore do not show in 3D views.

Previously I posted how adaptive components could be used to represent elements such as heavy-duty cables used in such disciplines as electrical distribution.

Cables Using Adaptive Components

Whilst they work well enough, there are some limitations in that they do not have a length parameter readily accessible within Revit’s properties palette.

Fig 1. MEP’s wires are 2D objects only and do not display in 3D views!

An alternative approach is to use Revit’s Flex-pipe or Duct family type to represent cabling. This may be a little easier to achieve, as all that is required is to duplicate a Flex- pipe system family, name it and enter suitable notes in the description and type comments with cable information.

Fig 2. Using Flexi-pipe system families to represent heavy duty cables.

These parameters can be used to differentiate the cable flexi-pipe from regular pipes with the use of filters both in drawing views and schedules.

A similar method can be employed to identify the cables as different colours or line types, by defining Electrical Cables as a pipe system.

Fig 3. Specifying a ‘Cable System’

Unlike adaptive components the cable length can be easily scheduled with any conflicting pipework filtered out with type comments or system type.

Fig 4. A Cable Schedule with count, length, size, and comments fields

Regular families can be created to represent cable supports where a cable needs to cross over a walkway or road as per the image below.

Fig 5. Flexi Pipes used to represent heavy duty cables supported by ‘Structural Columns’

Whilst not ideal, it does provide a working solution for anyone needing to produce a model within the infrastructure space. The Flexi-pipe is drawn using spline like geometry so in tight spaces it may be necessary to place several points in groups to control the flow of the resultant cable geometry.

Hopefully with future versions of Revit, additional tools and options will be available to make the modelling of such features easier.