Beam Instance Properties

Properties will vary depending on the beam families that are specified during the installation process. The following instance properties apply to beam families that load during a typical installation:

Name	Description
Constraints
Reference Level	The constraining level. This is a read-only value that is dependent on the work plane on which the beam was placed.
Work Plane	The current plane on which elements are placed. This is a read-only value.
Start Level Offset	The distance of the beam start point from the reference level. Values entered here are reset when the member is pinned. Read-only when pinned.
End Level Offset	The distance of the beam endpoint from the reference level. Values entered here are reset when the member is pinned. Read-only when pinned
Orientation	The beam orientation to the current plane on which elements are placed. This is a read-only value.
Cross-Section Rotation	Controls rotating beams and braces. The angle of rotation is measured from the beam’s work plane and the direction of the center reference plane.
Construction (Pre-2014 projects)
Start Extension	Applies to steel beams only. The dimension between the edge of the start end of the beam and the element to which it is connected. This parameter is only available in projects created in versions prior to Autodesk Revit 2014 containing beam families that have not been updated. It is recommended to use the Geometric Position Start Extension below. Using both is an additive extension.
End Extension	Applies to steel beams only. The dimension between the edge of the finish end of the beam and the element to which it is connected. This parameter is only available in projects created in versions prior to Autodesk Revit 2014 containing beam families that have not been updated. It is recommended to use the Geometric Position Start Extension below. Using both is an additive extension.
Materials and Finishes
Structural Material	Controls the hidden view display of structural elements. Concrete or Precast will display as hidden. Steel or Wood will be visible when another element is in front of it. Unassigned will not display if hidden by another element. See Material Structural Classes.
Structural
Stick Symbol Location	Applies to steel beams only.
Start Connection	Applies to steel beams only. A moment frame, or cantilever symbol at the start end of a beam.
End Connection	Applies to steel beams only. A moment frame, or cantilever symbol at the finish end of a beam.
Cut Length	The physical length of the beam. This is a read-only value.
Structural Usage	Specifies the usage. Either Girder, Horizontal bracing, Joist, Other, or Purlin.
Start Attachment Type	Either End Elevation or Distance. Specifies the elevation orientation of the beam. End Elevation maintains the placement level and Distance orients to the join location on a column. See Beam Elevation at Column Join.
Start Attachment Distance	Specifies the offset of the beam start from the column connection point when Start Attachment Type is set to Distance. See Beam Elevation at Column Join.
End of Referenced Column	Specifies either the Top or Bottom of the beam from which the Start Attachment Distance is determined. See Beam Elevation at Column Join.
End Attachment Type	Either End Elevation or Distance. Specifies the elevation orientation of the beam. End Elevation maintains the placement level and Distance orients to the join location on a column. See Beam Elevation at Column Join.
End Attachment Distance	Specifies the offset of the bean end from the column connection point when End Attachment Type is set to Distance. See Beam Elevation at Column Join.
End of Referenced Column	Specifies either the Top or Bottom of the beam from which the End Attachment Distance is determined. See Beam Elevation at Column Join.
Rebar Cover - Top Face	Applies to concrete beams only. The rebar cover distance from the beam top face.
Rebar Cover - Bottom Face	Applies to concrete beams only. The rebar cover distance from the beam bottom face.
Rebar Cover - Other Faces	Applies to concrete beams only. The rebar cover distance from the beam to adjacent element faces.
Estimated Reinforcement Volume	Applies to concrete beams only. Specifies the estimated reinforcement volume of the selected element. This is a read-only parameter that only displays when rebar has been placed.
Camber Size	Applies to steel beams only. The beam camber.
Number of Studs	Applies to steel beams only. The number of studs per beam.
Enable Analytical Model	Displays the analytical model and includes it in analytical calculations. Selected by default. See Disabling the Analytical Model.
Dimensions
Length	The length between beam handles. See Beam Handles. This is the analytical length of the beam. This is a read-only value.
Volume	The volume of the selected beam. This is a read-only value.
Identity Data
Comments	User comments.
Mark	A label created for the beam. Possible use: shop mark. This value must be unique for each element in a project. Revit warns you if the number is already used but allows you to continue using it. You can see the warning using the Review Warnings tool. See Reviewing Warning Messages.
Phasing
Phase Created	Indicates in which phase the beam component was created. See Project Phasing.
Phase Demolished	Indicates in which phase the beam component was demolished. See Project Phasing.
Geometric Position
Start Extension	Applies to steel beams only. The dimension between the edge of the start end of the beam and the element to which it is connected.
End Extension	Applies to steel beams only. The dimension between the edge of the finish end of the beam and the element to which it is connected.
Start Join Cutback	Applies to steel beams only. The dimension between the edge of the start end of the beam and the element to which it is connected. Only for joined start of element.
End Join Cutback	Applies to steel beams only. The dimension between the edge of the finish end of the beam and the element to which it is connected. Only for joined end of element.
yz Justification	Applies to steel beams only. Either Uniform or Independent. Uniform allows setting the same parameters to both start and end of a beam. Independent allows setting different parameters to start and end of a beam.
y Justification	Applies to Uniform justified steel beams only. Specifies the location of the physical geometry with respect to the location line: either Origin, Left, Center, Right.
y Offset Value	Applies to Uniform justified steel beams only. The numeric value that offsets the geometry. The distance between the location line and the characteristic point set in y Justification parameter.
z Justification	Applies to Uniform justified steel beams only. Specifies the location of the physical geometry with respect to the location line: either Origin, Top, Center, Bottom.
z Offset Value	Applies to Uniform justified steel beams only. The distance between the location line and the characteristic point set in z Justification parameter.
Start y Justification	Applies to Independent justified steel beams only. Specifies the location of the physical geometry of the start end of the beam with respect to the location line: either Origin, Left, Center, Right.
Start y Offset Value	Applies to Independent justified steel beams only. The numeric value that offsets the geometry at the start end of the beam. The distance between the location line and the characteristic point set in the Start y Justification parameter.
Start z Justification	Applies to Independent justified steel beams only. Specifies the location of the physical geometry with respect to the location line at the start end of the beam: either Origin, Top, Center, Bottom.
Start z Offset Value	Applies to Independent justified steel beams only. The numeric value that offsets the geometry at the finish end of the beam. The distance between the location line and the characteristic point set in the Start z Justification parameter.
End y Justification	Applies to Independent justified steel beams only. Specifies the location of the physical geometry of the finish end of the beam with respect to the location line: either Origin, Left, Center, Right.
End y Offset Value	Applies to Independent justified steel beams only. The numeric value that offsets the geometry at the start end of the beam. The distance between the location line and the characteristic point set in the End y Justification parameter.
End z Justification	Applies to Independent justified steel beams only. Specifies the location of the physical geometry of the finish end of the beam with respect to the location line: either Origin, Left, Center, Right.
End z Offset Value	Applies to Independent justified steel beams only. The numeric value that offsets the geometry at the start end of the beam. The distance between the location line and the characteristic point set in the End z Justification parameter.
Identity Data (Analytical Beams)
Member Number	An identifier created for the analytical member. This value should be unique across Analytical Beams, Analytical Braces and Analytical Columns in a project. Revit warns you if the number is already used but allows you to continue using it. You can see the warning using the Review Warnings tool. See Reviewing Warning Messages.
Comments	User comments.
Structural Analysis (See Structural Analytical Model Overview.)
Start Release	Start release conditions. Either Fixed, Pinned, Bending Moment, or User Defined. User Defined allows you to enable/disable each of the start release conditions.
Start Fx	Translational release at the start end of the beam along the x-axis.
Start Fy	Translational release at the start end of the beam along the y-axis.
Start Fz	Translational release at the start end of the beam along the z-axis.
Start Mx	Rotational release at the start end of the beam along the x-axis.
Start My	Rotational release at the start end of the beam along the y-axis.
Start Mz	Rotational release at the start end of the beam along the z-axis.
End Release	End release conditions. Either Fixed, Pinned, Bending Moment, or User Defined. User Defined allows you to enable/disable each of the end release conditions.
End Fx	Translational release at the end of the beam along the x-axis.
End Fy	Translational release at the end of the beam along the y-axis.
End Fz	Translational release at the end of the beam along the z-axis.
End Mx	Rotational release at the end of the beam along the x-axis.
End My	Rotational release at the end of the beam along the y-axis.
End Mz	Rotational release at the end of the beam along the z-axis.
Analyze as	Used by external analysis applications to determine whether beam conditions contribute to lateral analysis. See Projection Adjustment.
Analytical Model
Analytical Links	Either Yes, No, or From Column. A frame element that can be set to fully rigid or released in global directions. When Analytical Links are enabled, an additional analytical segment is engaged in the model between the end of the analytical model of a beam and the analytical model of a column. From Column defines the analytical link of the beam to that of its connected column. See Analytical Link.
Analytical Properties
Family Type	The family type of the element.
Physical Material Asset	The name of a physical asset assigned to the beam material (read-only).
Length	The length of the analytical model.
Analytical Alignment
Start Alignment Method	Either Auto-Detect or Projection. Specifies if the horizontal and vertical references of the beam start position are automatically justified or have a defined projection.
Start y Projection	Either Location Line, Left of Element, Center of Element, Right of Element, <Grids...>, or <Reference Planes...>. Available when Start Alignment Method is specified as Projection. Specifies the horizontal limits of the analytical model at the start of the beam.
Start z Projection	Either Location Line, Top of Element, Center of Element, Bottom of Element, <Level...>, <Reference Level...>, or <Reference Planes...>. Available when Start Alignment Method is specified as Projection. Specifies the vertical limits of the analytical model at the start of the beam.
End Alignment Method	Either Auto-Detect or Projection. Specifies if the horizontal and vertical references of the beam end position are automatically justified or have a defined projection.
End y Projection	Either Location Line, Left of Element, Center of Element, Right of Element, <Grids...>, or <Reference Planes...>. Available when End Alignment Method is specified as Projection. Specifies the horizontal limits of the analytical model at the end of the beam.
End z Projection	Either Location Line, Top of Element, Center of Element, Bottom of Element, <Level...>, <Reference Level...>, or <Reference Planes...>. Available when End Alignment Method is specified as Projection. Specifies the vertical limits of the analytical model at the end of the beam.
Other
Start Extension Calculation	Applies to steel beams only. Specifies family parameters; defines maximum distance of start extension parameter. This parameter is only available in projects created in versions prior to Autodesk Revit 2014 containing beam families that have not been updated. This is a read-only value.
End Extension Calculation	Applies to steel beams only. Specifies family parameters; defines maximum distance of end extension parameter. This parameter is only available in projects created in versions prior to Autodesk Revit 2014 containing beam families that have not been updated. This is a read-only value.