Add a Building Component to a Model

To add a building component to a model, download its ADSK file from the manufacturer, open it in Revit, and load it into a model.

The following steps describe a typical workflow for using a building component in a Revit model. For example, suppose a manufacturer published the contents of a rooftop HVAC unit to its website as an ADSK file to be used by engineers and architects. You want to incorporate this building component in your model. Using the component's geometry and data, you can properly place the component in the model and also create connectors on it, so the component can be used in Revit building systems.

Your specific steps may vary slightly from the following procedure depending on your design intent.

1. Download the building component ADSK file from the manufacturer's website.
2. To open the ADSK file in Revit, click File tab Open (Building Component).
   Note: You cannot open ADSK files that are associated with a later version of Revit.
3. Load the ADSK file into the model from the Family Editor.
   1. On the ribbon, click (Place a Component).
      • Architecture tabBuild panelComponent drop-down (Place a Component)
      • Structure tabModel panelComponent drop-down (Place a Component)
      • Systems tabModel panelComponent drop-down (Place a Component)
   2. Click Modify | Place Component tabMode panelLoad Family.
   3. Select the ADSK file, and place it in the model.
4. Place the component in the model.
5. Display the component as a bounding box at a coarse level of detail.
6. Display the full geometry at medium and fine levels of detail.
7. View the component in any view.
8. Run an interference check to ensure proper clearance.
9. Tag and schedule the component using its parameters.
10. Dimension the component to its reference planes and to some of its geometry.
11. Create any extra connectors on the component in the Family Editor. When they are connected to building services in a model, the connectors can be used in flow analysis.