Beam Instance Properties

Modify beam instance properties to change level offsets, geometry justification, phasing data, and more.

To change instance properties, select the element and change its properties on the Properties palette.

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	Specifies the orientation of the beam from a sloped plane on which it is sketched. Either Normal or Horizontal. Normal maintains the beam flanges parallel with the plane on which it is sketched. Horizontal orients the beam flanges to a horizontal position. Orientation is susceptible to the justification and offset properties under Geometric Position.
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.
Geometric Position
Start Extension	Applies to steel beams only. A dimension that adds beam geometry beyond the start end of the beam.
End Extension	Applies to steel beams only. A dimension that adds beam geometry beyond the finish end of the beam.
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 the joined start of the 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 the joined end of the 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 in the y direction: either Origin, Left, Center, Right.
y Offset Value	Applies to Uniform justified steel beams only. The numeric value that offsets the geometry in the y direction. The distance between the location line and the characteristic point set in the 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 in the z direction: either Origin, Top, Center, Bottom.
z Offset Value	Applies to Uniform justified steel beams only. The numeric value that offsets the geometry in the z direction. The distance between the location line and the characteristic point set in the y 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 in the y direction: 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 in the y direction. This is 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 in the z direction: 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 in the z direction. This is 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 in the y direction: 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 in the y direction. This is 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 in the z direction: 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 in the z direction. This is the distance between the location line and the characteristic point set in the End z Justification parameter.
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 Change the Physical Properties of a Material.
Structural
Stick Symbol Location	Applies to steel beams only. Either Top of Geometry, Center of Geometry, Bottom of Geometry, or Location Line. Specifies the location of the beam representation when viewed in coarse.
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, Purlin, or Chord.
Start Attachment Type	Either End Elevation or Distance. Specifies the attachment orientation at the start position of the beam. End Elevation (default) orients the start position at the placement level of the beam. Distance orients the start position to the join location on a column. See About Adjusting the 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 About Adjusting the Beam Elevation at Column Join.
Start of Attachment to Reference Column	Specifies either the Top or Bottom of the column from which the Start Attachment Distance is measured. See About Adjusting the Beam Elevation at Column Join.
End Attachment Type	Either End Elevation or Distance. Specifies the attachment orientation at the end position of the beam. End Elevation (default) orients the end position at the placement level of the beam. Distance orients the start position to the join location on a column. See About Adjusting the 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 About Adjusting the Beam Elevation at Column Join.
End of Attachment to Reference Column	Specifies either the Top or Bottom of the column from which the End Attachment Distance is measured. See About Adjusting the Beam Elevation at Column Join.
Camber Size	Applies to steel beams only. The beam camber.
Number of Studs	Applies to steel beams only. The number of studs per beam.
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.
Dimensions
Length	The length between beam handles. See About 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.
Elevation at Top	Indicates the elevation used for tagging the top of the beam. This is a read-only parameter that reports Varies for sloped planes.
Elevation at Bottom	Indicates the elevation used for tagging the bottom of the beam. This is a read-only parameter that reports Varies for sloped planes.
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 Review 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.