In no time a manufacturable, transportable and efficiently processable product: Prefab kits in Revit thanks to BIM consultancy

Prefabricating piping, meter boxes and other installation components is not new, but it is more (cost) efficient than ever before. Partly because the gap between visual design and physical project is getting smaller. "To ensure that prefabricated elements fit, close tolerance limits apply," know BIM consultants Stefan Jansen and Laurens Duijm of Trimble. "Up-to-date and reliable product data are indispensable, which the Trimble MEP content library provides perfectly. Trimble also offers numerous software and hardware solutions as well as additional services to increase design quality, improve communication, speed up processes and reduce time and (failure) costs."

Trimble is a publicly traded U.S. IT supplier, whose goal is to connect physical and digital worlds. With technologies in the field of positioning, modeling, connectivity and data analysis, it supports customers to improve their productivity, quality, safety and sustainability. Trimble operates in more than 150 countries, including the Netherlands. With the acquisition of Stabiplan in 2018, it significantly increased its market share in the Dutch Mechanical, Electrical & Plumbing (MEP) industry. This includes the addition of Stabicad for Autocad, Stabicad LT and, of course, Stabicad for Revit.

"With Stabicad for Revit, we offer a powerful and complete software package for the MEP installer," said Jansen. "In the Revit template, all mechanical and electrical disciplines are present by default, so every MEP installer can work with it. However, not everyone needs all functionalities as well. Therefore, we customize the templates from generic to (company) specific. This not only involves the design department, but also the workshop: what data is needed to make a prefab design feasible?" Duijm: "So in addition to being a software developer and software vendor, we are also a software consultant. We like to provide support at the start of a project, but also in process-related matters. For example, in the field of prefab. We also regularly organize training sessions to familiarize customers with our software. We used to do this classically, but unfortunately that is not possible at the moment. With an extensive Virtual Instructor Led Training (VILT) program we therefore continue the guidance online. Personally, with individual assignments and with constant feedback from our trainers. In addition, we offer various interesting E-learnings."

To optimize their precast processes, more and more installers and manufacturers are switching from AutoCAD to Stabicad for Revit, notes Duijm. "Not surprisingly, because the Revit software allows you to work much more efficiently and faster. Moreover, you immediately have a complete BIM model at your disposal." Jansen: "Stabicad for Revit was developed to easily and quickly design, manage and check installations. The software also includes a prefab module, with handy tools for creating prefab sets quickly and properly. In addition to manual selection, customers can use so-called model lines. Here a grid is placed over the installation model, with for example the dimensions of the truck, based on which the correct precast dimensions are automatically determined. Plot numbers or other (company) specific coding can be added in the prefab set name, for example. This also creates a transportable and efficiently processable precast set."

Following the templates, Trimble consultants are also customizing the layout of the precast/work drawings. Which views are desirable? Is the front view of the precast set sufficient, or do they also want a side view, top view and/or 3D view? Including or excluding parameters, automatically generated material lists and annotations? "By thinking about this in the preliminary phase, prefab drawings of large numbers of sets can be generated in one go," Duijm said. "From concept to installation, Stabicad for Revit offers integrated calculations, OpenDATA BIM content and comprehensive productivity tools that support the modeler in quickly producing the highest level of detail in the 3D design." Currently, Duijm's involvement includes process optimization at Post Luchtkanalen in Rosmalen. The manufacturer of air ducts and fittings often receives installation designs, which are converted in-house into manufacturable prefabricated products. Previously, this was done in AutoCAD, but now that more and more customers are switching to Revit, Post Luchtkanalen is happy to go along with this. "Thanks to the extensive functionalities of Stabicad for Revit, all prefab designs - also from Stabicad for Autocad - can now easily be worked out in Revit. Moreover, direc t the right output for the workshop can be generated," he says. "At the moment, the template and an in-house dimension library are being set up for this purpose. In addition, the entire work process is being documented and made visible in handy instructional videos, so that future employees will also quickly become familiar with the new processes."