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MEP Product Research

Balint Kezer
Graphisoft
Graphisoft
Dear all,

As a Product Manager for MEP related developments I would like to better understand the needs of architects and engineers using our products. Because of this I have compiled the following survey: https://bit.ly/GSMEP.

Responses are more than welcome. I'm also open to any ideas you might have regarding this topic, feel free to provide them here in this topic.

Best regards,
Balint Kezer
Senior Product Manager
Graphisoft
97 REPLIES 97
Jp1138
Expert
One of the Spanish distributors is describing the new integrated MEP modeller in ARCHICAD 24

https://acespana.com/mep-modeler
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Laszlo Nagy
Community Admin
Community Admin
Let me copy the link of a post another user made about requested new MEP functionalities:

https://archicad-talk.graphisoft.com/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=70037#p312225
Loving Archicad since 1995 - Find Archicad Tips at x.com/laszlonagy
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Nader Belal
Mentor
I would like to thank @Braza for directing me to this thread, and @Lazlo for copying the link.

And with all your permission I will write down all the things that I think that should be addressed for ArchiCAD MEP:

1. I have found out that an efficient way of modelling MEP services based on other media sources (ex: Pointcloud), is to use Morphs 3D Polylines as MEP routes' guide lines/axis, therefore I wish (if possible) to use the magic wand to model the would highlight trajectory.
And although I know that this isn't the place to comment about Morphs, but I think the Morphs Node for this case must be made more visible, or bigger, because with the method I have just mentioned, search for a Morph node in a PointCloud is like search for a needle in the hey's stack.

2. More MEP options for GDL objects (specially for ducts & tubes) in MEP Routing Palette, as I find out that sometime I see the options get changed, and changing it back is an inconvenience (example: I want welded ducts, but after click the last point, I get flanged ducts)

3. Off axis elements, since I have seen some pipes and ducts may grow or change in size or form off the MEP route axis..

4. Custom thickness Flanged Ducts and pipes: current MEP objects relate ducts' & pipes flanged thickness to pipe thickness, but this can be an issue for LOD 200+ modeliing.

5. Graphisoft should set a bare minimum of standardised parameters (similar to those already set by Graphisoft for doors, windows, labels, & etc) to be used for MEP related data, not only for library parts creators, but also for data exchange. For example, I have found out that most of these parameters are deficient but those related to electricity (AC/DC) are shocking and stark, just as I tried to reach out Graphisoft in this thread https://archicad-talk.graphisoft.com/viewtopic.php?p=298840#p298840.
And if you will permit me, I strongly advise that the names of those parameters be adapted/inspired by EN norms.

6. A lot, and I mean a lot of your MEP object, lacks a decent number of hotspots and hotlines for 3D views, which can make 3D modelling a time wasting exercise.
For example: Model a wide rectangular duct at an angle, that have two non-uniform transitions of different sizes put side by side at the end of that duct, so that the outer perimeter of the transitions' edges should meet with those of the duct.
Update: I have been recently alerted that duct's more fittings was the answer for this particular inconvenience, but the need for more hotspots, hotlines & hotsarcs is still relevant and necessary ... So I would also like to add that in case of more fittings, we also need to set the size of the divisions between the secondary ducts.

7. For lighting, please add a simple 3D model for a simple/basic wall mounted flourescent lamp (or similar) for lighting & MEP purposes. https://archicad-talk.graphisoft.com/viewtopic.php?p=311729#p311729

8. Last year, I have stumbled on a case were inline objects may have needed more than 2 MEP hotsopts, as I have explained in this thread https://archicad-talk.graphisoft.com/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=67407&p=300657#p300657

9. I would like you to check ArchiCAD's standards ducts, cause (and that if I don't remember to be wrong), when ever you set them to any MEP system, you can get them to change colour (for MEP indicator), but if you tried to return them to "Undefined", they simply wouldn't do ... I remember it to be a very easy bug fix in GDL.

10. Grasshopper connection, don't forget about that, and don't forget that sometime we need to extract the data in Grasshopper for calculations in Grasshopper.

11. In Revit there is a nice options that is available for electric appliances, were the hotspot will mention very simple info about the connection, like how many cables, volts etc, this must be implemented.
Update: Just to be clear, I'm not aiming that ArchiCAD should handle MEP calculations, what I aim for, that the user can have access to on screen data in its simplest form about the MEP connectors, in case of that the library part should have those data embedded.

12. Just a reminder, if you will incorporate changes, such for the parameters, don't forget to mention them in the manuals, and may be with a simple diagram so that we don't make wrong assumptions from our part (specially in the GDL manual).

13. Sometime, we would need to raise a node of a MEP element vertically in sections and elevation, right now we can't do that.

A good friend of mine have once told me that I´m so brute that I´m capable of creating a GDL script capable of creating GDLs.
Nader Belal
Mentor
Few other points that I have just stumbled upon:

14. Takeoff must be able to connect with transitions ducts.

15. Better controls for Wye pipes so that if I have one that flows vertically, and I need to change it's configuration, ArchiCAD wouldn't rotate it horizontally.

16. This is optional, once in an engineering firm I was exposed to a method of expressing different MEP routes by naming the nodes by numeric values, in such a way we can follow them as if it had a tree data structure, with trucks and branches, that goes from one specific node origin to destination node (of-course it was more elaborate than that) written down in a spreadsheet.
This method simplified MEP calculations, and revisions enormously, and it would be advantageous for ArchiCAD to include this option as a schedule scheme.
A good friend of mine have once told me that I´m so brute that I´m capable of creating a GDL script capable of creating GDLs.
Nader Belal
Mentor
17. You should also revise the rotation matrix for cable trays, cause I have just stumbled on the case were I needed to a vertical tray , with its bottom is facing the wall and no cover.
On plan it's correctly represented, but in 3D view, it appears as if it was rotated 180º.
A good friend of mine have once told me that I´m so brute that I´m capable of creating a GDL script capable of creating GDLs.
Nader Belal
Mentor
18. Electric MEP, should have Trucking Square profiles as an independent library parts, so that we don't have to use square duct profiles as trucking profiles.
A good friend of mine have once told me that I´m so brute that I´m capable of creating a GDL script capable of creating GDLs.
Nader Belal
Mentor
19. Air Diffuser needs to have the option to be connected from the top surface, and not just by the sides.

20. The objects "Rect Louver Face Ceiling Diffuser XX" & "Square Louver Face Ceiling Diffuser XX" are practically the same, you can even go with the rectangular, change its dimensions and make is a square, & the opposite is true.
I advise, you just keep the rectangular.
A good friend of mine have once told me that I´m so brute that I´m capable of creating a GDL script capable of creating GDLs.
Does the MEP package hook up water and vents to household appliances? washers, dryers, stoves, fridges, etc.
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Nader Belal
Mentor
@Aaron Bourgoin

only if the library object was scripted with MEP connectors
A good friend of mine have once told me that I´m so brute that I´m capable of creating a GDL script capable of creating GDLs.
jl_lt
Ace
Everything Mr. Moonlight said