Accessories that fit: Place devices and edit ports

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Use the Terminal, Accessory, and Equipment tools to place MEP devices in Floor Plan or 3D, then connect them to your routes.

When to use which tool

• Terminal: Endpoints such as diffusers, grilles, outlets, taps, fixtures.
• Accessory: Fittings or inline components on a route (valves, dampers, filters).
• Equipment: Larger devices like AHUs, boilers, pumps, cabinets.

These elements can start or end MEP routes and connect to existing duct, pipe, or cable carrier segments.

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Place an accessory or equipment on a route

 

• Activate the Accessory or Equipment tool from the MEP toolbox.
• In Floor Plan or 3D, hover over an existing route segment until it highlights.
• Click once to place the selected element on the route.

Behavior on placement:

• The element placed second (route or device) inherits the MEP System from the one it connects to.
• If the accessory and route have the same shape, the accessory takes the route’s size by default.
• If the shapes differ, the accessory keeps its own size and an automatic transition is inserted where possible.
• If there is not enough space or the fitting is not in line with the route, the accessory is placed standalone, not connected.Control whether the accessory inherits route size

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Control whether the accessory inherits route size

 

• By default, accessories match the connected route’s size.
• To change this default for each element:
  • Before placing the accessory, locate Connection size in the Info Box.
  • Uncheck "Inherit connection size from Route".
  • Place the accessory.
• If checkbox is off: accessory keeps its own size and a transition is added if needed.

Flip accessory direction

• Click the placed Accessory.
• Select the Accessory-Node.
• From the Pet Palette select "Flip Direction".

 

 

 

Find the optimal route connection path

When connecting a route to a terminal, accessory, or equipment, MEP Designer can propose alternate connection paths.

• Start or continue routing toward the device.
• As you reach the element, press the Up/Down Arrow keys to cycle through alternative connection geometries.
• Click to confirm the preferred connection.

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Edit MEP Connections

Every MEP element has connection ports that control how it connects to routes (shape, size, position, and type). Editing ports lets you fine tune connections and system behavior.

Tip: Ports may inherit MEP System and connection parameters when connected, so edits can affect downstream routing.

 

Edit ports directly on the element

• Select the MEP element.
• Click directly on the port hotspot you want to edit.
• From the Pet Palette, choose Edit Connection Settings.
• In the dialog, review and edit port options such as:
  • Shape and size (diameter or width/height)
  • Connection type (for example flanged vs. non flanged)
  • MEP System assignment, if controlled per connection
• Click OK to apply changes.

 

Edit all ports from the Setting dialog

You can also manage all connection ports of the element in one place using its Settings dialog.

• Select the MEP element (terminal, accessory, or equipment).
• Open Settings (for example via the Info Box or context menu).
• Go to the Connections tab, where the element’s connection ports are listed.
• Review and adjust each port’s shape, size, and system assignment as needed, then click OK to apply.

This is useful when you want to define or standardize all ports of a device before placing multiple instances in the model.

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Quickly Find Open MEP Connections

As your network grows, it’s easy to miss a loose end. MEP Designer can highlight all open MEP connections so you can close them before sharing or exporting the model.

  

Show all open connections in the view

 

• Go to View > On-Screen View Options > Open MEP Connections.
• Enable Open MEP Connections.
• All unconnected ports are highlighted so you can zoom in and fix them.

Typical use cases:

• Before issuing a coordination model, to ensure no accidental open ends.
• After editing or rerouting segments, to quickly check that all connections are still valid.

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Useful Links

• Edit MEP connection ports
• Place Terminal, Accessory or Equipment
• Modeling with MEP Designer – overview (workflows and concepts)
• Editing MEP routes and elements (slopes, segment editing, selection tools)
• MEP Designer – Modeling, documentation and calculations