Take the Fear Out of Revit MEP
Clearly Defined Roles & Responsibilities
EYP MCF, a wholly owned subsidiary of Hewlett Packard.
Damon Ranieri, LEED Gr. Assoc., CSI CDT, BIM Subject Matter Expert
Victor Abreu, BIM / CAD Manager
Rayd Alfraihat, BIM Manager
MP1640-R You've purchased the software. You've delivered the training. Now why won't your
engineering team take on a real project with this powerful new tool? Simple, it's fear of what they don't
yet know! In this roundtable session, we will clearly explain what tasks in Autodesk Revit MEP software
should be assigned to each team member. We will associate tasks to where they might fall in the design
process. Give your team the assurance they need to know which features of Revit they need to be
familiar with—and it's not all of them!
Learning Objectives
At the end of this class, you will be able to:
Identify new BIM tasks & responsibilities.
Assign these tasks to the appropriate team members.
Pinpoint exactly when these tasks should occur.
About the Speakers
Damon Ranieri has spent the past year and a half with EYP, delivering Hewlett Packard’s Critical Facilities Services
as the Corporate AutoCAD/Revit/BIM Subject Matter Expert. He supports AEC design professionals across 13
offices worldwide (250+ staff). His primary market focus is Data Center design & delivery. He authors & documents
engineering project process, modeling and drafting procedures, distributing through training, intranet and
demonstration. He is knowledgeable in software such as Trane Trace 700, SKM Power Tools, Lighting Analysts
AGI32 and eQuest. Damon has been a contributing author to AUGI AEC Edge Magazine. He is an accredited
USGBC LEED Green Associate, & certified with the CSI as a Construction Document Technologist. Damon holds a
BS in Industrial Technology from Northern Illinois University.damon.jay.ranieri@hp.com
Victor J. Abreu presently serves as CAD Mngr. focused on production & efficiency, supporting AEC professionals
including CAD drafters & designers across 12 offices in North & Latin America for EYP MCF’s Americas Central
Region, a wholly owned subsidiary of HP. EYP MCF delivers HP’s Critical Facilities Services. Currently his focused
on implementing HP CFS CAD & BIM Standards for Latin America & the Caribbean Region. An experienced drafter
& designer with 19 yrs.’ experience in residential, commercial, education, and transportation design. Architectural &
Engineering Drafting Certification from Arts & Technology Institute, San Juan, Puerto Rico. Previous experience in
Puerto Rico: CAD Consultant for, Design Support Group, Perez Santiago Architects, Sierra Cardona Ferrer
Architects, CSA Group Architects and Engineers, Soltero Muñoz Architects, Underwood Architect
victor.j.abreu@hp.com
Rayd A. AlFraihat presently serves as BIM Mngr. focused on production & efficiency, supporting AEC professionals
including CAD drafters & designers across several offices EYP MCF’s Americas Central Region, a wholly owned
subsidiary of HP. EYP MCF delivers HP’s Critical Facilities Services. Rayd is pursuing a role in sustainable design
and executing LEED facilitation on several projects Worldwide. Currently his focused on implementing HP CFS CAD
& BIM Standards for the organization. He has a master's degree in Architecture from University of Illinois at
Chicago. Previous experience Intern Architect at LBB Architects -3D design, Presentation materials.
rayd.alfraihat@hp.com
Take the Fear Out of Revit MEP
Clearly Defined Roles & Responsibilities
www.hp.com/go/eypmcf
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Take the Fear Out of Revit MEP
Clearly Defined Roles & Responsibilities
Introduction
“When I was first introduced to Revit, I was so scared. I thought I was going to lose my job for
sure. I was in panic, uufff… I almost cried” –Victor Abreu
With over 20 years of implementing and standardizing design software between me and my co-presenter,
we know that the biggest challenge to success is not software or computing equipment. It is the end user.
Younger users can pick up new software quickly, but if a more seasoned designed professional “takes the
bull by the horns”, that person can find themselves equally as successful. So what separates those that
master new design approaches and tools from those that struggle? We believe it is fear. Fear of the
unknown, fear of failing, fear of being too proud to ask for help; fear consistently becomes an obstacle to
firms and design groups; keeping them from realizing the full potential of the investment they have made
in the software & computing equipment. Most significantly this fear will ultimately prevent the building
owner from realizing the superior experience of planning & constructing a facility using the process of
Building Information Modeling.
Fear is not going to go away any time soon, so in order to succeed in a BIM implementation, fear needs
to be addressed head on. First, we defined our current project process, and clearly mapped out how BIM
using Revit MEP would fit in. As a world leader in the design of Data Centers and other mission critical
facilities, we had a well-developed project process that our design teams were familiar with. It was an
essential part of our strategy that we continue to leverage what worked. But we knew we needed to be
smart about how integrating BIM into our project process, because simply adding another layer of tools,
processes, and hours would do nothing short of eroding our profitability. Our approach was two pronged;
clearly defining what was different about our project process, and putting the resources in place to
document and support those definitions.
As a part of this discovery we were able to identify each task and responsibility to deliver one of our
typical projects. We could then map each task to the appropriate individual based on their skill and
experience level; defining new roles specifically related to BIM. This addresses the issue of fear, because
it reduces the volume of new information and tasks an individual feels they need to master down to a
level that appears more realistic and achievable. In addition, individuals can approach learning each task
on their own schedule and on their own terms. The new information feels more like drinking water from a
glass, versus drinking from a fire hose.
To achieve and support this idea of a self-paced learning environment we created and update a variety of
training and knowledge sharing resources on a continuous basis. Ranging from person to person support
and coaching, to prerecorded videos, websites and blogs, the users should feel as if they know where to
go for answers when they need them. We also focused a great deal on ensuring the knowledge
resources were appropriate for the BIM roles and levels of experience.
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Take the Fear Out of Revit MEP
Clearly Defined Roles & Responsibilities
Define the Project Process, Roles & Responsibilities; The Roles
As we explore the details of how we addressed the idea of fear in our BIM implementation, we
will follow the same group of engineers and designers. Let’s put a face to the name, or in this
case the BIM role.
BIM Role
Name
Project Manager
“Alex”
(as related to BIM) define BIM Goals & Uses based on their
knowledge of the contract requirements, other consultants,
and client expectations.
Senior Engineer
Photo
Typically a senior level delivery staff; business, design &
project management background required.
BIM Manager
“Rayd”
Similar to a traditional CAD Coordinator, but blending in more
of a Project Administrator’s responsibilities.
Junior Architect
Typically junior to mid level staff; proficiency with design
applications & communication skills required.
Model Manager
“Angie (Elec)”
Mid Level Electrical Designer
“Owner” of a Revit file, typically a part of the discipline
represented within their file.
“Stacy (Mech)”
Licensed Mechanical Engineer
Typically junior to mid level design staff; engineers-intraining & discipline specific focus preferred.
Design Modelers
“Jocelyn (Fire)”
A mid to senior engineer or designer that assembles the
building design represented as a Revit model.
Licensed Fire Protection Engineer
Typically a licensed engineer; intimate knowledge of the
project & client requirements, as well as a willingness to
engage with design applications.
Mid Level Electrical Designer
Production Modelers
“Victor (Mech)”
A person who completes the annotation and publishes the
final documentation.
CAD Drafter
Typically junior to mid level staff; proficient with design
applications.
“Joaquin (Elec)”
“Stacy (Mech)”
“Rayd (Elec)”
“Elena (Plmb, Fire)”
Mid Level Piping Designer
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Take the Fear Out of Revit MEP
Clearly Defined Roles & Responsibilities
Project Process
Now that we have the concept of who will be involved in delivering a project covered at a high
level, we can look at the basic workflow they will engage in.
1. Communicate Expectations. The Project Manager, Sales Force, and the Lead
Engineers need to clearly communicate to the team the requirements of the contract,
expectations of the client, and the details of the other consultants involved in the project.
We list this as the starting point of our process, but constant and up to date information
about decisions made with the client throughout the lifecycle of the project are the
cornerstone of success or failure of the team.
2. BIM Execution Planning. The project’s leadership (PM, Design Modelers, etc.) choose
a BIM Manager, and draft a BIM Execution Plan for the project. This step typically
involves discussions internal AND with external consultants. Compile everyone’s BIM
goals and Model uses, as well as project logistics (FTP sites, project management tools,
software versions, etc.) Level of detail and authoring responsibility is defined for each
building component. In many cases it is a good idea to draft the BIM Execution Plan
prior to finalizing and signing the contract. This allows the team to draft language into the
contract that sets the stage for components essential to the success of the plan such as
ease of collaboration between consultants, exchange of authoring files such as DWGs or
Revit models, and expected level of detail of model components.
3. Modeling Kickoff. Project files are created from company standard libraries using the
BIM Execution Plan for guidance. Concurrently, Designers guide Production in creating
and assembling Project Content Library. This combines manufacturer, company
standard, and newly created content.
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Take the Fear Out of Revit MEP
Clearly Defined Roles & Responsibilities
a. Set-up Model Files. The Model Managers are assigned to the project by the
Project Manager and BIM Manager. The decisions made during the BIM
Execution Planning dictate how many model files are required to deliver the
project.
b. Create Content Library. While the Model Files are being created the BIM
Manager, and Design Modelers can guide the Production Modelers in
assembling the Content Library for the project. This involves becoming familiar
with the project’s Basis of Design, searching for Revit content both in the
corporate library and online, and creating Revit families either from scratch or
from a similar product.
4. Represent the Design as a Model. Using the project model files and customized
project content library the Design Modelers represent the schematic design as a Building
Information Model. They do not need to tag, annotation, dimension or add a titleblock to
their work. Ultimately, the goal is to translate what is documented in the Basis of Design,
Outline Specification, Long-Lead Item Submission, and Contract Requirements into a
BIM, that the Production Modelers can prepare for delivery.
5. Publish and Deliver the Project. The Production Modelers finalize views and sheets
are created, annotated, QC’d, published and released. This may include finishing the
final layout of terminal units (such as Smoke Detectors, Diffusers, and Receptacles).
Typically, once the Production Modelers begin work in the model, they work concurrently
with Design Modelers as the client and consultants wrestle with evolving design,
decisions and financing. The team expects a certain amount of push and pull between
the evolution of the Design Modeler’s work and the Production Modeler’s efficiency.
Celebrate successful project release!
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Take the Fear Out of Revit MEP
Clearly Defined Roles & Responsibilities
Project Manager
“Alex”
BIM Execution Planning & Documentation
Modeling & Coordination Focused Meetings
The Project Manager’s most direct involvement in the team’s use of Building Information
Modeling is the defining of BIM Goals at the very beginning of the project. The process of
creating a model of the building design is an additional task above and beyond what the majority
of consulting engineering firms typically budget hours for. It has been well proven that doing so
ultimately benefits not only the client, but also the engineering firm. Regardless, on most
projects hours for creating a BIM will be limited. It is imperative that the Project Manager
understand the value to the client of why BIM is being used for the project. It is equally as
important to clearly define and communicate those goals in language all team members will
understand. By doing so any and all proposed BIM uses can be scrutinized as to whether they
support the stated goals for using BIM on the project or not.
We typically use the below framework to state whether or not a Model Use supports a BIM Goal
for the project or not:
“The >>stakeholder or discipline<< would like to use the BIM for >>BIM Use<< to support the
project BIM goal of >>BIM Goal<<.”
An example of this in use would be:
““The General Contracting team would like to use the BIM for Collision Detection to support
the project BIM goal of Design Coordination.”
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Take the Fear Out of Revit MEP
Clearly Defined Roles & Responsibilities
BIM Manager
BIM Execution Planning & Documentation
Data Exchange & Updates
Modeling & Coordination Focused Meetings
Project Content Library
Project Schedule Library
Model Setup & Coordination
Documentation Setup & Coordination
Model File QA/QC
Project Archiving
“Rayd”
”
The BIM Manager is the lynchpin in the project process. This person needs to show leadership,
communication skills, pay close attention to detail, on top of having the technical skills of using
Revit MEP. Since the majority of the team will be working in the same file, it is essential there be
a go-to person to give direction and play “traffic cop” when necessary. In addition, when working
with outside consultants, they will be the point of contact for issues that arise. In addition, the
Content Library is as much a “living animal” as the model files. It is essential the project content
is organized and searchable, as well as adhering to the standards and guidelines that allow the
team to meet their deliverables without Revit families that slow the performance of the model
down. Most importantly, the BIM Manager initiates the QA/QC process to ensure the model files
are “healthy” and perform well.
Specific Revit Skills Required.
• Proper Opening/ Sync/ Close
• Purge, Save As, Compact, Audit
• Project Browser Navigation
• Zoom, Pan, Section
• History, Restore
• Shared Parameters
• Insert From File
• Scope Boxes, Dependent Views
• IFC, NWC Assembly
• View & Sheet Lists
• Shared Coordinates
• Levels & Grid lines
• Revision Feature
This is the form, contained within the BIM Execution Plan, the BIM Manager will use to record
the "health" of the model files when the QA/QC process is initiated.
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Take the Fear Out of Revit MEP
Clearly Defined Roles & Responsibilities
Model Managers
BIM Execution Planning & Documentation
Modeling & Coordination Meetings
Model Setup & Coordination
“Stacy, (Mech)”
“Angie, (Elec)”
Documentation Setup & Coordination
Model File QA/QC
Typically, one Model Manager is assign to “look after” each model file. In general we try to align
the disciplines contained within the model files to the expertise of the Model Manager. This
ensures items specific and important to the discipline are handled by an individual qualified and
familiar with the items to be addressed. The Model Manager works closely with the Design
Modelers to define how the model files need to be set up in order to achieve the BIM Goals &
Model Uses mapped out in the BIM Execution Plan that directly affect their discipline and to
accurately reflect their systems as documented in the Basis of Design.
i.e. Stacy is a Licensed Mechanical Engineer, and would be assigned to be the Model Manager
for the Revit file that will contain the design of the HVAC and Fuel Oil systems. This would allow
her to ensure that the types of ducts and pipes that will be specified for this project are available
in the Revit model when the team is ready.
Address Warnings.
Addressing warnings may involve deleting elements, reconnecting systems, or editing families.
Only someone intimately involved in the discipline would be qualified to make these decisions.
Many changes made in Revit are sweeping. We cannot risk someone with a peripheral
perspective of a discipline to make decisions as to which items could be deleted or modified in
order to resolve errors or warnings. Someone familiar with the design contained within the
model and expertise of the discipline in question can act effectively to this end.
Specific Revit Skills Required.
• Proper Opening/ Sync/ Close
• Project Browser Navigation
• Zoom, Pan, Section
• Addressing Errors & Warnings
• Enabling Worksharing, Worksets
• Family Editor
• Creating Reporting Schedules
• Dependent Views, View Templates
• IFC, NWC Export
• Sheets & Sheet Sets
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Take the Fear Out of Revit MEP
Clearly Defined Roles & Responsibilities
Design Modelers
BIM Exec. Planning & Documentation
Modeling & Coordination Meetings
Model Setup & Coordination
Documentation Setup & Coordination
“Jocelyn, (Fire)”
“Joaquin, (Elec)”
“Stacy,
(Mech)”
Model File QA/QC
Represent Design as a BIM
Typically a Professional Engineer, with a willingness to spend the additional time up front on the
project with the modeling team, will put the BIM efforts in the right direction. This person must
have some aptitude for learning to work with new software. We feel strongly that CAD
experience not be necessary. The intention of this assignment is that this person be at least a
mid-level engineer or designer in order to complete the content and model assembly.
Our firm is not yet comfortable with using Revit for load calculations or in-depth engineering
analysis. We have software packages specifically designed for our market, which we lean on
quite heavily. So our BIM efforts involve Revit very early on, at the business development stage,
but during schematic design take a back seat to tools like eTap and Six Sigma. As the project is
approaching design development the modeling effort begins in earnest. Once the Model
Managers have created the project files, and the Production Team has created the content
library, the Design Modelers can take our SD deliverables such as our Basis of Design, Long
Lead Specification, Calculation Reports and Single Line Diagrams and create the initial model
for the project. Annotating, and printing views of models at these early stages are not required,
as the Production Modelers will take the lead on those efforts shortly thereafter.
It should be noted that for many in building design & consulting engineering, the process of
creating a model representing the design is quite new. Many seasoned professionals will resist
the idea that the act of creating a model is necessary for the success of the project. Labor
estimates for design development need to be set higher than in traditional design to allow for the
new tasks. Much of this time will be reallocated from the Construction Documentation portion of
the schedule, as revisions and adjustments made within the Revit environment can be made
quite swiftly.
Specific Revit Skills Required.
• Proper Opening/ Sync/ Close
• Project Browser Navigation
• Zoom, Pan, Section
• Downloading, Inserting Families
• Duct, Pipe, Conduit (Placeholders)
• Creating Reporting Schedules
• Print
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Take the Fear Out of Revit MEP
Clearly Defined Roles & Responsibilities
Production Modelers
Project Content Library
“Rayd”
Project Schedule Library
Model File QA/QC
“Victor”
“Rayd”
“Elena”
Update Model (per field changes & RFI responses)
Record Modeling
Documentation Setup & Coordination
Model Annotation
Content Property Population
Document Publishing & Delivery
Create & Issue Sketches
Creating the content library
This team is given direction from the project leadership early on about what content to focus on,
as well as having the Schematic Design deliverables to build on. The group compiles a list of
what components will be necessary to deliver the project, and then systematically scours the
available manufacturer Revit content resources to assemble this library. As each component is
acquired the appropriate Generic Annotation or Detail Component family is nested into the
component found.
Releasing documents (final product)
The intention of this assignment is that this person be proficient in the use of Revit, such that
they are able to complete the annotation and publishing of the final documentation.
Specific Revit Skills Required.
• Proper Opening/ Sync/ Close
• Family Editor
• Project Browser Navigation
• Zoom, Pan, Section
• Addressing Errors & Warnings
• Downloading, Inserting Families
• Reference Planes & Dimensions
• Duct, Pipe, Conduit
• Group & Array Feature
• Creating & Populated Schedules
• Annotation Features
• Dependent Views, View Templates
• Sheets & Sheet Sets
• Revision Feature
• Print & Publishing
• Save As Library
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Take the Fear Out of Revit MEP
Clearly Defined Roles & Responsibilities
Training & Knowledge Sharing
Developing a terrific project process with roles & responsibilities so clearly defined that team
members new to BIM can sleep at night is all well and good, but the amount of information they
are required to ingest in order to succeed is impressive. With all that each team member has on
their plate daily, we could not really expect for them to retain all this necessary information by
simply requiring an online training class, or mailing them a book. In order to really ensure they
are successful, we needed to create an infrastructure of knowledge sharing and training
resources; online training and books included.
Core Competencies
The cornerstone of any great learning initiative is to lay at a comprehensive set of core
competencies. We needed to really ensure we understood exactly what was going to be
required to succeed with BIM. We came up with quite a few competencies; our major categories
were:

Describe Building Information Modeling (BIM) fundamental concepts.
We needed to ensure everyone was clear on what BIM is. We knew that many in the
firm would be stuck in an outmoded approach, and would simply attempt to us the terms
“BIM”, “Revit” & “AutoCAD” interchangeable. We needed to stem this kind of thinking
from day one.

Identify and describe BIM Tools.
In addition to steering the group in the right direction in terms of what BIM is, we needed
them to understand that Revit is just one BIM tool in an arsenal of tools. We also did not
have the time or resources to have staff each using their own tools. Everyone needed to
be working toward one standard approach and tool set from the very beginning of this
implementation.

Identify and describe BIM Execution Plan and its components.
Our entire project process, BIM/CAD standards, and IT infrastructure is centered on
supporting the BIM Execution Plan for our projects. It was key that all staff understood
what a BEP was, components and information it contained, and how and when to use it.

Perform project delivery procedures and tasks.
At the end of the day, our contracts require use to produce reports, specifications,
project manuals, drawings and models. Understanding your role and how you fit into the
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Take the Fear Out of Revit MEP
Clearly Defined Roles & Responsibilities
project team is important, but pragmatically, team members have to know what features
in our BIM tools they will need to master to fulfill their responsibilities to the project.

Describe modeling terms and concepts; demonstrate modeling tasks.
As stated earlier, the act of representing our design as a model is a new and additional
task for our senior and design level engineers. The vernacular, thought process, and
logistics of this new task are all competencies they will need to attain in order to
succeed.

Perform Analysis tasks.
Ultimately, our goal is to steadily merge the action of modeling with tasks involved for
analysis. The further Autodesk develops Revit towards this end, the more efficient and
coordinated our whole process will become. We understand the progression towards
fully implementing BIM as a project process is a marathon, not a sprint.

Perform Interoperability tasks.
We always work with outside consultants. We would never be able to control which BIM
tools they all decide to use. It is imperative to supporting the building owner’s goal to
being able to take full advantage of any and all features that allow us to share our
information and design with the other members of the design team.
Guiding People to the Appropriate Resource
In order to ensure the team is not overwhelmed by information, we map each role to the
appropriate training and knowledge sharing resource.
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Take the Fear Out of Revit MEP
Clearly Defined Roles & Responsibilities
Summary & Future Plans
We have explored one approach to project execution an MEP consulting engineering firm can
take. It is important to not only have clearly defined roles, responsibilities, and a clearly defined
project process, but also to have a system in place to consistently support and inform the
individuals involved. This symbiotic relationship between defining what should happen and
continually informing the team about what should happen is the bedrock for future success and
allaying crippling fears. As each team member’s confidence builds the resistance that was once
present in their voice when speaking of being assigned to a BIM job subside, and we can see
them taking ownership of the project and our process, as well as creating their own solutions as
the work their way through their maiden BIM projects.
Moving forward we hope to have less of a separation between the acts of schematic level
design and creating our BIM. We hope to shed some of the tools that do not have interoperable
capabilities with our BIM tools. We hope to see reductions in labor estimates for document
production by 10-15%. We are lucky because we have an extremely committed staff that is
taking this implementation quite seriously. Moving forward, we plan to make our knowledge
sharing resources even more accessible and mobile, so as our BIM’s find themselves in the
field, our standards and processes are not left behind.
Contact us!!
damon@clancyranieri.com
victor.j.abreu@hp.com
rayd.alfraihat@hp.com
EYP Mission Critical Facilities,
A wholly owned subsidiary of HP.
Delivering HP Critical Facilities Services for the US.
A unique portfolio of services for the data center
www.hp.com/go/eypmcf
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