The Best of BradleyBIM.com

BradleyBIM.com was launched in February 2011. It's initial goal was to serve as an online technical support tool for Revit professionals using the Bradley Revit Family Library. (1,000 families)  

Now totaling over 350 articles; Revit-BIM educational topics include LOD, prefabrication, staff training, software implementation, industry-market trends, winning new business, production tips, architecture, engineering, construction, facility management and so much more.

Averaging 50,000 visitors per year, we've listed our visitors' most viewed and shared articles from our Revit-BIM Article Library. 

Articles are sorted and listed below in the following 5 categories:

Revit-BIM for Design Reviews\Client Presentations
McGraw-Hill SmartMarket BIM Studies, Surveys & Reports
Architectural, Design & Specifications
Engineering, Design & Construction
Revit Implementation, Training & Management

Revit-BIM for Design Reviews\Client Presentations

 BIM for Virtual & Augmented Reality. Game On! (video gallery)

5 Revit Presentation Tips | Architect Steven Shell

Revit 10-Step Guide to Setup Lights for Interior Renderings

Owner Design Reviews | Expedite Multiple Revit Walkthrough Videos

Free Downloads of McGraw-Hill SmartMarket BIM Reports

(Download Reports from 2009 - Present)

Architectural, Design & Specifications

 BIM for Toilet Room Design | Construction Specifier AIA Convention Issue

Download Pre-built Revit Accessible Toilet Room Sample Model

4 Revit Fixture-Room Layout Tips | ADA-Universal Design Review

4 Bradley Revit Lavatories for ADA Compliant Toilet Room Renovations

BradleyBIM e-SPECS-for-Revit Begins 5th Year Commitment

Download Bradley Visual MasterFormat Specification Product Guide

Compact Accessible Green Toilet Room Design | Advocate Revit Library

5 Sustainable-Quality Benefits of Powder Coat Paint Partitions Revit Library

4 Hours | 2D AutoCAD to Visually Data-Rich Revit Documentation

Bradley Solid Plastic Revit Lockers | Easter-Egg Parameter Options

Bradley Molded Shapes | Solid-Surface Lavatory Systems - Revit Library (videos\product images)

Engineering, Design & Construction

 BIM Means Business | Plumbing Engineer Magazine - ASPE

BIM Means Business | Plumbing Heating-Cooling Contractors-WI

Skanska Revit-MEP Prefabrication | New Assembly Line Efficiency

Keltech Tankless Water Heater with Revit Type Catalog | Clearance Box

SysQue Provides Bradley Revit MEP \ Autodesk Fabrication Model Library

Revit-BIM Manages Construction Site Assets and Safety

Mayo Clinic BIM Manager - Project Model Development Specification (LOD)

 BradleyBIM for Design-Build \ Integrated Project Delivery \ EPC

BIM Process Improving Construction Site Safety | Turner Construction

5 Sustainable Features of Keltech Commercial Tankless Water Heaters - Revit Library

Revit Implementation, Training & Management

 Revit Implementation Puzzle - 5 Basic Planned Investments

Low-Cost Revit Implementation Strategy That Wins Business

Revit Implementation Secrets - 10 Best Revit Process Features

What is the Best Timeline for Upgrading Revit Software?

Below is a brief 10-point list of BIM-Revit Manager recommendations I've found and have provided to BIM Managers during their training  process.

Consider these points; prior to upgrading Revit software.

1. "How will a Revit product upgrade affect your project's current timelines and team members?"

2. If a project's print or submittal milestone date is looming in the next 30-60 days, consider waiting to upgrade; especially for larger project teams.

3. When the project is long term and does not have an immediate print/submittal milestone; the PM/PA should consult and discuss the impact of a software upgrade and the potential switch date with his/her entire team (design, engineering, contractor).

4. Based on software subscription dates; Autodesk software is updated each March-April. Knowing this, BIM Managers will "look out" 4-6 months from March to review new incoming projects; that may be acceptable for the next Revit version. 

5. During this time, BIM Managers should review, What current or future projects should be considered for upgrade or will remain on their current version of software?

6. Consider having the  BIM-Revit Management Team actively participate with Autodesk's Beta software programs. They can be helpful to "kicking the tires" early using test equipment to anticipate any training, equipment or process changes to the project team(s).

7. IT & Project Teams may choose to wait until the first service pack is issued before rolling out a new release. Re-patching (updating) an installed release is disruptive.

8. The First Customer Shipment(FCS) version is often used to do major testing of deployment images, upgraded Revit standards, project testing, equipment upgrades, 3rd party applications and creating training update materials.

9. Revit success is highly dependent on processes. Review new Revit features against processes; as these need to be integrated into the update training and revising the firm's process standards.

10. Many firms use a similar 'pilot project' process; that started their use of Revit within the firm. Only now, the pilot project is used to roll out and update the software firm wide.

The recommendations and suggestions are based on technically supporting and consulting the Revit upgrade process with hundreds of Revit-based design firms since 2002.

Special thanks to the hundreds of clients using Revit; that I meet annually at my educational speaking events, Bradley plant tours and through our Bradley BIM Customer Service Portal.

We appreciate their enthusiasm to share tips on their firms' winning processes listed above.

Daniel Hughes | LinkedIn Profile

You may reference my Revit-BIM industry expertise & credentials using my Linkedin profile. If you wish to connect; please send me a Linkedin invitation to connect to your network.

Related Revit Articles

• Revit Implementation Puzzle - 5 Basic Planned Investments

• Low-Cost Revit Implementation Strategy That Wins Business

• Revit Implementation Secrets - 10 Best Revit Process Features

• Update Bradley Revit-BIM Family Components to Latest Revit Version

Bradley BIM is testing the BIM file format output and downloads of a new online BIM library BIMcatalogs.net.

Our initial focus is to provide our global clients with access to Bradley BIM product files in a variety of file formats used by the AECO community.

1. Revit, AutoCAD, 3D Studio Max, Inventor
2. ArchiCAD, All Plan
3. Bentley AECOSim
4. Trimble SketchUp and others
5. IFC, DXF, SAT, PDF 

Visit Bradley BIMcatalogs Web Page

Secondarily, Bradley has been using BIM for our international products in the Middle East (UAE, Dubai, Saudia Arabia), UK/EU and Latin America. These regions use a variety of BIM file formats and work in metric rather than imperial units.

BIMcatalogs.net provides multi-BIM file support for a Bradley International Team that has served International, global projects with Bradley plumbing fixtures, washroom accessories and industrial fixtures for over 45 years. 

Bradley BIM is currently testing the delivery of BIM files for our Bradley Diplomat Series of Washroom Accessories. 

Here's an example of product download page; check out the 3D viewing, sectioning and visual tools at the bottom of the product page.

The CSI BIM Practice Group published this Revit | e-SPECS learning-video (below) defining a Small Firm's Perspective | Implementing e-SPECS Specifications authoring software. e-SPECS automates the creation of the specifications by linking directly to a project's Revit model.

In April 2012, Bradley announced that the Bradley Revit Family Library Joins E-Specs Integrated Specifications Program. Bradley's partnership became effective in June 2012.

--- Bradley BIM e-SPECS for Revit Begins 5th Year Commitment | 2016 ---

e-SPECS for Revit automates the process of creating specification manuals integrated with all Autodesk Revit-based applications. e-SPECS for Revit includes the e-SPECS Binding Manager to link Revit families to your master guide specs automatically including and filtering the sections based on the families and parameters in the BIM Model.

The Bradley Revit Family Library (all 1000 families) is being updated to Revit 2011.