Create a mass that is specific to the context of the current project. Click Massing & Site tab in Revit and choose In-Place Mass.
- Enter a name for the in-place mass family and click OK. The application window then displays the conceptual design environment.
- Create the desired shapes using the tools on the Draw panel.
- Using Levels in the project, start at the lowest level and extrude a footprint shape to the desired height. Conceptual Masses for use in FenestraPro work better if they are modeled floor by floor rather than as one volume (Ground to Roof). Where a model is to be largely uniform, masses may be copied and pasted to aligned levels using the tools on the Revit menu. This should be done while still in the Massing Editor. Where areas of the design have a different footprint, simply start a new shape and extrude that to the next level. Continue working up to the highest level.
- When you are finished, click Finish Mass.
- This Mass then needs to be prepared for use in FenestraPro. Check the Levels in an Elevation View. Create or open an existing 3D View. Click on the Mass and use Add Mass Floors on the Revit Menu. Choose all Floor Levels except the roof .
- It is also a good idea (although optional) to create an Energy Model in Revit to check that all spaces and surfaces are present. Check the Energy Settings are correct (Energy Mode/Ground Plane/Phase/Perimeter Zone etc). If this is successful, the model is good to analyze.
- If there are any warnings from the Energy Model, resolve these before opening the application eg. the model may not sit exactly on the lowest Level. You can check this in an Elevation View. You may need to zoom in to check that the lower surface of the model is actually touching the lowest Level.
There is more guidance under Section 6.0
Note: Any area which does not have a Mass Floor assigned in Revit, will be treated as an unconditioned space (will not be assigned any energy spaces) by Revit’s Energy Model.
