Top Chord Joist / Revit floor system family

What's in these files?

This family is for architects, designers, and manufacturers interested in exploring structural floor systems in Revit. It is based on Top Chord wood joists and beams. This is a Revit Generic Model family that includes nested shared structural components (structural framing category) for a floor system. Since all nested families are shared, they can be scheduled. The dimensions of all components are automatically adjusted with user-defined parameters.

How to use this nested family?

This is parametric family, which means you can adjust the dimensions by stretching it. The dimensions of this system are constrained between 12’-0” and 27’-0” for both the length and the depth. Users can use grips to adjust values or change the dimensions directly in the instance properties. User-defined values will be adjusted to match these constraints.

You can pick between steel or wood beams

There is a dropdown menu where you can choose between a wood and steel beam on each side of the system. The dimensions of the beam will automatically adjust based on your choice. You can toggle the visibility of beams with a checkbox. This is helpful when you have a double span option to avoid having duplicate beams.

Wood Beam Width Options

The family includes a dropdown menu with 3 options for the beam width. If the steel option is selected, this parameter is ignored. The possible widths are: - 3.11” (79mm) - 5.12” (130mm) - 8.45” (215mm).

Scheduling

This includes live schedules of all structural elements. Dimensions will be automatically adjusted when the family is modified. Elements are grouped by the FloorMark value that you can customize. Change that value for the entire system, and it is propagated to each individual element.

Training videos by BIM Pure

If this is your first time using one of our templates or a nested family, it is worth checking this training video on how to work with this file: YouTube link here

Disclaimer: Although this family suggests dimensions for the beams and joists, it doesn’t replace the work of an engineer. Make your own calculations and consult a structural engineer.

This workflow is shared under free licensing by Offsite Wood, thanks to support from the nonprofit Quebec Wood Export Bureau and funders at CNRC, NRCAN, and provincial forestry agencies including MFFP and FII. The technical development has been done by BIM Pure, Laurent Bélanger, Groupe Genius, and STIX.