[Acoustic] Getting Started with Naviate Bimfire

After installing Naviate Bimfire, it's time to create a specialist project, note: Do not open the architect model and start trying designing there.

Customers often try to set up different settings within Naviate Bimfire, when it doesn't work for them. Some settings are blank and other features don't want to work.

Follow the steps below to get started.

When using Naviate Bimfire, the tool relies on certain components to work as expected. These components are preloaded in the included Revit templates for each region.

Either use the included template or move these components into the preferred template. In the Revit template, there are also some smart view templates. These should be used with different workflows when working with Naviate Bimfire, such as finding unconnected objects, colouring the changed objects (when the underlying models have been updated) or highlighting comments on a drawing.

Start a project, choose any template in the drop-down menu.
In Naviate Bimfire Tab, go to New Project
Select the template NaviateBFAcoustic20XX and choose where the project should be saved.

This will download the latest template from the cloud, which is continually updated for all regions, adding/improving the templates based on feedback from Naviate Bimfires customers.

On the start page of the acoustic template all components designed for acoustic engineers are displayed.
Wall Settings:

Wall settings have 6 drop-downs that check if the project contains families that are Fire Protection or Audio Visual Devices, and are line-based families. Only those will be shown in the drop-down.
Opening Settings:

Opening settings will check if two families are in the projects, DoorRequirement and WindowRequirement. The tool will write the values defined in the setting on one of these parameters.

Doors:

First check for FireReq_FireRatingDoor, if that doesn't exist, it will check for AcousticReq_AcousticRatingDoor and write the value on that text parameter.

Windows:

First check for FireReq_FireRatingWindow, if that doesn't exist, it will check for AcousticReq_AcousticRatingWindow and write the value on that text parameter.
Alternatively, if the project doesn't use texts as opening symbols, but instead uses symbols. Even though it's not recommended, it's possible to use Quick Connection Family.
Link the architect model and use it to "copy/monitor" to copy the levels from the linked model.

Select Copy and select multiple in option bar.

Select everything in the view, because there can be hidden levels inside the building which is difficult to see.

Filter out all other categories except Levels.

Select Finish in option bar to copy the levels, not in the ribbon.

Once the levels are copied, they are selected. Press Esc key and finish the copy/monitor command in the ribbon.
Make the link room bounding.
Go to views and create minimum of three different floor plans,
1. Views for sheets (Drawings)
2. Modified&Deleted (Audit Trail to colour changed objects)
3. Unconnected (show all objects which are not connected to an underlying object, used with AutoConnect).
To understand the project and each floor plan, tag each ViewForSheet view with room tags.
Place Spaces to apply room requirements,

Note: Untick Tag on Placement so it's no coloured and becomes grey.
Once the space is placed, select the "X" (reference) and at the bottom in properties, under Model Properties, add possible data connected to the room.
With the data assigned to the room, use view a colour scheme to show the different data with colours.
In Naviate Bimfire tab, select the wall requirements to connect to the underlying wall. When using Naviate Bimfire the requirement symbol will be connected to it while if drawn manually it will only create a 3D object for drawings and clash detection.

It's possible to use Revits built-in trim/extend feature to fix the linage, but the architect must split those wall if the parametric on the walls should be "correct".

The text in the middle of the line can be turned off or moved using the parameters "NVCentric" and "NVVisible".

In the top drop-down on Properties tab, it's possible to change requirement if necessary.
Place Window and Door requirements using quick access opening requirements predefined earlier.

Door requirements have pure text, while the windows have a border around the text to differentiate the different requirements.
There is a parameter NVOffset to offset the text from the wall line.

There is an invisible line to show the family's origin, which is used for Autoconnection.

Use the space bar on the keyboard to rotate one or several symbols around its axes.

Note: Enable Field value in properties.
When having an opening which contains more than one material which should have different requirements, there is the possibility to use the family "Glass Sectional Door".

It contains acoustic requirements for doors, Windows, and walls. Either place an opening requirement first and change it, or manually place the family and connect it to the correct underlying object.

Offset if necessary and change the values on the parameters. If there is no requirement on one of the parameters write "-". All these parameters are connected to one object (a door, a wall or a window).
It's possible to place 3D intersectional details, which can be referred to on drawing. Place a symbol and create a legend view with that specific detail. Now it's possible to drag-and-drop onto drawings to showcase solutions which can be used by the other stakeholders.
Add acoustic sound absorbers and adjust the layout.

For more information book a quick course at Symetri, contact Naviate Bimfire course coordinator.