Phasing is one of the mis-used or complicated tools in Revit. I have seen some people using it as a design option due to its display and not displayed option (How creative !!). As a BIM manager or BIM person, I couldn’t resist sharing the knowledge of how to use the phasing properly. In my view, if you understand the construction sequence correctly, everything will make sense.
*Bold Text indicates the exact term in Revit
What is Phasing?
By and large, phasing is a tool to distinguish between existing and new elements per stage.
In Revit, there are two phases by default: Existing and New Construction. It is not recommended to create more phases for graphic exercise other than its own purpose. When you create more phases, you need to understand your team members’ capability of handling phases during the entire project cycle.
Existing - Existing elements, context and topography New Construction - proposed elements and topography
Where can Phases be found in Revit?
Phases can be found under the Manage tap.
There are three functions available in the phasing tool: Project phases, phase filters and graphic overrides.
Project Phases
This is where the phases are located. If you want to create a phase, this is the one. Getting the bottom line is the latest phase in the project. You can add (Insert) a phase by choosing Before or After, which means the phase will be created before or after the phase you select. If you mistakenly created a phase, you could delete it by using Combine with function.
Phase Filter
The phase filters above are set up by default. You can add more filters if you want to show a different graphic style or more phases. Moreover, you can select three graphic styles: By Category, Overridden or Not Displayed. This allows controlling the visibility of the phased elements in the view. You can decide which elements you want to show or hide in the view.
Show All
This filter shows all the elements in the view, and apart from the new construction, other elements will be overridden by the graphic setting. Visible phases – All Graphic Override – Existing, Demolished, Temporary
Show Complete
This filter shows the elements in the existing and new construction phases and is shown based on its view setting. It is suitable for GA plans.
Visible phases – New, Existing Graphic Override – None
Show Demo + New
This filter shows the elements to be demolished, temporary elements and new elements. Please refer to table 1 to assign the appropriate phasing. Demolished and temporary items will be overridden by the graphic setting. Visible phases – New, Demolished, Temporary Graphic Override – Demolished, Temporary
Show New
This filter shows the new elements only with no graphic override. Visible phases – New Graphic Override – None
Show Previous + Demo
This filter shows the elements in Existing and Demolished phase only. This filter is suitable to produce the demolition plan. Visible phases – Existing, Demolished Graphic Override – Existing, Demolished
Show Previous + New
This filter shows the elements in the existing and new construction phases with overridden graphics in the existing phase. It should be used when you need to distinguish the elements between Existing and New Construction. Visible phases – New, Existing Graphic Override – Existing
Show Previous Phase
This filter shows the existing elements only with overridden graphics. It is suitable for the existing condition drawings. Visible phases – Existing Graphic Override – Existing
Graphic Overrides
This is like a view template in the visibility setting. You can define the lines and patterns like ‘Model Category’ in VV. You can only modify four different phase statuses here. I would recommend following the company graphic or documentation standard to set up the overrides.
Summary
Having said that previously, phasing can be simple or complex depending on how we use it. Remember the consequences of creating more phases in the project and make sure all the elements are assigned to the correct phase. Otherwise, it will be extremely difficult to manage it and it will consume your resources and money.
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