Tips and methods to optimize creating plans for multi-story buildings in Autocad

[Mylzie]

Hello all, I know there is a Autocad forum but this one is more active. Let me know if I should move this post there.

Anyways, The firm I work at is small (6 engineers). I've been working here for a few years now and have been improving our Autocad library and methods of prepairing construction drawings since. Our process of creating a plan set is the same for residential additions to new multi-story commercial buildings. I cringe at the amount of time we waste creating the basic layouts and floor plans for a project.

Our process goes like this: Create one single autocad file for the project that has our standard layers, text sizes, etc. Then we draft the foundation in model space, copy this over a set distance in model space and modifiy into the first floor framing plan, repeat for all floors and roof framing plan. Copy typical details and sections from our library into the project file and modifiy as needed. Finish.

Basically, we have different linework for each floor level, so if something changes down the road or a column location moves at the roof level, we have to track those changes for onto each drawing which can sometimes be up to 6 levels. I'm looking to see how others do it and any tips for creating a new standard process to optimize this cumbersome method. As I understrand, some people use Layer states and draft all floors over one building drawing? Then they turn off layers in paper space that dont correspond to that floor? Or some xref the building and have a different dwg file for each floor? I'm not sure hif these are correct or which ones are better. Any advice would be appreciated!

 

[Eng16080]

The method you describe, with multiple floors drawn offset in model space, is very common in my experience. Personally, I don't like drafting in this manner for the reasons you mention above.

As I understrand, some people use Layer states and draft all floors over one building drawing? Then they turn off layers in paper space that dont correspond to that floor?

Yup, this is exactly what I do. Once you get used to working in a viewport instead of model space and have the appropriate layer states setup for each floor, it's really simple. I even use no-plot layers to track loads down through the building. I like this approach because the layers representing the floors of a building are stacked just as they are in the real building. It's logical.

 

[Mylzie]

@Eng16080
Thanks for the response. I never thought about working from the paper space viewport, that makes a lot more sense rather than switching between layer states in model space while working on a jumbled drawing covering multiple floors. Using no-plot layers for tracking point loads down sounds heavenly. Good looks!

 

[SE2607]

What I have been doing for years is to draw each level on top of each other, have a tab for each level and customize each level by freezing or thawing layers. Layer naming is critical. I use a modified architectural standard such as:

S-FLO1-WALL-EXIS
S-FL02-FRBM-PROP
S-FL01-COLS-PROP
etc
Would show framing elements within the second floor, the columns and walls below (I prefer to show a reflected framing plan, as if I were doing a structural observation). Walls above would be shown on a lighter lineweight and using a HIDDEN linetype.

for an existing wall on the second floor.

You can use model space instead of different tabs by using the layer filter function or writing a script which I used to do, but it's easier just to set up tabs and print each tab or batch plot. I also now include detail sheets in the same file adding tabs for detail sheets and inserting the details as blocks, recscaling them as necessary. Most of my details are drawn at 1"=1'0", so the scale factor would be 1/12.

This is not only the fastest way I have found to produce plans (over the past xx years), but also the only way I know of to avoid errors (elements not aligning).

my two cents

 

[WesternJeb]

I cringe at the amount of time we waste creating the basic layouts and floor plans for a project.

Upgrade to 3d software like revit. Especially if you are doing 6 story buildings or more, time saved is countless.

 

[SE2607]

WesternJeb - Not unless the architectural model is also in Revit. It takes too much time to setup a separate 3D model to be cost competitive. I tried. For 8 years. Never penciled out.

 

[WesternJeb]

SE2607 - I will have to strongly disagree with you there. My firm switched to revit about 15 years ago and it has proven very fruitful. A large amount of our clients come back to us when needing to remodel/renovate because we have working revit models of their buildings (like hospitals, schools, etc.) and it gives us an unmatched competitive advantage.

Revit also just seems much more efficient to myself and I can create a set of drawings much quicker in it. However, my firm has 4 offices with structural employees and around 16 structural employees so the overhead of Revit seats, BIM360, etc. can be absorbed a little easier than if it were a smaller firm. It also takes a while to get used to and to develop an efficient workflow.. The results won't be immediate, as with learning any new program.

Edit: One of the primary advantages as moving a column in 3d space moves it on all floor plans. Renaming a section from 14/S1 to 3/S2 changes it on ALL sections across a project, no QC or triple checking needed. That can save 30 minutes of manpower for just one section change on a large project. The time adds up quick to me, but I also understand that not everyone does the same type of work or has the same size firm.

 

[driftLimiter]

I can second using Revit as an efficient means of multistorey drawing creation.

Once your team becomes proficient at making models, then the plans can be created rapidly.

When taking CAD in from the Arch its actually quite easy as well. If you link the arch cad sheets to their respective levels its just a tracing game each floor.

 

[milkshakelake]

Use blocks for repeating elements. Saves time. Fix it in one place, automatically fixes everywhere. No need to copy one wall change to like 6 different floors.

 

[dik]

I haven't done it for a while, but I would draw a rectangle in defpoints the size of the useful drawing space on the drawing. I'd draw the gridlines, bubbles, and dimensions as a block. I'd then draw a floor plan the size of the the typical floor and insert the gridline block. I'd scale the defpoints rectangle so it fit the floor plan; that would be the drawing scale (whether 24x, 48x, 96x, or whatever in metric or imperial). I'd copy this as often as I needed. These would be the individual floor plans. All in model space. I'd work on the foundation plan, basement, main floor, etc. Each as separate drawings in the defpoint 'boxes'. I'd set up a drawing sheet in paperspace with attributes and load the floorplans into the respective viewports. Floor plans, drawing notes sections and details would all be different sized boxes depending on the scale. There may be easier ways to do it, but that was basically how I did it...

Unless there was a particular need... equipement, conveyors, cabletrays, etc. I would not rely on layers to add or remove stuff from a drawing... these I would often treat as a 'block' so they could be 'pasted' on top as needed.


-----*****-----
So strange to see the singularity approaching while the entire planet is rapidly turning into a hellscape. -John Coates

-Dik

 

[SE2607]

WesternJeb - If I were doing schools and hospitals, I would probably agree with you. I'm assuming you are getting architectural models. In my world, NO ONE uses Revit, so I had to do the entire geometry in Revit. I was 100% Revit from 2008 to 2016. Just never could get competitive. Of course, I'm in one of the most difficult markets, residential remodeling. Or I just may be dumb.

 

[phamENG]

I've just switched to be essentially 100% Revit, and residential makes up the bulk of my work. I agree with WesternJeb and driftLimiter...it's fantastic for me. Just like the way you would set up an AutoCAD template with all your layers, text formats, etc...you do the same and a lot more with Revit. I have all my residential wall types pre-loaded, special families for headers, custom tags, etc.

Whether the arch is in cad or Revit, I bring it in, redraw all exterior, bearing, and shear walls, model the girders, add in door and window openings (hosted families that only show the openings for the doors...I'll make the same for windows eventually but for now I just use a generic window and then hide it, leaving the hole behind), model the headers, model the floor sheathing, and model the roof sheathing. As I model the headers, I have shared instance parameters for the jack and king stud quantities, and a custom tag that shows the header size and jack and king quantities. Then I 'tag all beams' and my plan annotation is 75% complete.

When I cut unique sections, the work is 80% done already - just drop in some detail items for the floor framing and fasteners, annotate, and done.

Combine that with the fact that I can set grid lines for columns and link the columns to the grids so moving the grid shifts everything, I can align and lock walls together, etc....just works so much better than CAD.

 

[WesternJeb]

SE2607 - I applaud you, sir! Taking the leap to revit for residential is bold, and that explains our difference of opinions . I guess I am envisioning the more commercial style of building as discussed in the post.

It is something to note that you can overlay/underlay architectural floor plans from AutoCAD pretty easily, and reloading them is about as easy as loading them in originally. We have actually caught a few architects floorplans that didn't line up floor to floor and helped them correct it because of that.

 

[EngDM]

Blocks for anything that is common to all floors, such as suite layouts or mechanical openings. This is useful if you don't layer everything on the same plan and disable layers.

 

[scrillaman]

The best CAD Operator I ever worked with used a method like drawing on old school vellum but on the computer. His name was Godfrey and he was incredible. I've kept developing my own template files in his way since.

Create a CAD job folder and keep all files in it.

Use a master CAD template file for the job that x-references each floor or other architectural drawing. Preferably, set a relative path type to attach the x-refs.

The structural design (linework, notes and other annotations) are then drawn on top of the x-refs. The x-refs can be opened or edited from within the master file as needed. The x-refs can also be swapped out entirely with the latest architectural revision easily.

The title block, seals, details, etc. are also x-refs; inserted and assembled in paper space with the drafting from model space.

Publishing the whole project to a combined pdf is easy. The master file stays clean and light. I also like the layer control and organization in this method much better than using a monster file.