How to calculate Structural Member’s weight in Revit

How to calculate Structural Member’s weight in Revit

Introduction

We recently received a request on how to calculate the weight of structural members in Revit.

Research

According to the info in the link below Revit cannot provide weight info as the parameters are not added currently.

https://knowledge.autodesk.com/support/revit-products/troubleshooting/caas/sfdcarticles/sfdcarticles/Setting-up-a-parameter-to-calculate-weight-for-structural-members-in-Revit.html

So, you will have to calculate it. There might be other methods but the one I used is according to the formula in the link below which is that you’ll need to know the Density of the steel used ( Kg/m3) and multiply it by the Volume of the member.

https://sciencing.com/calculate-weight-steel-5127389.html

Revit Calculations

The Volume field is a standard one found as a parameter in the Structural Framing Schedule.

How to calculate Structural Member weight in Revit - 1 Volume parameter

To add the Structural Material Density you’ll have to change the Available Field at the top of the dialogue box to “Structural Material” and then add it.

How to calculate Structural Member weight in Revit - 2 Material Density parameter

If these members do not have a Density listed you need to attach a Material to them that contains a Physical Asset. In the process below we have (1) selected the element and then in its Properties the (2) Material selection. The Material dialogue will appear and you’d select the appropriate material. In this case we selected Steel 43-265 and then click the Physical asset tab on the right panel. It will list the Density of the Steel.

How to calculate Structural Member weight in Revit - 3 Member material density

Also it seems that if the Density is not listed in the schedule you need to just go through the steps as above and select the Physical Tab again to ‘wake’ up the Material and when you open the schedule the Densities wil be shown.

How to calculate Structural Member weight in Revit - 4 Density

If the material does not have a Physical Asset Tab in the Materials dialogue Box then it means that an Asset is not assigned to selected material and you would have to assign the Physical asset as shown in the example below.

How to calculate Structural Member weight in Revit - 5 Adding Physical Asset

A dialogue box will appear listing all the Assets and you can then add the appropriate steel assets as shown in the example.

How to calculate Structural Member weight in Revit - 6 Select assets for the Materail

This will then add the Physical asset to the Material and will show in the Schedule.

Calculation

Then we use the Calculated Value option in the Revit Schedules to calculate the Weight. In the formula area your add the formula as follows: (Density/1)*(Volume/1)

We divide each of the parameters by 1 so as to render them unitless. Then the answer will be in KGs.

How to calculate Structural Member weight in Revit - 7 Use Calulated Value

Conclusion

Using these calculated values, it allows you to calculate various useful deliverable from costs to weights as shown.

If you need any further training or have any question wrt the topic, please reach out to us at: https://www.mgfx.co.za/contact

Was this helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

About the Author

SHARE

About the Author

SHARE
Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.