Revit Railings Introduction - Railings You can add free-standing railings, or railings that are attached to stairs, ramps, and floors. With the railings tool, you can Add railings as free-standing components to levels Attach railings to hosts (such as floors, ramps, or stairs) Have railings created automatically when you create a stair Place a railing on an existing stair or ramp Sketch a custom railing path When you create a railing, rails and balusters are automatically placed on the railing at evenly spaced intervals. Balusters and Posts You can control how balusters and posts are arranged along a railing. A simple baluster pattern is provided with the default project template. You can use this pattern, modify it, or create a more complex pattern. Note: If you start a new project using a template, when you sketch a railing, balusters and posts are added if the template contains relevant families. If you start a project without a template, or if you start a project using a template that does not include them, balusters and posts are not placed by default when you sketch a railing. Create a Custom Baluster Pattern For each railing type, you can define the baluster pattern, specifying a baluster family, how it attaches at the top and the base, its spacing, break pattern, and more. 1. In a plan view, select a railing.
2. On the Properties palette, click Edit Type. Note: Changes made to the type properties affect all railings of this type in the project. You can click Duplicate to create a new railing type. 3. In the Type Properties dialog, for Baluster Placement, click Edit. 4. Enter a name for the first part of the baluster pattern. 5. For Baluster Family, do the following: If you want to Then show rails and posts, but no balusters use a baluster family that has already been loaded into the project use a baluster family that is not yet loaded into the project select None. select one of the balusters from the list. load additional baluster families before making any selection. 6. For Base, do the following: If you want to specify the base as Then the floor edge, stair tread, level, or ramp one of the existing rail structures in the drawing a rail structure that is not defined in your drawing select Host. select the named rail from the list. select Cancel, and click Edit for Rail Structure in the Type Properties dialog. 7. For Base Offset, enter a value. 8. Select the Top. Refer to the previous table. 9. Enter a value for Top offset. 10. Enter a value for Distance from previous. 11. Enter a value for Offset. 12. For Break Pattern, do the following: If you want the baluster pattern spread along the length of each railing segment select Each Segment End. Then
If you want the baluster pattern to break and place a post at the turn angle of the railing to remain unbroken regardless of any separations or turns in the railing Then select Angles Greater Than, and enter a value for Angle. If the railing turns at an angle that is equal to or greater than this value, the pattern breaks and a post is added. Typically, this value remains at 0. Turn angles are measured in the plan view. Segment breaks in the railing that do not occur at a turn are ignored. select Never. The balusters are located along the entire length of the railing. 13. Specify justification. 14. Select Excess Length Fill if you selected Beginning, End, or Center for Justify. 15. Click Apply to preview your changes in the model. 16. Click OK. Override the Main Baluster Pattern for Stairs For a stair railing, you can specify the baluster family and the number of balusters per tread. 1. In a plan view, select a railing. 2. On the Properties palette, click Edit Type. 3. In the Type Properties dialog, for Baluster Placement, click Edit. 4. In the Edit Baluster Placement dialog, select Use Baluster Per Tread on Stairs. 5. Specify the number of balusters on each tread. 6. Specify the baluster family for the stairs. 7. Click OK. Specify Start, Corner, and End Posts When customizing balusters for a railing, you can specify the design of start posts, corner posts, and end posts. 1. In a plan view, select a railing. 2. On the Properties palette, click Edit Type. Note: Changes made to the type properties affect all railings of this type in the project. You can click Duplicate to create a new railing type. 3. In the Type Properties dialog, for Baluster Placement, click Edit.
4. In the Edit Baluster Placement dialog, under Posts, specify a family for the start, corner, and end posts. Select None if you do not want a post to appear at the start, corner, or end of the railing. Baluster families are trimmed by default so they do not intersect a rail, as illustrated in the following image. This may not be your intent for posts. To set posts to intersect rails, right-click the family type in the Project Browser, and click Properties. Select the Post property. 5. Specify a base for each post. 6. Optionally, enter a value for Base offset for each. 7. Specify a top for each. 8. Optionally, enter a value for Top offset. 9. Optionally, enter a value for Space. 10. Optionally, enter a value for Offset. 11. Select the location of corner posts, as follows: If you want to place a corner post at the end of each segment of the railing want to place a corner post when a railing segment makes a turn greater than a given value select Each Segment End. Then select Angles Greater Than, and enter a value for Angle. If the railing turns at an angle that is greater than this value, a post is placed at the turn. Typically, this value remains at 0. Turn angles are measured in the plan view. Segment breaks in the railing that do not occur at a turn are ignored.
If you Then do not want to place a post regardless of any separations or turns in the railing select Never. 12. Click Apply to preview your changes in the model. 13. Click OK. Delete Balusters and Posts To delete balusters and posts from a railing, you must modify the railing type. 1. In a plan view, select a railing. 2. On the Properties palette, click Edit Type. Note: Changes made to the type properties affect all railings of this type in the project. You can click Duplicate to create a new railing type. 3. In the Type Properties dialog, for Baluster Placement, click Edit. 4. In the Edit Baluster Placement dialog, under Main pattern, select the baluster or post to delete. 5. Click Delete. To leave a space in the pattern where a baluster or post currently exists, for Baluster Family, change the value to None. 6. Click Apply to preview your changes in the model. 7. Click OK. Edit Baluster Placement Dialog: Main Pattern Use the Main Pattern section of the Edit Baluster Placement dialog to customize balusters for railings. Select a railing, and click Edit Type on the Properties palette. In the Type Properties dialog, for Baluster Placement, click Edit. Note: Changes made to the type properties affect all railings of this type in the project. To create a new railing type, click Duplicate. Property Name Baluster Family The name of a specific baluster within the pattern. The style of the baluster or post family. If you select None, no balusters or posts display in that portion of the pattern.
Property Base Base offset Top Top offset Dist. from previous Offset Break Pattern at Angle Pattern Length Justify Specifies where the bottom of the baluster is placed: at the top of the rail, bottom of the rail, or top of the host. A host can be a level, floor, stair, or ramp. The negative or positive vertical distance between the bottom of the baluster and the base. Specifies where the top of the baluster is placed (usually a rail). Values are the same as Base. The negative or positive vertical distance between the top of the baluster and the Top. Controls the space between the balusters in the pattern. For the first baluster (line 2 in the Main pattern table), the property specifies the space between the start of the railing segment or the pattern repeat point, and the placement of the first baluster. For each subsequent line, the property specifies the distance of that new baluster from the previous one. After the last baluster in the list, there is a space to the Pattern end. If the railing segment continues past the pattern end, the pattern is repeated until there is not enough space. The distance to the inside or the outside of the railing path. The point along a railing segment at which the baluster pattern stops. A value specifying the angle at which a pattern breaks. This property is available when Angles Greater Than is selected for Break Pattern At. The sum of all values listed in the Dist. From Previous column. Balusters in a pattern are justified along the length of a railing segment. Beginning starts the pattern at the beginning of the railing segment. If the pattern length is not an exact multiple of the railing length, then there is excess space between the last pattern instance and the end of the railing segment. End starts the pattern from the end of the railing segment. If the pattern length is not an exact multiple of the railing length, then there is excess space between the last pattern instance and the beginning of the railing segment. Center places the first baluster pattern at the center of the railing segment and any excess space appears evenly at the beginning and end of the railing segment.
Property Excess Length Fill Spacing Spread Pattern to Fit spreads the pattern evenly along the length of the railing segment. No excess space occurs, and the actual placement value of the pattern differs from the value indicated in Pattern Length. How Revit determines the beginning and end depends on which way you drew the railing, right to left, or left to right. If there is extra space along the railing segment, but it cannot be filled with a pattern, you can specify how to fill that space. You can specify that a specific baluster family fill the excess space and set a spacing increment for it. You can specify that the baluster pattern be truncated to fill the excess length, or you can specify none so that the excess space remains open. This property is available if Justify is set to Beginning, End, or Center. The distance between balusters that fill any excess length along the railing segment. This property is available if a baluster or post family is selected for the Excess Length Fill property. Edit Baluster Placement Dialog: Posts Use the Posts section of the Edit Baluster Placement dialog to customize posts for railings. Select a railing, and click Edit Type on the Properties palette. In the Type Properties dialog, for Baluster Placement, click Edit. Note: Changes made to the type properties affect all railings of this type in the project. To create a new railing type, click Duplicate. Name Property The name of a specific post within the baluster. Baluster Family The post family. Alternately, you can select None or Default. Base Base offset Top Top offset Specifies where the bottom of the post is placed: at the top of the rail, bottom of the rail, or top of the host. A host can be a level, floor, stair, or ramp. The negative or positive vertical distance between the bottom of the post and the base. Specifies where the top of the post is placed (usually a rail). Values are the same as Base. The negative or positive vertical distance between the top of the post and the top.
Property Space Offset The amount of space you need to move the post left or right from a given position. For example, for a beginning post, you may need to move the post 4 inches to the left to make it flush with the railing. In this case, you would set space to 4 inches. The distance to the inside or the outside of the railing path. Corner Posts At Specifies where corner posts are located along the railing segment. Angle A value specifying the angle at which a post is added. This is used when Angles Greater Than is selected for Corner Posts At. Railing Properties The shapes of rails and balusters are determined by the profile families loaded in the project. A railing system consists of many components, including the rail, handrails, supports, and more. You can modify instance properties and type properties for many parts of a railing system Railing System Type Properties Modify type properties to change a railing system family's structure, balusters and posts, joins, handrails, and more. To change type properties, select an element and click Modify tab Properties panel (Type Properties). Changes to type properties apply to all instances in the project. Note: If you are upgrading railing types from a previous release of Revit and you do not see all of the properties listed, you can duplicate the railing type, and then all properties should be available. Name Construction Railing Height Rail Structure (Non- Continuous) Baluster Placement Baluster Offset The height of the top-most rail in the railing system. Opens a separate dialog where you set the number of rails, height, offset, material, and profile family (shape) for each rail. Opens a separate dialog where you define baluster patterns. Offsets the balusters from the rail sketch line. By setting a value for this property and rail offsets, you can create different combinations of rails and balusters.
Name Use Landing Height Adjustment Landing Height Adjustment Angled Joins Tangent Joins Rail Connections Top Rail Height Type Handrail 1 Lateral Offset Controls the height of railings at landings. No. Railings and landings use the same height as they do over stair runs. Yes. The railing height is adjusted up or down by the amount set for Landing Height Adjustment. To get smooth railing connections, set the Tangent Joins parameter to Extend Rails to Meet. Raises or lowers the height of the railing from the value indicated in the Railing Height parameter at intermediate or top landings. If 2 railing segments meet at an angle in plan but do not connect vertically, you can select from the following options: Add Vertical/Horizontal segments. Creates a join. Add No Connector. Leaves a gap. This property can be used to create a continuous railing where the start of a stair run leading up from a landing cannot be displaced by one tread width. Join methods can be overridden on a connection-by-connection basis. If 2 tangent railing segments are collinear or tangent in plan but do not connect vertically, you can select from the following options: Add Vertical/Horizontal segments. Creates a join. Add No Connector. Leaves a gap. Extend Rails to Meet. Creates a smooth connection. This property can be used to create a smooth junction when the railing height is modified at a landing or the railing turns out at the bottom of a stair. Join methods can be overridden on a connection-by-connection basis. If Revit cannot create mitered joins when connections are made between railing segments, you can select one of the following options: Trim. Segments are cut with a vertical plane. Weld. Segments are joined in a manner as close to a miter as possible. Welded connections work best for circular rail profiles. The height of the top rail in the railing system. Specifies the type of top rail. Reports the Baluster Offset value described above. (read-only)
Height Position Type Handrail 2 Name See property definitions for Handrail 1. Identity Data Keynote Model Manufacturer Type Comments URL Assembly Assembly Code Type Mark Cost The height of the handrail specified in the handrail type properties. (read-only) Specifies the position for the handrail in relation to the railing system: Left Right Left and Right Specifies the type of handrail. Add or edit the keynote for the type. Click in the value box to open the Keynotes dialog. Defines the type model. Defines the type manufacturer. Provides comments on the type. Sets applicable URL. of the type. of the assembly based on the assembly code selection. Uniformat assembly code selected from hierarchical list. Sets the type mark for the type. Specifies the cost of the type. Railing System Instance Properties Modify instance properties to change an individual railing's base level, offsets, and more. To change instance properties, select the element and change its properties on the Properties palette. Name Constraints Base Level Specifies the base level for the railing system when it is not hosted on a stair or ramp. If the railing was automatically placed when the stair was created, this value is determined by the stair's base level.
Base Offset Name Tread/Stringer Offset For a railing system not hosted on a stair or ramp, this value is the distance from the floor or level to the bottom of the railing system. This value is set by default to the current value for treads and stringer placement. When the railing is automatically placed during stair creation, you select to place the railing on the treads or stringers. Dimensions Length The actual length of the railing. Identity Data Comments Mark Comments on the element. A mark applied to an element, such as a label that displays in a multicategory tag with the element. Phasing Phase Created Phase Demolished The phase when the element was created. The phase when the element was demolished. Continuous Rail Type Properties Modify type properties to change specifications for a continuous rail family, including the hand clearance, profile, transition type, supports, extensions, and more. To change type properties, select an element and click Modify tab Properties panel (Type Properties). Changes to type properties apply to all instances in the project. Name Construction Default Join Fillet Radius Hand Clearance Height (Handrail only) Profile Specifies the type of join for the handrail or top rail as either Miter or Fillet. If a fillet join is specified, this value sets the fillet radius. Specifies the distance from the outside edge of the handrail to the wall, post, or column that the handrail is attached to. Specifies the height of the top of the handrail from the floor, tread, stringer, ramp, or other host surface. The profile specifying the shape for the continuous rail.
Name Projection Transitions Specifies the distance from the inside edge of the handrail to the wall, post, or column that the handrail is attached to. Specifies the type of transition used in the handrail or top rail. None. In a stair system that includes a landing, the inside rail will end at the nosing of the first or last tread on the landing. Gooseneck. Used where there are tight transitions and complex rail profiles. Simple. Used where there are tight transitions with a circular rail profile. Materials and Finishes Material Supports (Handrail only) Family Layout Spacing Justification Specifies the material for the handrail or top rail. Click the value and then click the browse button to open the Materials dialog. Specifies the type of handrail support. Specifies the positioning of the handrail supports: None. Lets you can place supports manually. Fixed Distance. Specify the distance using the Spacing property defined below. Align with Posts. - Supports are automatically placed and centered horizontally on each post in the railing system. Fixed Number. Specify the number of supports using the Number property defined below. Maximum Spacing. Places the maximum number of supports along the railing system without exceeding the Spacing value. Minimum Spacing. Places the maximum number of supports that will fit along the rail path without going below the Spacing value. Specifies the spacing value used with the associated Layout preference. Specifies the justification option for supports placement: Begin. Lower end of the rail if it was placed automatically on the stair, or the position of the first click if the rail was placed manually.
Name Number Extension (Beginning/Bottom) Extension Style Center. Centered along the entire handrail path. End. Upper end of the rail if it was placed automatically on the stair, or the position of the last click if the rail was placed manually. If the Layout is set to Fixed Number, this value specifies the number of supports used. Specifies the attachment preference for the rail extension (if any). Length Plus Tread Depth None 1 - Wall 2 - Floor 3 - Post Specifies the length of the extension. Select this option to add one tread depth to the length of the extension. Note: This option may be required to meet many railing codes. Extension (End/Top) Extension Style Length Terminations Beginning/Bottom Termination End/Top Termination Identity Data See Beginning/Bottom Extension. See Beginning/Bottom Extension. Specifies the type of termination for the beginning/bottom of the top rail or handrail. Specifies the type of termination for the end/top of the top rail or handrail. See Railing System Type Properties for Identity Data definitions.
Continuous Rail Instance Properties Modify instance properties to change phasing or identity data for an individual continuous rail. To change instance properties, select the element and change its properties on the Properties palette. Name Dimensions Length Specifies the actual length of the top rail or handrail. (readonly) Identity Data Phasing Handrail Supports Type Properties Modify type properties to change the height, materials, dimensions, and more for the support family for a handrail. To change type properties, select an element and click Modify tab Properties panel (Type Properties). Changes to type properties apply to all instances in the project. Name Construction Height Specifies the position of the base of the support relative to the rail. Materials and Finishes Support Material Specifies the material for the support. Click the value and then click the browse button to open the Materials dialog. Dimensions Radius 1 Radius 2 Specifies the radius of the support arm. Specifies the radius of the base mounting flange. Other Bend Radius Specifies the radius of the bend where the support arm connects to the base mounting flange. Identity Data
Handrail Supports Instance Properties Modify instance properties to change an individual handrail's hand clearance, offset, and more. To change instance properties, select the element and change its properties on the Properties palette. Name Constraints Hand Clearance Host Offset Moves with Nearby Elements Specifies the distance from the top of the handrail to the top of the support. Determined by the Type property for the handrail in the Railing System Type Properties. (read-only) Specifies the distance to offset the top of the support from the rail. Determines whether the support moves when nearby elements move. Identity Data Phasing Continuous rail components of the railing system (top rail and handrail) can be edited, and extensions can be added and modified, as needed. Modify a Continuous Rail Edit properties for a top rail or handrail. 1. In a 3D view or a plan view, press Tab to highlight the continuous rail, and click to select it. A pin icon ( ) displays. The pin indicates that there are no rail instance or railing system type changes made to it. The rail is as specified in the Railing System type properties.
When you click the pin icon or select the (Edit Rail) tool on the Continuous Rail panel, the unpin ( ) icon displays. The unpin icon ( ) indicates 2 possible conditions: You can make type or instance changes to this instance of the rail so that it varies from what is specified in the Railing System properties. Type or instance changes may have already been made to the rail. 2. Refer to the modification options in the following table: If you want to modify the... type of continuous rail specified for the railing system type of continuous rail used in a specific instance properties for the continuous rail type rail profile for an instance of the continuous rail rail joins rail extension path Then... Modify the Type property under Top Rail or handrail. a. Select the rail. b. Click the pin ( ). c. In the Type Selector, select a rail type. d. Select the rail. e. On the Properties palette, click (Edit Type). f. Modify the properties as required. Note: Modifying the type properties changes these specifications for all rails using this type. g. Select the rail. h. On the Continuous Rail panel, click (Edit Rail). Selecting Edit Rail unpins the rail so that it can be modified. i. Use the tools on the Profile panel to select a profile to use for the rail or to load a new profile family. j. Click (Finish Edit Mode). k. Select the rail. l. On the Continuous Rail panel, click (Edit Rail). Selecting Edit Rail unpins the rail so that it can be modified. m. On the Tools panel, click (Edit Path). n. On the Joins panel, click (Edit Rail Joins) to specify miter or fillet for individual joins. o. Click (Finish Edit Mode). p. Select the rail with the extension you wish to modify. q. On the Continuous Rail panel, click (Edit Rail).
If you want to modify the... rail path Then... r. On the Tools panel, click (Edit Path). s. Optionally, display the Workplane Viewer and use the drawing tools to modify the extension path. t. Click (Finish Edit Mode). The rail path is driven by the system railing path and cannot be changed. To modify the system railing path, select the railing system, and on the Mode panel, click (Edit Path). To reset a continuous rail The Reset Rail tool restores the system calculated rail path and default type specifications to the top rail or handrail. Use one of the following methods to reset the rail: From a project view (outside of edit mode): Select the continuous rail, and on the Continuous Rail panel, click (Reset Rail). Alternatively, you can click the unpin ( ) icon to disable instance overrides and return the rail to the default type specifications. To reset the rail from within rail edit mode: a. Select the continuous rail. b. On the Continuous Rail panel, click (Edit Rail). c. On the Tools panel, click (Reset Rail). Add a Continuous Rail When adding or modifying a railing, you can add a continuous rail to the railing system, for use as handrails and top rails. 1. Select a placed railing system in the model, or click Architecture tab Circulation panel (Railing). 2. On the Properties palette, click Edit Type. Note: Changes made to type properties affect all railings of this type in the project. You can click Duplicate to create a new railing type. 3. In the Type Properties dialog, under Top Rail, Handrail 1, or Handrail 2, click the Type value. 4. Click the drop-down arrow, and click to select a type. 5. Handrail only: For Position, select Left, Right, or Left and Right. 6. In the Type Properties dialog, click Apply to see the changes. 7. Click OK to close the Type Properties for the railing system
Define a Continuous Rail Extension You can define a rail extension for a handrail or top rail. Modify an extension Three types of standard extensions are available: 1- Wall 2- Floor 3- Post 2. Open the Type Properties dialog for the top rail or handrail. 3. To modify the extension for the rail at the beginning of the stair, modify the properties under Extension (Beginning/Bottom): a. For Extension Style, select Wall, Floor, or Post. (Select None if you do not want an extension.) b. For Length, specify the value of the extension length. If this value is zero, the extension will not display. c. Optionally, select Plus Tread Depth to add one tread depth to the length of the extension. 4. To modify the extension for the rail at the top of the stair, modify the properties under Extension (End/Top): a. For Extension Style, select Wall, Floor, or Post. (Select None if you do not want an extension.) b. For Length, specify the value of the extension length. If this value is zero, the extension will not display. 5. Click OK. Note: If you are adding rail extension style 1 (wall) to a top rail, note that the length of the rail segment attached to the wall is calculated based on the rail offset value. If the calculated value for this segment is 0, the segment is not generated, so it appears that the wall extension is not applied. To adjust the calculated value, modify the Hand Clearance property for the top rail. After you have defined the rail type to use one of the standard rail extensions, you can customize the extension. 6. Select the rail with the extension you wish to modify. 7. On the Continuous Rail panel, click (Edit Rail). 8. On the Tools panel, click (Edit Path).
9. Optionally, select a segment of the extension and press Delete to remove it. You can delete all of the segments if required. 10. To use the work plane viewer during extension editing: a. On the Work Plane panel, click (Set). b. In the Work Plane dialog, for Name select Reference Pane : Extension Plane: End/Top or Reference Plan : Extension Plane: Beginning/Bottom, and click OK. c. On the Work Plane panel, click (Viewer). 11. In the Workplane Viewer or the drawing area, select a segment to modify. For example, you can drag the end control to change the length, or move a segment and retain the joins to other segments. 12. Use the sketch tools on the Draw panel to edit the rail extension. 13. On the Joins panel, click (Edit Rail Joins) to specify miter or fillet for individual joins. 14. Click (Finish Edit Mode). Edit a Continuous Rail Join By default, rail joins are determined according to the type properties of the continuous rail. You can override an individual join method and select miter or fillet. 1. Select the rail in a plan or 3D view, and on the Continuous Rail panel, click (Edit Rail). 2. On the Tools panel, click (Edit Path). 3. On the Joins panel, click (Edit Joins). 4. Move the cursor along the continuous rail. A box displays around the join as you move your cursor over it. 5. Click to select the join. When the join is selected, an X displays on the join. 6. On the Joins panel, select a join method (Miter or Fillet). The default join method is specified in the type properties for the continuous rail. If you select By type as the join method, the default is applied. 7. If you select Fillet as the join method, specify a Radius value on the Joins panel. 8. Click (Finish Edit Mode). Modify a Handrail and Supports To modify a handrail and its supports, change type properties for the rail system, the continuous rail, or the handrail supports.
You can define up to 2 handrails for a railing type. Type properties for the railing system, handrail, and handrail supports provide control over the placement and type of handrail and supports used. To specify the... type and position for each handrail height of the handrail type of handrail supports layout of the supports height, material, and dimensions of the handrail support type override for the position of a handrail support Modify the... Handrail 1 and Handrail 2 properties in the Railing System Type Properties. Note: If you do not want to include a handrail, select None for Type. Height value under Construction in the Continuous Rail Type Properties. Family property under Supports in the Continuous Rail Type Properties. Note: If you do not want to include supports, select None for Type. Layout, Spacing, Justification, and Number properties under Supports in the Continuous Rail Type Properties. properties for the handrail support type specified. Hand Clearance, Offset, and Moves with Nearby Elements properties in the Handrail Supports Instance Properties. Tod Stephens, BSEE, MSEd Software Applications Engineer Advanced Technologies Solutions Certified Professional: AutoCAD, Revit Architecture, Revit MEP, Revit Structure, Inventor, 3ds Max, Maya (t) 800.327.3035 (p) 904.363.2223 (c) 904.349.6904 tstephens@atsicad.com www.atsicad.com