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Connectors

This rule checks Revit instances to determine whether connectors are correctly connected to a system. A disconnected connector may indicate an incomplete system, coordination issue, or modeling oversight.

⚠️ Note: Since Revit does not allow specifying whether a connector must be connected, this rule may occasionally produce false positives (e.g., for intentionally unused connectors).

What Is Checked

For each element with a connector (e.g., mechanical equipment, air terminals, lights, electrical fixtures), DAQS checks:

  • Is the connector present?
  • Is the connector connected to a system (e.g., duct, pipe, electrical)?
  • What is the domain of the connector (HVAC, Electrical, etc.)?

Connector Domains

Domain Name Description
DomainUndefined Connector has no defined domain
DomainHvac Duct/HVAC connector
DomainElectrical Electrical connector
DomainPiping Connector of piping, cable trays, or conduits
DomainCableTrayConduit Connector related to cable tray or conduit systems
StructuralAnalytical Connector of structural analytical elements

Domain-Specific Notes

Air (HVAC)

  • Elements like air terminals, mechanical equipment, or VAV boxes should be connected to a duct system.
  • If a connector is present but not connected, verify that the element has been assigned to a mechanical system in Revit.
  • Common modeling issues:
  • Air terminal placed without system assignment
  • Equipment duplicated without maintaining duct connections

Electrical

  • Components such as light fixtures, sockets, panels, or switchboards should be connected to electrical circuits.
  • Unconnected electrical connectors may cause:
  • Incomplete power distribution diagrams
  • Inaccurate load calculations
  • IFC export issues

Mechanical (Piping/Conduits)

  • Elements like boilers, pumps, sinks, or heaters often have pipe connectors that need to be assigned to a pipe system (e.g., hot water, cold water).
  • If conduits or cable trays are involved, ensure that:
  • Routing preferences are set up
  • Connectors are properly aligned to other system components

How to Fix

  1. Select the element that was flagged in DAQS.
  2. Inspect the connectors using Revit's System Browser or by using tools like Revit Lookup.
  3. If the connector is meant to be used:
  4. Assign it to the correct system (Duct, Pipe, Electrical Circuit, etc.)
  5. Connect it using Revit's "Create System" tools
  6. If the connector is intentionally unused, and this is common for the family:
  7. Document this internally or adjust the DAQS rule to ignore it (if supported).

Best Practice Tip

  • Use clearly defined family templates that distinguish between optional and required connectors.
  • Ensure MEP engineers or BIM managers agree on when a connector should be connected during each project phase.

🧩 If you have components with optional connectors (e.g., multi-configuration equipment), consider tagging them in a shared parameter so DAQS can be customized to avoid false positives.