Group VS Assembly

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What is a Group & Assembly?

Both are collections of multiple Revit elements in one.

What is the difference?

1. Purpose of Use

Assembly is useful for producing detailed drawings or shop drawings enabling construction workflows. Basically, it is a part of the Revit project which gets built separately or wants to represent as a separate segment.

Whereas Group is useful when we have repetitive elements or layout.

2. Elements

Assembly cannot be created containing rooms, annotation, and detail items.

Assembly – Element

Whereas Group can be created containing rooms, annotation & detail items. (Model Group, Detail Group)

Group – Element

3. Separate Set of Views

Assembly provides a function to create a different set of views (Floor Plans / Ceiling Plans/ Elevation/ Section/ 3D Views/ Schedule) just containing that assembly.

Assembly – Separate Views

Whereas Group does not have a such function of creating a separate set of views just for the group.

Group – Separate Views

4. Editing Capabilities

Assembly when edited creates a separate assembly it doesn’t make changes in similar assemblies in the project. This means when the assembly is created design must be completed.

Assembly – Before Editing

Assembly – After Editing

Whereas when edits are made inside a group do not create a separate group instead it updates all the similar groups in the project.

Group – Before Editing

Group – After Editing

5. Exclusion of Elements

Assembly does not have a separate function of exclusion, unlike Groups.

Whereas in a Group when a single element of a group is excluded it doesn’t make changes in similar groups. It also has the option of restoring all excluded elements in a group. It provides more flexibility in terms of making changes in a group

Group – Before Excluding Element

Group – After Excluding Element (Wall)

6. Deletion

When a particular assembly is deleted in a view it completely gets deleted from the project.

Whereas when a Group is deleted in a view it remains in the project and can be used later to place back in the project.

7. Separate Revit Link

Assembly cannot be created as a separate link.

Whereas Group can be converted into a separate Revit Project and linked into the current file as a Revit Link.

Group – Separate Revit Link

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Summary

	Can include multiple Elements	Separate Views	Flexibility to Edit	Can include Rooms	Can include Annotation/Detail Item	Can include Design Option	Exclude certain element
GROUP	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
ASSEMBLY	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	No	No

Group vs Assembly

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Benefits

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1. Visualization

BIM adoption helps in visualizing entire project digitally before construction. There is no misunderstanding between imagination by the client and what architect or any designer wants to portray.

2. Collaboration

It helps in integrating model by all disciplines into one single model. It helps in visualizing project as a whole.

3. Change Management

If change is done by one discipline is sent as notification/mail to all other assigned to make respective changes as per new design. It is easier to understand and visualize. By this changes can be done virtually without conducting a physical meeting for each change or by sending mails separately to each discipline.

4. Management

It is easier to understand and visualize entire construction flow of the project until completion. It is easy to monitor and control in 3D model what was planned then what was completed.

Graphical representation also helps in understanding various stakeholders the progress of the project.

5. Quantification & Costing

By BIM adoption accurate quantities can be estimated before actual execution of the project which reduces delay in project due to cost overruns. It helps in efficient cost planning and including lean, value engineering at initial stage itself.

6. Clash Detection

It helps in identifying any clashes between each discipline design rather than realizing it during construction which leads to demolition and again constructing those parts which leads to time, money, materials wastage; increased project schedule & cost.

7. Facility Management

It helps in keeping track when any part of project have to serviced notifies about it beforehand. It also helps in managing data whichever is required during operation stage of building.

“It is a myth BIM Implementation will take away jobs of certain disciplines”

BIM helps in efficient & effective planning, transparency, monitoring, controlling, managing the entire project from initiation till entire life-cycle of project. It is helpful to each stakeholder involved client, investors, insurers, architects, engineers, various consultants, masons, government body, end user, etc.

It helps in:

• Saving time (On time completion/ no delays)
• Efficient Cost Planning (no cost overruns)
• Data Management
• Construction Management
• Efficient Collaboration
• Better Visualization for all stakeholders
• Effective Change Management
• Analyzing various analytical aspects
• Helps in adopting sustainability features & analyzing
• Helps in facility management