The Daikin Plugin for Revit: Designing VRV Systems Inside the BIM Model

Designing a VRV system the traditional way means moving between three tools: the manufacturer's selection software, CAD drawings and a quantity spreadsheet. Every layout change means redoing all three. With Daikin's plugin and BIM content for Autodesk Revit, the design, the piping-rule checks and the quantities sit in one model, so most of that back-and-forth goes away.

What is the Daikin plugin for Revit?

Daikin provides two kinds of BIM support for Revit:

1. Revit families (BIM objects) for outdoor units, indoor units and components such as refnets. The families have accurate geometry, pipe connectors and technical parameters such as capacity and electrical data.
2. A VRV design plugin that runs inside Revit. Engineers use it to place units and draw the refrigerant piping network, and it then sizes the pipes and selects refnets using Daikin's design rules.

Plugin versions and family libraries can differ by region and by Revit version. Download them from Daikin's official portal and confirm they work with the Revit version your team uses.

Why it matters on VRV projects

1. Piping rules are checked early

VRV systems have limits on pipe length, on the height difference between units, and on the distance between refnets. A violation found on site means rework. When the model checks these rules, violations show up while the pipe route is still being drawn.

2. Automatic pipe and refnet sizing

The plugin calculates liquid and gas pipe diameters for every segment and picks refnet types from the downstream capacity. That cuts manual errors and makes revisions faster when the layout changes.

3. Coordination with other disciplines

The refrigerant piping is modelled as real Revit elements, so its routes go through the same clash detection as beams, ductwork, sprinklers and cable trays.

4. A traceable BOQ

Pipe length by diameter, refnet counts and unit lists come straight from Revit schedules. Every quantity in the proposal can be traced back to the model, which procurement teams and supervising consultants usually ask for.

The workflow we use

1. Prepare the base model. We link the architectural and structural models, or build one from DWG if there is no model.
2. Calculate loads room by room. Indoor unit capacity comes from the cooling load rather than habit.
3. Place indoor and outdoor units with Daikin families, leaving service clearance and maintenance access.
4. Draw the refrigerant and drainage piping, then run the plugin's design-rule check.
5. Coordinate with the other disciplines through clash detection, and resolve clashes before shop drawings are issued.
6. Issue the deliverables: shop drawings, material schedules, and a model that can be updated to as-built.

Things to watch

• Revit version. The consultant, contractor and owner should all agree on one Revit version, because Revit files cannot be opened in older versions.
• Level of detail. Manufacturer families can be heavy. Use a level of detail that suits the project stage so the model stays responsive.
• Engineering review. The plugin's results still have to be checked against site conditions, realistic installation routes and the project specifications.

Conclusion

With the Daikin plugin, VRV design lives in one model in Revit instead of several separate files. The piping rules are checked, pipes are sized automatically, the routes are coordinated with other disciplines, and the quantities come from the same model. For the building owner, that means fewer surprises on site and as-built documents that match what was installed.

SOKANTARA uses this workflow in its MEP BIM service and VRV/VRF installation work across Indonesia. If your project is still being planned, send us the floor plans and we will show you the system in the model.