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

Designing a VRV system the traditional way means shuttling between three worlds: the manufacturer's selection software, CAD drawings, and quantity spreadsheets. Every layout change forces the engineer to redo all three. Daikin's plugin and BIM content for Autodesk Revit remove most of that back-and-forth — design, piping-rule checks and quantities live in one model.

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. These families carry accurate geometry, pipe connectors, and technical parameters such as capacity and electrical data.
2. A VRV design plugin that runs inside Revit. It helps engineers place units, draw the refrigerant piping network, then size pipes and select refnets based on Daikin's design rules.

Plugin versions and family libraries can vary by region and by Revit version. Always download from Daikin's official portal and confirm compatibility 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, height difference between units, and distance between refnets. Violations discovered on site mean rework. With in-model checks, violations show up while the pipe route is still a line on screen.

2. Automatic pipe and refnet sizing

The plugin calculates liquid and gas pipe diameters for every segment and selects refnet types based on downstream capacity. This reduces manual errors and speeds up revisions when the layout changes.

3. Coordination with other disciplines

Because refrigerant piping is modelled as real Revit elements, its routes can be checked against beams, ductwork, sprinklers and cable trays in the same clash-detection process.

4. A traceable BOQ

Pipe length by diameter, refnet counts and unit lists can be pulled straight from Revit schedules. Quantities in the proposal trace back to the model — something procurement teams and supervising consultants value.

The workflow we use

1. Prepare the base model. Link the architectural and structural models, or build from DWG if no model exists.
2. Calculate loads room by room. Indoor unit capacity comes from the cooling load, not habit.
3. Place indoor and outdoor units using Daikin families, respecting service clearance and maintenance access.
4. Draw the piping network for refrigerant and drainage, then run the design-rule check in the plugin.
5. Coordinate with other disciplines through clash detection and resolve clashes before shop drawings are issued.
6. Issue deliverables: shop drawings, material schedules, and a model ready to be updated to as-built.

Things to watch

• Revit version. Make sure the whole team — consultant, contractor and owner — agrees on one Revit version; Revit files cannot be opened in older versions.
• Level of detail. Manufacturer families can be heavy. Use a level of detail suited to the project stage so the model stays responsive.
• The plugin does not replace the engineer. Results still need review against site conditions, realistic installation routes and project specifications.

Conclusion

The Daikin plugin for Revit turns VRV design from a set of disconnected files into one consistent model: validated piping rules, automatic sizing, cross-discipline coordination and quantities you can stand behind. For building owners, the result is fewer surprises on site and documentation that truly reflects what was installed.

SOKANTARA uses this workflow in its MEP BIM service and VRV/VRF installation for projects across Indonesia. If your project is at the planning stage, send us the floor plans — we'll show you what the system looks like inside the model.