Column Rebar

The Column Rebar menu in BimSpeed.STR → Column contains Column Rebar (classic), Column Rebar v2.0, two batch tools, and the column drawing commands. Start with the full classic window and actual Revit 2027 output below. These new screenshots were captured with the English UI. The later v2.0 tab images are separate English WPF UI verification captures, not evidence of a completed v2.0 model run. Click an image to open its original size.

Full main window and worked example

Choose BimSpeed.STR → Column → arrow under Column Rebar → first Column Rebar item, select one column and click Finish. Maximize the dialog using the square button at its top-right. The actual selected column is 400×400 mm, 7253.6 mm high:

Mark	What to change and what to check
① Elevation and selected level	Read level, height H, section S and bar summary. Select the correct story before editing a stack.
② Rebar by Levels	Cx=3, Cy=3, Main Bar Diameter=D20 gives 8d20, 25.133 cm², 1.571%. Cx/Cy include corner bars; uniform rectangular layout count is 2×Cx + 2×Cy − 4. Changing Cx from 3 to 4 gives 10 bars; restoring 3 gives 8. Main Stirrup Diameter=D8 sets the main tie size.
③ Section Stirrup Type	Uniform distribution Rebar Settings enables the Cx/Cy layout; Separated distribution switches to separate arrangements. Check the corner and intermediate bars in the cross-section. Crosstie / Closed tie selects the additional tie form.
④ Framing and cover	This example reads a framing height of 579.555 mm. Top Cover thickness=40 and Other Cover thickness=40 mm. Verify the actual host geometry before running.
⑤ Run	Creates Rebar in the model. Close exits the dialog. Apply for other levels copies settings to other stories; this example contains one selected column.

Tie settings used for the example

Click Stirrup, select Distribution A1, A2, A1, and set A1=100 mm, A2=200 mm for closer end-zone ties. Select spreading to the bottom of Beam/Floor and a 50 mm first-tie offset. L1 takes the greatest checked value: 450 mm minimum, clear height divided by 5, and column section height. These values demonstrate the workflow; use the reinforcement design for your project.

① Spreading limit and first-tie offset; ② distribution and A1/A2 spacing; ③ end-zone length L1; ④ additional ties (the diameter here is not the main tie diameter, set to D8 on the previous tab); ⑤ Run.

Actual result and opening the 3D view

After Run, open Project Browser → Views → 3D Views → DEMO-3D, or your model's 3D view. Select a column rebar/tie set and type BX — Selection Box to fit the section box around the selection. Press Esc to deselect. The screenshot shows actual model Rebar created by the command, not the dialog's elevation preview.

① Active 3D view; ② longitudinal bars and ties in the column; ③ enabled Section Box. If concrete hides the bars, select Rebar → Properties → View Visibility States → Edit and enable unobscured display for that view. Use Detail Level: Fine for inspection.

Select the middle tie set to compare its output against A2=200. Properties shows Rebar Bar D8, Layout Rule: Maximum Spacing, Spacing: 200.0 mm, and Quantity: 22. This is the selected set's quantity, not the total number of ties in the column; quantity depends on the spreading length.

① D8 bar type; ② spacing and quantity of the selected set; ③ selected ties highlighted blue. Decreasing A2 increases middle-zone tie density; increasing A2 reduces it. Check Spacing/Quantity and all end/middle zones after changes, not just the section preview.

Jump to: open the command · main-bar count · ties · starter bars · anchorage/laps · classic tool · 3D result.

Open the command and select columns

1. Open a structural model and save a copy. The Revit 2027 practice-model pack contains columns in 02-Beam-Axis-Revit-2027.rvt. For v2.0, select one column or a vertical stack of columns of the same section type (all rectangular or all round). For independent columns side by side on the same level, use Multi-Column Rebar 2.0 instead.
2. On the ribbon, click BimSpeed.STR → Column → small arrow under Column Rebar. Choose Column Rebar v2.0 for the four-tab window, or the first Column Rebar item for the classic window. The main button may invoke the default command, so open the menu to choose deliberately.
3. If Revit prompts for selection, pick the columns and finish. Select a column/story in the dialog's left list. The full dialog has a cross-section and elevation preview. Beam or Floor selects framing/floor elements meeting the column so the top geometry and tie limit can be resolved.

① BimSpeed.STR tab; ② Column Rebar split button in the Column panel.

Where is 3D?

Column Rebar v2.0 previews plan and elevation in 2D inside the dialog. It has no in-dialog 3D button like Beam Axis. Click Run, then open a Revit 3D View to inspect the generated Rebar. The marked screenshots focus on the settings tabs so each field remains legible.

Main bars and cross-section

Open Geometry & rebar layout, then select the target column/story on the left.

Field or button	Output effect
Bar count on Cx / Cy sides	Number of longitudinal bars along each rectangular side, including corners. The sample Cx=4, Cy=4 shows 12Ø20 overall. Increasing Cx from 4 to 5 adds bars to the pair of Cx sides; verify the section dots and total-bar summary.
Main bar diameter	Changes Ø while keeping the count. Total bar area and steel ratio are read-only checks calculated from the layout.
Main tie / cross-tie diameter	Changes Ø of outer ties / supplementary cross-ties. Tie spacing A1/A2 is on the Stirrups tab.
Tie arrangement	Selects the cross-section/tie-zone scheme, such as L1, L2, L1. Cross-ties / Closed inner ties chooses supplementary tie shape. Delete all clears the selected tie layout.
Apply to remaining stories	Copies the current story's setup to selected other stories; recheck cover and section size at each destination.
Beam/floor height; top/other cover	Set column-top geometry and bar offsets from concrete faces. Check clear spacing after raising count or Ø.

① tab; ② bar count/Ø and totals; ③ tie arrangement; ④ framing and cover; ⑤ Run writes Rebar. A round column uses a circumferential bar count and diameter in place of rectangular Cx/Cy sides; check the round section after editing.

Column ties

Open Stirrups. A grey field belongs to a mode that has not been selected.

Field or group	Output effect
Distribute to bottom of beam/floor or highest top elevation	Sets the upper limit of the tie run.
Enclosed region: by spacing / by count	Sets ties inside the beam/floor intersection by a spacing in mm or a fixed count.
Start tie offset from edges	Distance from the calculated end to the first tie, mm.
A1 / A2	Tie spacing in end confinement zones / middle zone. Reducing spacing generally increases tie count in that zone. These fields are spacing, not total count.
L1 is the maximum of…	Enable applicable criteria: minimum mm, clear height divided by a factor, column section height, and cover the full longitudinal-bar lap. The largest enabled value sets the dense end-zone length. Separate top zone gives the upper end its own length.
Hook type	Selects the main tie's Revit hook type.
Supplementary ties follow main / independent spacing	Sets cross-tie spacing from the main ties or a separate value and hook type.

To add ties at both ends while leaving the middle unchanged, select L1, L2, L1, reduce A1, keep A2, and inspect L1 and the first-tie offset in elevation. To reduce middle ties, increase A2 according to the design.

① tab; ② extent and ties at framing; ③ A1/A2; ④ L1 criteria; ⑤ supplementary ties.

Foundation starter bars

Open Foundation rebar and enable Foundation starter bars. Split into two segments at starter bars creates separate starters to lap with column bars; when off, inspect the continuous-bar option in the preview. Tie spacing sets the starter-region ties. Hm and Lb are the two dimensions shown in the adjacent bar sketch, in mm; they change vertical and horizontal/anchorage legs. The up/down/left/right arrows and Reverse direction rotate the starter-bar leg. Check its location relative to the footing before running.

① tab; ② enable/split starters and ties; ③ Hm/Lb; ④ direction controls.

Anchorage, laps and common settings

Open General settings. Values in the screenshots are examples, not universal engineering requirements.

Group or field	Effect
Bend leg: fixed L or diameter ×D	Sets hook/bend-leg length in mm or as a bar-diameter multiple.
Top story: hook or continue starter	Ends the top longitudinal bars with a hook or extends them as starter bars.
Lap length (×Ø)	Length of overlap between longitudinal segments. Default anchorage (×Ø) is the end/support embedment length; these are different settings.
Crank at splice	Offsets a bar at the splice; check spacing and elevation after enabling it.
Splice position	Selects a distance above the column base or mid-story, sets distance between two splice heights, and chooses one/two staggered splice positions.
Bend or cut conditions: e and Hd/e	Determines whether an offset bar is bent or cut/spliced according to the chosen thresholds. e is the column-axis offset.
Assign elevation / Partition; group by bar number	Adds Revit data for filtering, numbering and schedules; does not directly add bars.

① tab; ② bend length; ③ top-story end; ④ anchorage and laps; ⑤ splice location; ⑥ bend/cut rules.

Classic Column Rebar

The first Column Rebar menu item opens a separate four-tab window: Rebar by level, Foundation rebar, Stirrups, Settings. It operates on a vertical stack; selecting two independent columns on the same level is rejected.

Tab or button	What to edit
Rebar by level	Select a level/column, set outer-layer count, enable inner-layer count if needed, then main-bar/tie Ø. Round columns expose circumferential count and Ø. Check total bars, area and ratio.
Foundation rebar	Enable starters, choose split vs continuous, set tie spacing, Hm/Lb and leg direction.
Stirrups	Choose the upper tie extent, spacing/count in framing, first-tie offset, uniform or A1/A2/A1 distribution, L1 criteria and supplementary ties.
Settings	Hook length, top-story bar end, lap/anchor lengths, splice locations, bend/cut rule, elevation and Partition.
Beam or Floor / Run / Close	Select framing/floor geometry; Run creates model Rebar; Close exits.

Run and check in Revit

1. Before Run, count bars on the dialog's cross-section and inspect tie zones, starters and laps in elevation. Recheck copied settings on stories with a different section or framing condition.
2. Click Run. Open a Revit 3D View, select the column and enable Rebar visibility if needed. Check longitudinal count/Ø, end/middle tie spacing, ties at beams/floors, starter legs, splice heights and top-story ends. Resolve tool warnings before issuing drawings.
3. Once model Rebar is correct, use Column → Column Drawing; use Update Column Drawing when model or drawing settings change. Multi-Column Rebar 2.0 and Multi-Round Column Rebar 2.0 are separate batch commands for independent columns.

Engineering design

The screenshot values for bar count, A1/A2, anchorage and laps are illustrative. Confirm all reinforcement against the structural design before issuing drawings.