> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.enercalc.com/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.enercalc.com/efr-user-manual/calculation-types/working-with-beam-calculations/beam-design-rules.md). # Beam Design Rules How to create, store, and assign customized beam design rules to control beam design behavior across a Revit project. ENERCALC for Revit provides users with the ability to create and assign customized beam design rules to various beam elements throughout the Revit model. The use of beam design rules enables users to exert large-scale control over the design behavior of beams across a Revit project ***without*** needing to manually change settings repeatedly in the ENERCALC interface after each calculation launch. Beam design rules are defined and stored within individual Revit projects (`.rvt` files). Rule definitions are not able to be transferred from one Revit project file to another at this time. Beam design rules can control all of the following design inputs: * **Auto add beam weight** ![](https://4249100372-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FgHVzpA9PT0VcuNGp6j39%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-40dde97f565779a6ecbe27027b01fc5b1c8da86a%2Fclip0736.png?alt=media) * **Deflection ratio - Total** ![](https://4249100372-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FgHVzpA9PT0VcuNGp6j39%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-67e0696079e3aca0af64cf9b067d4150d6d8613f%2Fclip0737.png?alt=media) * **Deflection ratio - Live Load** ![](https://4249100372-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FgHVzpA9PT0VcuNGp6j39%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-cb0f90e56a873a1fd463efba0b915470dda6732f%2Fclip0738.png?alt=media) * **Design method (ASD / LRFD)** ![](https://4249100372-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FgHVzpA9PT0VcuNGp6j39%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-0b18944ac383f92038769107999b75081ceae2b8%2Fclip0739.png?alt=media) {% hint style="info" %} **NOTE**: Assignment of Beam Design Rules is **NOT** mandatory to launch a calculation. Any beam calculation launched without explicitly applied rules will be launched with the following default rules: {% endhint %} * Auto add beam weight = true * Deflection ratio - Total = 180 * Deflection ratio - Live Load = 240 * Design method = ASD Beam design rules are accessed from the ribbon bar, using the "Edit Design Properties" button: ![](https://4249100372-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FgHVzpA9PT0VcuNGp6j39%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-27c2e52751952f45d5b31a64230cced47bbf5d0c%2Fclip0711.png?alt=media) ![](https://4249100372-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FgHVzpA9PT0VcuNGp6j39%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-5802a71817cde3fe93f98f1f02445557d083f9cc%2Fclip0712.png?alt=media) When triggered from the ribbon button, the menu will load in the lower right corner of the Revit UI: ![](https://4249100372-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FgHVzpA9PT0VcuNGp6j39%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-e25ce2c39350a70d8e1fb58fcbdbd73c5efd987e%2Fclip0713.png?alt=media) This menu also contains tabs for managing other design properties, including concrete and rebar material properties. For more detail on the use of these tabs, refer to [Concrete Material Properties](/efr-user-manual/calculation-types/working-with-beam-calculations/concrete-beam-calculations25/concrete-material-properties.md) and [Rebar Material Properties](/efr-user-manual/calculation-types/working-with-beam-calculations/concrete-beam-calculations25/rebar-material-properties.md). Users should note that the basic mechanics are the same for all design definition tabs found in this menu. The processes to "Apply", "Modify", "Add", "Delete", or "Erase from Elements" do not vary from tab to tab. Regardless of which definition tab is being used, users may reference the following sections for guidance about managing design definitions: [Applying Rules to Elements](/efr-user-manual/calculation-types/working-with-beam-calculations/beam-design-rules/applying-rules.md) [Modifying Rules](/efr-user-manual/calculation-types/working-with-beam-calculations/beam-design-rules/modifying-rules.md) [Adding Rule Definitions to a Project](/efr-user-manual/calculation-types/working-with-beam-calculations/beam-design-rules/adding-new-rules.md) [Deleting Rule Definitions from a Project](/efr-user-manual/calculation-types/working-with-beam-calculations/beam-design-rules/removing-rules.md) [Erasing Rule Definitions From Elements](/efr-user-manual/calculation-types/working-with-beam-calculations/beam-design-rules/erasing-rules-from-elements.md) [Navigating Rule Definitions](/efr-user-manual/calculation-types/working-with-beam-calculations/beam-design-rules/navigating-rule-definitions.md) In a new project where no previous definition editing has been performed by the users, the menu will be populated automatically with a set of 3 sample beam design rules which are stored in the `.rvt` file by default. Use of these default rules is optional. They may be removed or edited/renamed as desired by the user (see [Modifying Rules](/efr-user-manual/calculation-types/working-with-beam-calculations/beam-design-rules/modifying-rules.md)). Even though they exist in the Revit model, the default rules will not influence the behavior of beam calculations unless manually applied to specific beam elements by the user. ![](https://4249100372-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FgHVzpA9PT0VcuNGp6j39%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-5349a73a94188b4bc78da1b5e4029bc90733a146%2Fclip0714.png?alt=media) --- # Agent Instructions This documentation is published with GitBook. GitBook is the documentation platform designed so that both humans and AI agents can read, navigate, and reason over technical content effectively. 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