Room data sheets (RDS) are used to communicate client requirements for a specific space type to the design team. They are usually created during the design or architectural programming stages. The information they contain can include general requirements and notes or detailed specifications for fixtures, finishes, (F&F) and electrical and mechanical equipment.
The information is typically presented on a single sheet for each room thus the name. However, depending on scope of work it may be spread out over more than one sheet. These are usually given to contractors with drawings and specs.
A variety of software is available to assist in the creation of RDSs. Some are designed to link to Revit models to ensure that the contents of the model and the room data sheet are compatible. This synchronisation makes it easier to manage the document and prevents duplicate entries.
Layer is a highly efficient tool for managing room data. It provides an easy-to use interface to capture room information and generate multiple sheets for each space type. It is also able to add room types to existing Revit projects and produce custom reports. Layer allows users to specify naming conventions that are applicable to views on sheets and can manage properties like scale, browser organization and naming.
The Layouts panel provides settings to manage the layout of views generated on a sheet including margin values as well as the position of the titleblock. The option to exclude the title of the view from estimating size of the sheet’s total view is also possible. This will prevent titles from obscuring views on the sheet and can also allow for more elevation views to be created on sheets.