LengthMEP is a focused Autodesk Revit add-in from DQ Projects for measuring and tabulating the lengths of mechanical, electrical, and plumbing elements. Its documented capabilities combine length checks on preselected elements with the creation of category-specific and multicategory quantity schedules. The publisher also describes measurement in views and updating total values by diameter or size. Its primary purpose is quantity reporting rather than system design or engineering calculations.
Supported Revit Categories
- Electrical: conduits, wires, and cable trays.
- Mechanical: ducts and flex ducts.
- Plumbing and piping: pipes and flex pipes.
These are the seven categories explicitly identified in the Autodesk Marketplace description. Fittings, accessories, equipment, fabrication parts, and linked-model elements are not expressly identified as supported measurement categories. Their treatment should therefore be confirmed rather than assumed.
Principal Commands and Outputs
- LengthMEP command: creates quantity schedules for the supported categories, creates a multicategory schedule, and updates total values by diameter or size. This provides a reporting-oriented workflow for reviewing accumulated lengths rather than inspecting elements individually.
- Selection command: displays total length for supported elements that the user has already selected. Preselection is an explicit prerequisite in the publisher’s description, making this command suitable for focused checks of a chosen group of elements.
The two-command interface separates quick measurement from schedule-based reporting. However, the available description does not explain the schedule field layouts, sorting and filtering rules, treatment of mixed categories, or whether the reported results refresh automatically after model changes. Because an update function is explicitly mentioned, users should verify when it must be rerun.
Shared Parameters and Model Integration
The add-in links two shared parameters to the seven supported categories: layoutlength_length, identified as a Length-type parameter, and layoutlength_string, identified as a String-type parameter. This gives the tool both a length-valued parameter and a text-valued parameter within its documented data structure.
Practical Applications and Workflow Value
- Localized quantity checks: use selection-based totals to review a defined collection of conduits, ducts, pipes, wires, or cable trays without manually adding individual lengths.
- MEP quantity documentation: use the schedule-generation capabilities to organize supported model lengths in Revit schedules.
- Diameter- or size-based review: use the documented total-update capability when reviewing quantities by the applicable element size.
- Cross-category reporting: use the multicategory schedule capability where a combined reporting structure is helpful, while retaining clear distinctions between different systems and element categories.
- QA/QC support: compare selected quantities and scheduled totals against a controlled model sample to check reporting scope and consistency.
These applications are interpretations of the documented measurement and scheduling functions, not evidence of additional built-in features. The potential efficiency benefit is reduced repetitive measurement and schedule setup.
Pricing and Licensing
The developer’s website lists LengthMEP at US$12 under lifetime licenses with free future updates. The current Autodesk Marketplace product page labels the offering as a trial and provides a free-trial option.
Limitations and Evaluation Considerations
- Measurement basis: the sources do not define centerline versus other measurement conventions, fitting allowances, bend treatment, or the handling of slopes and flexible geometry.
- Wire interpretation: support for the Wires category is documented, but the sources do not establish that the output represents installed conductor length, circuit-path length, conductor multiplicity, or termination allowances.
- Scope and visibility: measurement in views is advertised, but the exact interaction with view filters, hidden elements, phases, design options, and linked files is not explained.
- Update behavior: automatic background synchronization is not established; verify whether edits require rerunning the command.
- Data and deliverables: the reviewed descriptions do not document built-in Excel export, cost databases, labor calculation, waste factors, or a complete bill-of-materials workflow.
- Validation: check a small, known sample in each intended category, review generated parameters and schedules, and confirm units and rounding before relying on project-wide results.
Overall Assessment
LengthMEP is best understood as a narrowly scoped MEP length-measurement and scheduling utility. Its distinguishing combination is support for seven Revit categories—including wires and flexible ducts and pipes—together with preselection-based totals, shared-parameter integration, category schedules, and multicategory reporting. It may be useful where teams repeatedly need model-derived length summaries without developing custom automation.
Sources
- Autodesk Marketplace — LengthMEP product listing. Primary source for functions, shared parameters, supported categories, version, dates, compatibility, trial availability, and support contact.
- DQ Projects — developer website. Primary source for the advertised US$12 lifetime license and free future updates.
- Autodesk App Store — DQ Projects publisher directory. Source for the Win64 designation and conflicting free listing.
- RVT Plugins — LengthMEP review. Secondary description of the same core functions; also labels the product free. Promotional assessments were not treated as independent performance validation.
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