1. What is AutoCAD MEP?

AutoCAD® MEP software is the AutoCAD® software–based design and construction documentation solution for mechanical/electrical/plumbing (MEP) engineers, designers, and drafters. Increase productivity, accuracy, and coordination by maximizing the efficiency of your AutoCAD-based engineering workflow, while minimizing coordination errors between mechanical, electrical, and plumbing engineering design teams as well as with architects and structural engineers.

2. Why should I switch to AutoCAD MEP software?

AutoCAD MEP software offers the same familiar benefits and operating environment as standard AutoCAD software. In addition, AutoCAD MEP provides the opportunity to improve your MEP design process with purpose-built tools for mechanical, electrical, and plumbing/piping/fire protection design and documentation. Also, because AutoCAD MEP uses the industry-leading DWG™ file format, you can share your design information with other disciplines using both AutoCAD and Revit®-based software applications.

The user interface for AutoCAD MEP software will be quite familiar to AutoCAD users, making the transition from one to the other relatively easy. Because the common MEP design tools are presented in a visual manner that is easy to understand, you can focus less on dialog boxes and the drafting process and more on creating your designs.

3. Content is very important to our business. What content has been added to AutoCAD MEP 2009?

New catalog content related to the water and wastewater industry will be made available to Subscription customers. Other new content includes things such as larger-diameter pipe and fittings as well as several valves, pumps, blowers, conveyors, gates, centrifuges, and diffusers. In addition, manufacturers such as Lindab and Yorkshire have created their own AutoCAD MEP part catalogs available from their websites.

4. What are the electrical system design improvements in AutoCAD MEP 2009?

Substantial improvements have been made to the electrical functionality of AutoCAD MEP 2009 software. Circuit Manager is now a modeless window similar to the Tool palettes or Properties palette so it can be kept open during design. Demand factors have been revised, and new load categories have been added to manage demand factor values for electrical devices. Panels can be linked together, and loads are shared across panels with appropriate demand factors applied. Panel-to-panel connections are shown offset in Circuit Manager. The electrical project database is now a separate, nonproduction file (.epd file extension). Panel schedules are now based on AutoCAD tables, so you can easily create table styles based on company standards.

5. What are the clash/interference detection capabilities in AutoCAD MEP? What capabilities have been added in the 2009 release?

The former ClashReport tool has been replaced by a new Interference Detection tool in AutoCAD MEP 2009. You can now find not only hard clashes but also soft clashes for things such as working clearances. You can zoom in to the problem area, resolve the interference, and then navigate to the next one. Insert tags for selected interferences, and add opening symbols for coordination with architects and structural engineers.

6. What is Autodesk doing to address the growing demand for design-to-fabrication in the MEP industry?

AutoCAD MEP has had design-to-fabrication capabilities through third-party vendors such as EastCoast CAD/CAM, QuickPen, and others for several years. For example, for AutoCAD MEP 2009, we are working with EastCoast CAD to integrate its EC-CAD sheet metal and piping capabilities into AutoCAD MEP software. This integration offers a unique, seamless design-to-fabrication solution within AutoCAD MEP 2009.

7. How can I support sustainable design efforts using AutoCAD MEP 2009?

Built-in duct, plumbing, and electrical sizing tools operate on the CAD model to assist with system design for maximum efficiency and to more accurately predict the performance of building systems. Export to gbXML (green building extensible markup language) and API (application programming interface) links enable you to use industry-standard tools such as Trane Trace and Elite to further optimize building designs for energy analysis, lifecycle cost, and other types of building performance analysis. API links to EC-CAD fabrication capabilities help to reduce construction waste.

8. What are the hardware and system requirements?

The recommended hardware and operating system requirements for running AutoCAD MEP 2009 software can be found here. Please ensure that you have read these requirements before making your purchasing decision.

9. Does AutoCAD MEP software work in a Windows Vista environment?

AutoCAD MEP 2009 and the AutoCAD® Revit® MEP Suite 2009 products support Microsoft® Windows Vista® Home Premium, Ultimate, Business, and Enterprise. In addition, both products take advantage of some new Vista capabilities, specifically Windows Vista thumbnail previews for DWG and DWF™ files in Windows Explorer, display of properties in the Detail tab of Windows Explorer, and the ability to use the Windows Vista search tools using text strings found in drawing properties, text, mtext, and so forth, in the DWG file.

AutoCAD MEP 2009 and AutoCAD Revit MEP Suite 2009 are both certified the use the “Works with Windows Vista” logo. The logo indicates that both products meet requirements to work in the following Windows Vista operating system environments.

32 bit Environment:

Windows XP Professional SP 2 (recommended)
Windows XP Home SP 2
Windows Vista Ultimate
Windows Vista Enterprise
Windows Vista Business
Windows Vista Home Premium

64 bit Environment:

Windows XP Professional x64, SP 2
Windows Vista Ultimate
Windows Vista Enterprise
Windows Vista Business
Windows Vista Home Premium..

10. How can I support my clients’ demands for integrated project delivery using Autodesk’s MEP software solutions?

With the development of MEP designs in either platform, the level of information present in the digital design supports clear and complete information transfer between disciplines on the project, streamlining collaboration workflows.

11. What benefits do I get by subscribing to AutoCAD MEP?

Autodesk Subscription® is the best way to keep your design tools and learning up to date. For an annual fee you get any new upgrades of your Autodesk software and any incremental product enhancements, if these are released during your subscription term, as well as self-paced training options, access to subscription-only modules, and a broad range of other technology and business benefits.

With Autodesk Subscription, you can take advantage of Autodesk e-Learning. Its concise, self-paced online lessons are designed to address crucial application functions and industry practices. Experts in their respective industries developed the lessons to challenge and enhance your existing knowledge. By the end of each 15- to 30-minute lesson, you will have worked with the content, demonstrated your knowledge, and have access to the files used in each exercise.

Autodesk Subscription also includes direct web support. You get one-to-one online communication with Autodesk support technicians for fast, complete answers to your installation, config­uration, and troubleshooting questions. Web and email communications deliver sup­port straight to your desktop. Plus you have web access to your account, so you can track and manage questions and responses.

Click here for more information about Autodesk Subscription.