Footing Rebar - Isolated footing reinforcement

Footing Rebar automates reinforcement generation for isolated footings in Revit. The tool lets users configure bottom and top meshes, bar directions, covers, and layer assignment to speed up structural detailing.

General Description

The add-in works on one or more selected isolated footings and creates rebar sets from a parametric configuration. Users define cover type, bar setup, spacing, hooks, and whether the footing uses only a bottom mesh or both bottom and top meshes.

Key Features

• Isolated footing selection: Processes one or more compatible structural footings in one run.
• Mesh configuration: Bottom mesh only, or bottom plus top mesh.
• Directional control: Bar type, spacing, and hook configured independently per direction (or reuse Direction 1's setup for Direction 2).
• Layer assignment: Can write a default layer value into a selected parameter.
• Section preview: A section-like graphical preview shows the mesh layout before you create anything in the model.
• Profiles: Save and reuse a full configuration.

Requirements

• Works on isolated structural footings with valid solid geometry; other footing types or invalid geometry produce no rebar.

Usage Procedure

1. Open Footing Rebar from the Structure panel on the Frata ribbon tab.
2. Under General, set the Cover Type.
3. Under Mesh Configuration, choose Bottom Mesh Only or Bottom + Top Mesh.
4. Configure Bottom Mesh (and Top Mesh, if enabled): bar type, spacing, and hook for Direction 1 and Direction 2 — enable Same as Direction 1 to copy that setup into Direction 2 instead of configuring it separately.
5. Check the Section Preview to confirm the mesh layout; use Invert section preview representation if the preview orientation doesn't match your expectation.
6. Optionally enable Assign Layer to write a default value into a layer parameter.
7. Save the setup as a profile if you plan to reuse it, then press Execute and follow the prompt "Select one or more isolated footings."
8. A confirmation message reports how many rebar sets were created.

Recommendations

• If you get "No rebars were created. Check that the selected elements are isolated footings with a valid solid geometry.", verify the footing category and that its geometry isn't degenerate (zero thickness, self-intersecting, etc.).
• Use the Section Preview before executing — it reflects your current bar/spacing/hook settings, so mistakes are visible before anything is created in the model.
• Save recurring cover/bar/mesh setups as a profile instead of reconfiguring them for every footing type.

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the difference between "Bottom Mesh Only" and "Bottom + Top Mesh"? Bottom Mesh Only creates reinforcement for the bottom face alone. Bottom + Top Mesh also creates a second, independently configurable mesh for the top face.

Can Direction 2 have different bars or spacing than Direction 1? Yes — each direction is configured independently by default. Enable "Same as Direction 1" only if you want Direction 2 to mirror Direction 1's settings.

I got the message "No rebars were created..." Why? The selected elements either aren't isolated footings or have geometry the tool can't process (non-solid, degenerate, etc.). Confirm the element category and geometry before retrying.

Can I reuse the same mesh configuration on other footings? Yes — save the current setup as a profile at the top of the dialog and select it again next time you open Footing Rebar.