In cities like Sydney and Melbourne, digital building models are becoming the norm for projects large and small. The Australian government now even mandates BIM for major infrastructure projects, which has accelerated this trend. But with this progress comes a new challenge: wasted hours hunting for quality Revit families, worries about NATSPEC or NCC compliance, and frustration with inconsistent content across projects. We’ve heard architects ask in exasperation, “Why am I rebuilding the same toilet fixture for the third time?” – and we don’t blame them. The solution lies in using a Revit content library built for efficiency and standards.
For Australian architects, a generic Revit library isn’t enough. You need localized, compliant content. That’s where Interscale’s tailored Revit template service steps in. But before we offer our product, let’s discuss why Australia AEC industries are getting in traction with Revit content packs.
What is a Revit Content Library?
A Revit content library is a centralized hub of pre-built components, templates, and materials that you can drop into your building models.
Think of doors, windows, light fixtures, furniture, or structural columns. Instead of modeling each from scratch, you pull them from the library. It’s an essential part of BIM workflows, acting like a ready-to-use catalog of standard parts for your project.
To differentiate, a basic out-of-the-box Revit library might contain only generic examples or minimal content. In contrast, a curated Revit content library focuses on quality and standardization.
When you have a robust Revit components library at your fingertips, assembling a complex model becomes as straightforward as snapping together Lego pieces.
Difference Between Revit Content Library and Revit Families
The difference between a Revit content library and Revit families comes down to scope and organization. Revit families are the individual components – think of them as the building blocks. A single chair, a specific HVAC unit, a type of window – each of these is a family (an .RFA file in Revit terms). You can load families one by one into your project. In essence, Revit families are like individual bricks.
On the other hand, a Revit content library is the structured ecosystem that organizes and contains those families. The ecosystem supports metadata, types, and perhaps even view templates or materials. It’s the blueprint guiding how those bricks fit together.
Families are the bricks; the library is the blueprint that ensures they all connect properly without you guessing the alignment or sizing. A library might be delivered as a collection of many families, perhaps with a catalog or a Revit template that brings them all in at once.
Crucially, a well-built library provides context to families. Instead of a lone window family floating around, the library might categorize it under “Residential > Windows > Aluminium Frame” with preset sizes that suit typical Australian residential projects.
The library adds uniform standards to these pieces. This is where the value of an Interscale library shines: Interscale’s libraries ensure all families are pre-optimized for Australian projects—no more mismatched parts or scrambling to adjust units and parameters.
We’ve fine-tuned the details – units in millimeters, terminology per AS/NZS, materials available locally, etc.. So, whenever you use a family from our library, it just works. Or if you’re curious about making the most of Revit in different setups, check out our deep-dive comparing Revit vs Revit LT.
Why Revit Libraries are Essential in the AEC Industry
Revit libraries are essential in the AEC industry because they dramatically improve efficiency, consistency, and compliance in projects. Let’s break down the key benefits:
Time Efficiency
A well-developed Revit library can cut design and modeling time by a huge margin. Several firms report up to a 40% reduction in design hours when using pre-validated Interscale Revit templates and components. Instead of reinventing the wheel for each project, you drag-and-drop from your library.
For more on speeding up BIM work, you might explore our guide on Scan to BIM best practices – a technique that, when combined with a good library, can capture real-world elements swiftly.
Consistency
Revit libraries enforce uniformity across your team and projects. In collaborative environments – especially common in Australian multi-residential or large commercial projects – consistency is king.
You know the pain of inconsistent families, right?! Let’s say one column is slightly different from another. A shared library eliminates that. Whether your colleague is in Brisbane or Melbourne, if they’re pulling from the same Revit Australia library, the output will align perfectly.
Compliance
Perhaps most crucial for Australian projects, a proper library ensures compliance with local standards. NATSPEC classifications, NCC requirements, AS/NZS codes, you name it. Using random global content can put you at risk of non-compliance. A localized library bakes in these requirements.
You’ll find, for instance, that a wall assembly from an Interscale library might already include the correct fire rating and insulation values for NCC. This saves you a compliance headache. It’s peace of mind knowing your BIM content for architects in Australia is audit-ready.
Collaboration
In an industry that increasingly involves remote and global collaboration, having a defined content library streamlines teamwork. When partners or consultants join your project, sharing the content library with them means they can get up to speed quickly and adhere to your standards.
No more email threads like “please send me that lighting family you used.” Everyone accesses the same centralized content source – possibly through a common data environment or cloud library.
Quality Assurance
Pre-built libraries undergo quality checks. At Interscale, for example, every family in our library is vetted for performance, accuracy, and adherence to the latest standards.
Yes, no overly bloated geometry that slows your model. Fewer questions from contractors meant the drawings were clear and code-compliant from the start. The result? A smoother project delivery and a happier client.
Future-Proofing
The AEC industry isn’t static – standards evolve, and so does technology. A great Revit library is not a one-and-done folder; it’s a living resource. We ensure our library content stays up to date with any changes in Australian codes or BIM standards.
Interscale even leverages smart automation (yes, even a bit of AI) to regularly audit and update library components as needed.
Where to Download Revit Content Libraries
So, where can you find these treasure troves of Revit content? We’ve compiled 7 websites to download Revit content libraries that are popular in the industry. Each has its pros and cons. From global platforms to our own homegrown solution, here’s the rundown.
Interscale (Australia’s Own Revit Library Solution)
Interscale offers a Revit content library laser-focused on Australian standards. All families and templates in our library are NATSPEC-aligned and AS/NZS-compliant out of the box. You’ll get Revit content packs organized by building type or discipline that include everything. Yes, from wall types to plumbing fixtures, each tailored to local requirements.
Why choose Interscale? If you’ve ever been frustrated that a manufacturer’s family from overseas didn’t have the right electrical voltage or didn’t use the correct U-value measurement – that’s exactly the gap we fill. Our library is built on an “Australian-first” mentality, but we also bridge global resources.
And we also provide a free sample pack of our Revit library so you can test the quality yourself. Don’t start your next project with blind Googling – download our free sample pack or explore our full tailored Revit template service to supercharge your BIM.
Start working smarter with a ready-to-use Revit template that enhances efficiency and ensures consistency across all your projects.
BIMsmith
BIMsmith is a globally popular Revit library platform, essentially an online marketplace of free BIM objects and Revit families from various manufacturers. It’s particularly strong for MEP and interior products.
BIMsmith’s catalog likely has multiple options, often with accompanying specs and data sheets. For architects, it’s a handy BIM content for architects worldwide looking to specify real products in their designs.
The downside is that BIMsmith’s library is global and not tailored to Australian standards. You might find a great window family, but it could be designed around US or European code assumptions. We often suggest: download from BIMsmith for the broad selection, but pair it with Interscale for local compliance.
BIMobject
BIMobject is one of the largest repositories of BIM content on the web. It hosts Revit library downloads for thousands of real-world products – from furniture to structural components – provided by manufacturers across the globe.
The library is massive; you’ll find both generic content and branded objects. Think Herman Miller chairs, Siemens electrical panels, and etc..
However, the quality can vary since content comes from many sources. Some BIMobject families are top-notch, others might be overly detailed or lacking parameter consistency.
For Australian users, the challenge is filtering through this abundance. Here’s a pro tip: use the search filters on BIMobject to check if there’s an “Australia” region or localization tag – some objects are region-specific.
BIMstore
BIMstore is another well-known platform, originally from the UK. It operates somewhat like a community-driven BIM marketplace. Manufacturers and even individual designers can upload content to BIMstore, and users can download families for free. It’s known for a clean interface and for hosting manufacturer-approved content, especially for UK and EU products.
Because BIMstore has a mix of content creators, you should verify compliance on anything you download. There are some Australian vendors on BIMstore – for instance, an Aussie plumbing fixture company might upload their Revit files there – but it’s not guaranteed that everything meets Australian codes by default. A family might have UK fire rating parameters or use naming conventions unfamiliar to Aussie standards.
If you’re in the stage of setting up Revit at your firm, also consider reading our piece on Revit license in Australia – getting the right licensing is step one, getting the right content is step two.
RevitCity
RevitCity is practically a legend in the BIM community – one of the oldest user-driven repositories for Revit content. It’s a free forum and library where users share families they’ve made.
You can find thousands of Revit families in RevitCity, from couches and plants to structural beams. It’s often the first result that pops up when searching for a specific oddball object. Many seasoned Revit users remember downloading their first content from here. It was one of the early Revit library locations on the web that gained mass popularity.
However, Revit City’s age is showing. Much of its content is outdated or not maintained. You might download something only to discover it was created in Revit 2012 and lacks the parameter data that later standards, or your firm’s BIM execution plan, require.
BIM Library (High-End Paid Libraries)
Beyond the free hubs, there are also high-end Revit components library providers – essentially companies that sell or license curated content packs. Let’s call them premium BIM libraries. These might include extensive collections of high-detail families, sometimes focused on certain niches, such as hospitals, airports, or high-end residential.
The catch here is the cost. These premium libraries can be expensive, whether via a subscription or a hefty one-time fee. Even though the designs are high-end, they might still not align perfectly with Australian standards out-of-the-box if they were developed overseas. So you could pay a lot and still need to do some tweaking.
This is where we like to highlight an alternative: Interscale offers premium Australian-specific Revit content at a better rate. Instead of paying for a huge library where only 50% is relevant to you, you can work with us to get a curated set that’s 100% relevant and compliant.
NBS National BIM Library
The NBS National BIM Library is a well-respected repository originally from the UK. NBS (National Building Specification) created this library to host a comprehensive collection of generic and manufacturer objects that are all formatted to meet the NBS standards. For example, their generic components, like a standard brick wall type or a generic fire door, are consistent and often used as starting points in UK projects.
However, as an Australian firm, you might find some content not directly compatible with our codes. For instance, NBS objects follow the UK classification system and BIM metadata standards. For example, the Uniclass 2015 standard, which is UK-oriented. If you download Revit content packs from NBS, you may need to map or translate some info to NATSPEC or Aussie classifications.
Your Next Steps
At the end of the day, the goal of Revit content library is simple: save time, ensure compliance, and work smarter. Don’t let your team drown in rework or code checks for every imported family. Empower them with a library that’s ready for Australian standards on Day One.
Interscale’s tailored Revit template and content library service is here to make that happen. Save hours, avoid costly mistakes, and deliver projects with confidence – get your tailored Revit template from Interscale today! Unlock your free Interscale Revit library sample and special offer here.
Contact us for further consultation.
