You’re in a coordination meeting, bleary-eyed from a late night fixing a stubborn duct route. You open the clash report, and… bam — hundreds of red flags. You sip your coffee, wondering if you accidentally modeled an octopus instead of an HVAC system.
Welcome to the wild world of clash detection
Revit’s clash detection (whether inside Revit or in tools like Navisworks) is an absolute game-changer. But, as with all “game-changers,” reality is messier than the brochure. Let’s get real about what actually happens behind those flashy model views — the challenges no one warns you about until you’re deep in the BIM trenches.
Clash Tsunami
The first time you run a clash detection, it feels like an avalanche. Hundreds — sometimes thousands — of clashes flood in. Some serious, some laughably trivial. It’s like finding out you have 842 unread emails.
The problem? You can’t fix everything at once. Not all clashes are equally important — some can wait, some can’t. Sorting them is an art in itself.
Fix: Learn to prioritize. Tackle the “show-stopper” clashes first — the ones that would actually stop a contractor in their tracks on-site. The rest? Triage them like a doctor on a busy ER shift.
Dirty Models, Dirty Results
Here’s a tough pill: If the models going in are messy, clash detection will just show you all the messy.
Misaligned elements, missing families, weird workarounds from that one team member who “likes to model differently” — all these show up as false clashes. Suddenly, your clash report looks like confetti.
Fix: Before you run clash detection, do some “model housekeeping.” Clean geometry, set clear standards, and get everyone on the same page. Otherwise, you’re basically trying to find a needle in a haystack… that’s on fire.
Blame Game
One of the most human parts of clash detection? The finger-pointing.
“Your pipe is in my beam!” “No, your beam is in my pipe!” You’d think we were arguing over who took the last slice of pizza in the office kitchen.
Without a clear plan for who owns what and how clashes get resolved, coordination meetings can quickly turn into soap operas.
Fix: Use transparent tracking tools (like BIM 360, Revizto, or even shared spreadsheets if you’re old school). Make ownership clear and keep it professional. Remember: It’s the clash that’s the problem, not the person.
Zombie Clashes
You fix a clash, celebrate with a donut, and move on. Next week? The same clash is back from the dead.
This happens because fixes don’t get pushed to the main model, or someone works off an outdated version. It’s like playing whack-a-mole — but with less satisfaction.
Fix: Version control is your best friend. Regularly update, sync, and confirm fixes. Think of it as saving your game progress before you fight the final boss.
Missing “Why”
A clash report tells you where things collide but not why they were there in the first place.
Move a pipe? You might block an access hatch. Shift a beam? You might violate a clearance code. Software doesn’t understand context — humans do.
Fix: Always review clashes together with your full team. Bring designers, engineers, and even the guys who’ll actually build it. Context is everything.
Automation Illusion
“Relax! Clash detection will catch it all!”
Ah, if only. Clash detection is amazing, but it won’t catch everything. Clearances for maintenance, sequences for installation, human accessibility — these often slip through the cracks.
Fix: Pair software smartness with human experience. Walkthroughs, field feedback, and good old common sense are just as crucial as any fancy clash report.
Clash detection isn’t about pointing fingers or getting clash free model trophies. It’s about building trust, reducing headaches on-site, and turning “oops” moments into “glad we caught that!”
When done right, clash detection saves money, time, and a ton of on-site frustration. But it takes teamwork, patience, and a willingness to dig into the messy details.
So, next time you open that clash report, take a deep breath, grab another coffee, and remember: you’re not alone in this maze.
Got a clash horror story or a clever fix that saved the day? Let’s swap war stories — we’ve all been there.
