Room data sheets (RDS) are used to communicate the requirements of the client for a particular space type to the design team. They are typically developed during the briefing or architectural programming phases. The information they include could include general requirements and guidance notes or specifications for finishes, fixtures and fittings (F&F) and electrical and mechanical equipment.

The information is normally presented on a separate sheet for each room (hence the name) however, depending on the scope may also be spread over more than one sheet. They are typically provided to contractors with the drawings and specs.

There are many software programs to help you create RDSs. Some software is designed to connect Revit models, so that the content of the model as well as the room data sheets are identical. This synchronisation helps in managing the document and prevents duplicate entries.

Layer is a highly efficient management tool that manages room data. It provides an easy-to navigate interface to collect room information and generate multiple sheets for each type of space. It is also able to backfill existing Revit projects with room types and create custom reports. Layer also lets users to define naming conventions for views on sheets and can manage properties like size, browser organization and name.

The Layouts panel allows you to determine the layout of views generated on a sheet including margin values as well as the location of the titleblock. The option to block view titles from estimating the size of the sheet’s overall view is also available. This can prevent titles from appearing in multiple views on the sheet and it could their explanation also allow for more elevation views to be generated on a single sheet.