Archicad flags MEP clashes

Archicad’s MEP Designer is being rolled out more widely as Graphisoft pushes architects and building-systems engineers to catch duct, pipe, and cable clashes in the model before crews reach the site. (graphisoft.prezly.com) MEP stands for mechanical, electrical, and plumbing — the building systems that compete for the same ceiling and shaft space. Graphisoft says MEP Designer was first introduced in October 2025 and expanded its rollout on March 26, 2026. (graphisoft.prezly.com) The software runs on Archicad and lets users model ducts, pipes, and cable carriers inside the same building information model, or BIM, used for the rest of the project. Graphisoft says the toolkit is available with the Archicad Collaborate subscription plan, with market availability handled through local partners. (graphisoft.com) A clash is a physical overlap in the digital model, like a duct crossing through a beam or two services trying to occupy the same void. Graphisoft’s help documents say Collision Detection checks where MEP elements intersect with each other and with other building elements, and ignores elements that are only touching. (help.graphisoft.com) Graphisoft says MEP Designer is fully integrated into Archicad 28, so architects and MEP engineers can work on the same platform through Teamwork instead of trading separate files back and forth. The company also says the tool supports IFC 4.3, the open file format widely used to exchange building models across different software. (help.graphisoft.com) (graphisoft.com) The pitch is coordination speed. Graphisoft says users can edit routes for ducts, pipes, and cable carriers in 2D or 3D, then review system data such as airflow and velocity in the MEP System Browser for ventilation routes. (help.graphisoft.com 1) (help.graphisoft.com 2) Graphisoft has been adding collision-checking to Archicad for years through its MEP Modeler tools, but the newer MEP Designer package folds modeling, documentation, and coordination into a more direct workflow for engineers. The company’s current documentation says the MEP libraries load automatically with Archicad and do not require a separate license in Archicad 28 help materials. (help.graphisoft.com 1) (help.graphisoft.com 2) For contractors and designers, the practical change is earlier decisions about routing and clearances, when moving a duct on screen is cheaper than moving it in the field. Graphisoft’s latest rollout language frames that as tighter BIM collaboration between architects and MEP engineers, with more markets getting access in 2026. (graphisoft.prezly.com)