Graphics Programs Reference
In-Depth Information
You may use the option of creating reference planes in your model to host
your lighting fixtures temporarily. When the ceilings are placed in the
architectural model, you could then re-host your fixtures to them. Another
option is to use nonhosted families in your project. Because you cannot
replaceanonhostedfamilywithahostedone,youhavetomakethedecision
to use hosted or nonhosted.
Lighting fixtures that are modeled in the architectural model are another
thing to consider. Many architects like to create lighting layouts for their
design to get a feel for how the rooms will look with lighting fixtures in the
ceiling or to create renderings. If the architect uses 3D families to represent
thelightingfixtures,thiscancauseproblemsfortheelectricaldesignerwhen
it comes to using the linked model for hosting. Lighting fixtures in the
architectural model will most likely cut a hole in the ceiling where they are
placed. An electrical designer who attempts to put a light fixture in the same
location as the fixture in the linked file may not be able to do so because
there won't actually be a ceiling there. There is also the chance that a face
of the fixture in the link hosts the fixture in the MEP file. So if the architect
deletesthefixtureintheirfile,thefixtureintheMEPfilewillnothaveahost
and will not respond to changes.
Early in the project, the architect and electrical designer should agree on
whowillmodeltheceilingsandinwhichmodeltheywillreside.Theyshould
also coordinate which types of families will be used if the architect intends
to place lighting fixtures in the architectural model. If they need to be
modeled in one file initially, they can be copied and pasted into another file
if necessary. Another option is to use the Copy/Monitor tool to copy the
lighting fixtures from the architectural model. The ultimate goal is to have
one ceiling design that all disciplines can use for layout and coordination.
Lighting Worksets
When working in a model file with other MEP disciplines, it is best to create
a lighting workset to distinguish model elements that would belong to that
design system. It may even be necessary to create multiple worksets for
lighting systems. Doing so will allow you to divide your lighting design into
separate systems (such as interior and exterior) or by floor levels.
Thiscanaidyouincontrollingthevisibilityofgroupsofmodelelementsand
can also help multiple users work on different sections of the lighting model
at the same time without interfering with each other's designs.
