Square/Rectangular Pipe: Is there a System Pipe this shape

[sam.z]

Hello

I need to creates Culverts. A culvert is a rectangular storm water or sewerage drainage pipe but other than its shape (rectangular instead of round) it will behave exactly like a 'Standard System Pipe'. Is there a system pipe or anything in Revit I can use as a culvert (PLEASE dont say use ducts!). Please consult the picture below for what a culvert looks like.

The most important features of a Culvert are:
- The start of the pipe(culvert) will always have a different elevation to the end
- When I select the pipe(culvert) I want the pipe type/class to be either a Pipe or a Plumbing Fixture (See picture)

Is there any such pipe in Revit 2013 or 2014?

If the only solution is to create a Family; how can I create a Family that inherits from a Pipe (as opposed to a Generic Line, Plumbing Fixture, etc.)?

[Alfredo_Medina]

Revit does not let us create pipes that are not round. Therefore, this could be a line-based family, classified as plumbing fixture, if that's the category that you need. If necessary, the family could have connectors, so that you can connect pipes to it (round pipes).

[sam.z]

Thanks for your reply 🙂

How can I create a Line Based Plumbing Fixture Family? Every Plumbing Fixture family I make is always point based by default? If you could provide a step by step instruction it would be greatly appreciated.

For example; my step by step procedure below always fails(creates a point based family):

- Select create new Family

- Select Plumbing Fixture family template

- Create my culvert using extrusions

- Import family into a project: I can only place the FamilyInstance using 1 point not 2, ie the family is point based not line based

Any advice would be extremely helpful

Wait, but if I use a  Line Based family; can I create a FamilyInstance whose start elevation is different to the end elevation? Ie can I create a line thats not flat? I dont think you can using a Line Based family, am I correct?

[Alfredo_Medina]

What is a point based family? Never heard of that.

Yes, a line based family can have different elevations at start and end. You just have to place it in an elevation view.

[sam.z]

Generic Model Based Families are point based, ie, their underlying geometry (LocationPoint, LocationLine, LocationCurve) is 1 point as opposed to a line. Ie, when you place it you specify 1 point whereas when you place a line based family you specify 2 points (strt and end)

[Alfredo_Medina]

OK, now I see what you mean by "point based" family. It's just that it is not one of the names used in the templates. There is a line-based template, but there is no point-based template. All right, now what's next. What is it that you don't understand about the line-based template?

[sam.z]

Thanks for your replies 🙂

I understand the line based template fine. The problem is that if you have a Family that uses a Line-Base template (Generic Model) and create a instance of that family; you cannot make the start of that line have a different elevation to the end (when creating the instance and when editting it after its created).

I believe you said above that 'a line based family can have different elevations at start and end'. How can I do this? Could you provide step by step instructions? I have tried numerous ways with no success - the family instance is always flat. Please see my family (of a generic cylindrical extrusion); its been impossible for myself to make the start have a different elevation.

[Alfredo_Medina]

A line-based family, if it is work-plane based, can be placed on an elevation view, and therefore the user can specify different elevations for the start and end point.