Faced Based Vs. Ceiling Based Families

[Richie535]

We are about to begin a new project in Revit MEP 2014. Is there any benefit to using light fixtures that are Ceiling Based vs. Face Based? 

Currently we draw our reference planes at the architectural ceiling elevation and host our light fixtures and any other ceiling mouted devices to that plane. The reason we do this rather than hosting to the linked in architectrual model is when a change in elevation is made all of our devices and fixtures remain where they are; rather than getting thrown around the model if not lost. Does Revit MEP 2014 have any smarter features so if we were to host to a ceiling in a linked model and that ceiling changed in elevation, got deleted and re-drawn, etc., that our devices and fixtures would automatically adjust with that change?

From what I understand the current MEP help gives a vauge explanation as to why this happens, has there been any progress? I think we'll stick to our current method of reference planes, just wondering if anyone else has had luck with Revit MEP 2014/2013?

[CoreyDaun · Accepted solution]

When it comes to working with Architectural Ceilings that reside in a Linked Model, you won't be able to even use a "Ceiling-Hosted" element. When it comes to hosting an element in a Linked Model, only Faces are recognized. This means that any element-specific hosted Families (i.e. Ceiling-Based, Wall-Based, etc.) will not be able to find a valid host.

For what it's worth, if you had your own (or direct access to) Ceilings, you could use Ceiling-Hosted elements. A major advantage to this would be that the elements would maintain their orientation in regard to the ceiling grid, so they would follow if you were to adjust it. But, that's most likely a mute point, now.