I couldn't place the light on the ceilings

[Anonymous]

I am doing the homework assignment and my teacher ask me to place a light and light switches for my building. When I place a light switches they have many options ( place on vertical line or on the face) but when I chose to place a light on the ceiling, no options appear and i can't either place it manually. Could anyone explain what I am going wrong?

Thanks you

[constantin.stroescu · Accepted solution]

Architectural Fixtures (electrical,plumbing.etc.) work with Ceiling, Wall, Floor hosts, while MEP Fixtures work only with Faces.

So:

• if you use Architectural Lighting Fixtures (ceiling) , you'll be able to place them only on Ceiling faces 
• if you'll use MEP Lighting Fixtures you will be able to place them on Horizontal Faces(ceiling) or Vertical Faces (walls)

MEP families activate placement on Faces:

[hmunsell · Accepted solution]

it all depends on how he family your are placing was created. Families can be created in different Hosing options. for example a Door is Wall Hosed, Equipment is often Floor Hosted, Lights are often Ceiling Hosted. there are also options for Face, Roof and several others.  Your Switch is likely Face Based so it is giving you other "Face" options for placement. The Light is Ceiling Based so it can only be placed in a ceiling and there are no other options.

to check this you can select the family and pick Edit Family. then pick the Family Category and Parameters button (upper Left). scroll all the way to the bottom of the Family Parameters list and you will see the hosting option. in this example i select a Face hosted Light fixture.

[Anonymous]

hi, thanks for letting me know this information but it seems like i use the lighting fixture in architectual.

[constantin.stroescu]

It doesn't matter you work in Architectural, you can use MEP fixtures ( in fact they are more complete as parameters). What are specific to them is that they are defined to a Face (a family by Face) and not to Wall, Floor, Ceiling as Architectural are.

Anyway, when your Model will be used by the MEP engineers they will swap your Architectural by MEP Fixtures.

If you make your own family you are free to define it By Face.

But ,if you use ready made Architectural Fixtures defined by Ceiling , you have first to create that ceiling in order to have a host for that entity

[Anonymous]

Oh yes i figure it out. I chose the wrong light in architectual so that i can't add it on my ceilings. MEP fixture help me do it.

THanks you so much. Really appreciate

[distroeZUZ6L]

Dear Constantin,

While your method is possible, i strongly advise against it.

If MEP fixtures are placed on an architectural ceiling from a link (not copied in the MEP model) a change in the architectural model may lead to loss of MEP fixtures and to loss of work.

The advised solution:

1)  Place the MEP fixtures on a reference plane placed at ceiling height, in the MEP model.

2)  Copy monitor the ceiling in the MEP model and place on the copied ceiling.

Regards, Dan

[constantin.stroescu]

hi Dan,

your experience in working with MEP engineers is speaking. Good to know!

Using a Reference Plan at the ceiling level to host MEP Fixtures on it , is a worth  knowing idea.

A good point!  Many thanks!

Constantin