Make window head heights consistent

[vanderloo5]

I have always been amazed that every time I install a window in a wall in revit the head height is different, strange, and never where it should be. 

As a residential designer, in my world window head heights 98% of the time should be 6' 8"

I wish, or hope, there is at least a way to establish a default window height and never have a need to change the head height of literally every single window in my project.

[Anonymous]

It has been observed that while loading any window family in a Revit project we can't change the base level height after given value in to Default Sill Height parameter from Type Properties DB. Whereas it will work fine when change the value [Sill Height parameter] from the Window Instance properties DB.

But the Default Sill Height parameter will work in the family interface.

Mainly we want to change the Sill Height parameter as a Type parameter instead of Instance parameter.

Relevant Snap:

Autodesk Case ID: 13332678

Subject: Difference between Revit Default Sill Height & Sill Height

[zemeraloni]

Add option to show sill height and head height at dimensions when crossing opening (in addition to "show opening height" that already exist). 

[Anonymous]

Hello,

Did you solve this?

Thanks!

Arnaud

[TonyShapiro]

Set the window height to default to head height, not sill height.  

[awasyliw]

Would be great as an option. I wouldn't want to remove insert at cill height altogether though. It's useful in many circumstances too.

[TonyShapiro]

The sill height is never, (or rarely) referred to in the construction
industry. The default should be head height which contractor/carpenters use
to build structures.









Tony Shapiro, AIA, NCARB

V. 425.778.5400, C. 425.280.5765

1207 North 200th Street, Suite 105

Shoreline, WA 98133-3213


www.adshapiro.com/

[awasyliw]

Not sure where you are based, but we always show it and contractors complain if they don't get it, because it is the first height they need to know to build an opening (especially relevant with masonry construction).

It's always tricky when making these suggestions to think about how others may be using it, especially for a product which is international.

[TonyShapiro]

I have been in this industry over 40 years, and the sill height is a minor
consideration. The masons will need to look at the window schedule to set
the sill height if the elevation does not list it. The design & engineering
process is always focused on the head height.

[Seychellian]

I'm curious to know if you solved it also.

[oleksandr.porada]

Hello, maybe you have a solution to that question?

[Sleepingfish_Kuo]

Isn't the default solution applicable to your needs?

Windows default have the height same to the type property.

If you need a default height for a door, create a family with window category, and then change the category to door.

And the "default sill height" parameter keeps.

[Mike.FORM]

You would also want to set the ref plane controlling the window head to be the origin so that the default sill height references to that plane

[vanderloo5]

Thanks Guys but the "Sill Heights" are really irrelevant in regards to this issue since all windows are different sizes, all, or most, the sills will be different heights. So that would make me have to enter a sill height for most of the windows prior to inserting them.

To reiterate my issue, Every time I draft a floor plan, then insert all the windows, they all come in with a different head height and I have to go back and change all of them. I would like to have ALL windows insert at 6' 8" Head Height. Then I would rarely have to change any.

[Mike.FORM]

The sill height default parameter is a default height above level to the ref plane defined as the origin in the window family.

If you set the default height to 6'8" and set the ref plane at the top of the window family to be the origin ref plane all windows no matter the size will come in at that height.

Default sill height does not actually have to reference to the actual sill. The parameter is just named that.

[Mark_Engwirda]

No idea why  window head heights are based on sill heights, no doubt a commercial thing. 

All of my windows have their origin as the head height ever since I started using revit just as Mike has shown, that's one of the first things I fixed as it was most annoying when both creating or editing windows.

You do have to do some tricks within your schedules using a "calculated value" in your schedule fields to get the correct values for both  true sill and head heights but its not hard to do.

[Sleepingfish_Kuo]

For fire protection design and safety design, windowsill height is more commonly used in my country.
Please do not delete the old method when creating a new one.

[Mark_Engwirda]

@Sleepingfish_Kuo its easy enough to have both the head height and the sill height shown in both your tags and window schedules regardless where the origin point is located in your window  family 🙂

[wr.marshall]

Get annoyed with simple basic concepts like this and Autodesk creates features which 99% won't use like 2020 elliptical walls when most buildings and rooms are rectangular in nature, but it's there now!!!

Rant over now on topic with my 2 penny/cent worth!!!

I like most of you would like windows referenced from the head height. As @Mike.FORM suggested set the sill height dimension on the head height reference plane in the family editor but this will cause issues which will discuss in a bit

Firstly some screen shots relating to the the issue (even though you all shown this but for my own sanity adding again!!!)

Above Shows Head Height Not Matching while Sill Height does

When creating elevations you want all your head height the same as show in above elevation, but in the schedule these head heights do not match  elevation

when correcting the schedule it then creates errors in the elevation as now all sill height aligned, and the head heights in elevation do not match schedule

THIS IS A BIG PROBLEM WHEN SUPPLYING DRAWINGS AND SCHEDULES TO CONTRACTOR AS EITHER DRAWING VIEW OR SCHEDULE ARE WRONG. 

 Now as per @Mike.FORM setting the sill as the head height this screen shot shows the outcome in the project

Even though set it to the head height in the family editor it sets the sill height in the project elevation.

To get around this you are required to create a shared parameter and formula to get elevation and schedule to match

All this is extra work when creating new or updating existing window families.

As in the above schedule you now have the default parameters for head height with values that mean diddly squat!!! with NO relation now to the elevation. NOT VERY BIM!!!

Anyway that's what I have to say about this topic.

@kimberly_fuhrman-jones please combine these ideas into one post

• Make window head heights consistent - Autodesk Community

• Window Head Height Determines placement rather than sill height - autodesk (NOTE THIS ONE IS ARCHIVED)

• Default for window height - Autodesk Community

• Dimensions - Sill Height-Head Height - Autodesk Community

• Difference between Revit Default Sill Height & Sill Height - Autodesk Community

related idea that will probably be affected by this problem if not resolved correctly

Sill height parameter a part of dimension settings - Autodesk Community

[Sleepingfish_Kuo]

@wr.marshall 

Thank you to show this bug.

I didn't find out that before.

[Mark_Engwirda]

@wr.marshall glad you did the rant and not me.

@kimberly_fuhrman-jones I'm really interested in knowing how many Revit users are working on residential projects versus commercial ones. Is that information Autodesk could share? It feels like Revit's development is heavily weighted towards commercial applications, and I'm wondering if that reflects the actual makeup of users? 

Reporting of window head and sill heights is just one prime example of where user needs in the residential sector are totally overlooked.  Do we need two different development teams? Do I need to post this as a new idea?