Dimensions delete (error message) when I connect pipe to sprinkler.

[Anonymous]

Fire sprinkler Designing

We have come across a potential issue when drawing pipe.

The way we design is to plot the sprinkler heads and create RCP drawings where we will then place dimensions etc. After this (client approval) we will design the pipework to these sprinklers and then create pipework drawings with dimensions etc. But when I ‘draw pipe’ from sprinklers an error pops up – ‘One or more dimension references are or have become invalid.' With the option to ‘remove reference’. It looks like this is referring to the dimensions I have placed on my RCP views. Obviously I don’t want to delete these dimensions so I am struggling to find a way to overcome this?

See attached a screenshot of my model space. We have decided to create RCP’s in ceiling plan views and pipework in floor plan views. This is because of the way pipework is shown in this view i.e. looking down.

[Anonymous]

See screencast.....

[Mirko.Jurcevic · Accepted solution]

I did not encounter such problem, but maybe this can help you (try it in a "non-critical" environment):

Edit sprinkler head family and draw two crossed invisible model lines in floor plan view, those should be a little bit bigger than the sprinkler geometry. Load this edited family into the project and try to dimension sprinkler spacing in a way that dimension lines snap to these invisible lines and not the sprinkler head.

Then try to connect the pipes and see if the dimension lines will disappear.

I used it on one of the projects for a completely other reasons, but since I can't try something else on your project, just a thought.

[Anonymous]

Mirko that's brilliant. I have duplicated the sprinkler family and edited it by drawing an invisible cross hairs which I am now using to snap too when dimensioning. This now allows me to connect pipe and does not affect the current dimensions. 

[jack]

This solution only works when the reference lines inside the sprinkler family are perpendicular to the dimension reference.  This is an on going issue with Revit.  You should be able to dimension to the centre point of sprinklers after pipe or a flex pipe is connected.

My work around is to cut & paste all the sprinkler heads after connecting pipes.  It loses the system association, but it means you can dimension to the centre point of the sprinkler from any reference.