Duct not showing in architectural model

[David125]

I did a very basic duct layout to show diffusers and duct in a room that will not have a ceiling. I used the Revit Mech template, referenced in my arch model did my layout and it looks fine. I drew only duct and diffusers, and did not attach supply equipment because it is in another room. This this thing is for show only. I referenced the mech model into my arch model and got very little of my duct work.

[rudi.roux]

Hi @David125, 

Hope you are well. Did you go through some of the following troubleshooting steps: (You linked the Mech RVT Model into your Arch RVT Model). 

1. Is your Ducts switched on(checked) in View Templates or general plan view Visibility/Graphic Overrides (VV or VG)?

2. Is your linked Levels correct?

3. In your Properties Pallet >> Graphics >> Discipline: test it by setting it to Mechanical or Coordination. (Opposed to Architecture). 

4. Is you View Range setup correctly?

I hope this helps! 

[Scott_D_]

Your original image appears to be showing Fine detail , the second image is showing Course detail (single line with fittings).

Not sure why the ducts are not visible in the Course view.

The first is a Plan view with what look like light fittings present in the ceiling grid, the other looks to be an RCP view with a lower cut plane.

They seem to be completely different view setups?

Perhaps the ceiling is hiding the elements above?

[David125]

This is perplexing, I'm using a view region because it is a high bay. I assume it is correct because my diffusers and duct fittings show but the duct connecting them all does not show. It does show in the elevations. 

[rudi.roux]

Hi @David125, 

Herewith a Article regarding View Ranges and here is one regarding View Disciplines. If everything is fine in your Elevation, then check your View Ranges and Cut Planes. And you're sure all of the ducts are active in your plan views and also the linked views? 

I hope this helps! 

[fabiosato]

Hello,

In the architectural file, I believe you are setting the discipline to Architectural, in this case, all MEP components above the cut plane won´t appear.

You need to move up the cut plane higher.

You can use Coordination discipline.

[CADTripper]

Hi David125,

Try to adjust the view range of your plan region. Just play with the Cut Plan and your Top settings.

If you are using a ceiling plan then you have to set the view range that works with ceiling view and not like the floor plans.

[Judy_S]

Hi, David125,

I'm Judy, a Revit specialist. I was reading this thread and wanted to ask if the ideas from the other forum posters helped you figure out what the issue was. Are you able to see your duct work now? If you need more help, please let me know, and I'll be happy to help you out.

Cheers,

Judy Staicer

[RobDraw]

I have a similar issue with ductwork in a plan region for a high bay area. Fittings show and ductwork outside of the plan region is visible. This only happens in the RCP view. Plan views work as expected.

[David125]

That is exactly my situation. My duct is in a high bay, everything else is either 9' or 10' ceiling. I used a plan region to show duct and other items up high on ceiling.

[RobDraw]

A little off topic but this bears mentioning.

Technically, RCPs should not be used for showing ductwork in the first place. The order of up vs. down is reversed in ceiling plans.

[David125]

Understood. I'm trying to help our architect with their "artsy" ceiling that shows our duct work. I can get diffusers and fittings to show but duct does not show. I've tried setting discipline to ARCH, MECH, COORDINATE. I've played around with V range, Everything looks great in elevation.

[RobDraw]

If this is going on a sheet in a drawing set, I would consider using a plan view and overlaying another viewport showing the grid and anything else that is being requested for this plan. Although, I don't like the practice, this is what people do to show ceiling grids on their ductwork plans. Like I alluded to before, hidden lines at crossings on RCPs will be the opposite of what they would be on a floor plan.

[Scott_D_]

I can't see any good reason why ductwork should not be shown properly in an RCP view as it doesn't make sense, anything that doesn't make sense is usually inherently bad.

RCPs are required for ductwork design because air terminals can't be hosted the right way up in a plan view, they come in upside down.

[RobDraw]

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@Anonymous wrote:

I can't see any good reason why ductwork should not be shown properly in an RCP view as it doesn't make sense, anything that doesn't make sense is usually inherently bad.

RCPs are required for ductwork design because air terminals can't be hosted the right way up in a plan view, they come in upside down.

---

You sound like you are new at this. Have a look at the same ductwork in a plan view and in an RCP. You will notice that in the RCP the ducts that should be on top are shown with hidden lines. That is not the correct way of presenting a ductwork plan. Just about every project I've done has had at least one room without a ceiling and some without any ceilings in most of the project. What would you do in that case?

As to RCPs being required for design, that too is wrong. Air terminals do need to be hosted.

[Scott_D_]

By 'properly' I mean the duct should be visible rather than being hidden for no particular reason, the draw order should be based on the viewpoint so an RCP will show them stacked in the opposite order to a plan.

I agree that air terminals should be hosted, pretty sure I just said that. Perhaps I was not clear, apologies if so.

If there are no ceilings I would use a dedicated Workplane, or several.

I agree that the sheets that go to site should be Plans but what I use for design and what they use on site do not necessarily need to be the same thing.

Apart from using Revit for years and being an Autodesk Certified Revit Professional, I'm brand new to this stuff.

[RobDraw]

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@Anonymous wrote:

By 'properly' I mean the duct should be visible rather than being hidden for no particular reason, the draw order should be based on the viewpoint so an RCP will show them stacked in the opposite order to a plan.

I agree that air terminals should be hosted, pretty sure I just said that. Perhaps I was not clear, apologies if so.

If there are no ceilings I would use a dedicated Workplane, or several.

I agree that the sheets that go to site should be Plans but what I use for design and what they use on site do not necessarily need to be the same thing.

Apart from using Revit for years and being an Autodesk Certified Revit Professional, I'm brand new to this stuff.

---

There probably is a good reason for it and it is most likely the improper use of a plan region on an RCP. It's not a issue for me but rather a curiosity as I recently came across this exact situation.

Actually, you did not understand what I was saying about air terminals. Most of my air terminals are not hosted and I never show ductwork on an RCP. Do I use them as I am modeling for coordination? Yes, but they do not go on sheets because ductwork shouldn't be shown on an RCP, just like ceiling grids shouldn't be shown on floor plans, and I don't need to use Revit or have a certificate to know that.

[Scott_D_]

I'm not sure if you have worked out that I am agreeing with you?

[Judy_S]

Hi, David125, and everyone else,

This is a great discussion with a lot of good ideas about workflow, so thanks to all you helpful Revit users! Apart from the workflow issues, I'm still wondering if there is an issue with the model itself. David125, you didn't mention if you tried changing the arch view to fine? As scott.dakin suggested, it appears that the mech view is in fine detail, and the arch view is in coarse. You can see the one-line representations of the tees and elbows in the arch view, though not for the straight runs. Did this make a difference? It's also possible that the view from which you took the screenshot in the arch model is corrupted. You might try creating a new view to see if there's a difference. (Don't duplicate the existing one as it will also duplicate any errors that may exist in the view.)

Also, is the MEP link displayed by host view or by linked view, or does it use custom settings? 

Just to cover another technical possibility, sometimes strange graphic things happen when your temp folder is full, and maybe that's a factor here. To empty it, please close all Revit sessions first. Then, in the Windows Start search box, type %temp% and delete everything inside that folder (there may  be a few things that can't be deleted - that's okay). Then empty your trash. Does this make a difference? Even if not, it's a good thing to do once a week or so. 

Let me know if any of this is helpful. 

Cheers,

Judy Staicer

[RobDraw]

@Judy_S, have you tried replicating the scenario. Since I have the same issue in a similar situation, I am thinking that it might be related to this use of a plan region in an RCP. I have come across a number of issues when using plan regions related to items not showing as expected.