Need Help Loading Exit Sign

[jseward123]

Using Revit 2016, I'm trying to load the exit sign family. The only exit sign in the Revit library is in Specialty Equiment/Fire Protection.

No matter how I try, Revit does not allow me to load it. I downloaded an exit sign from Seek, but it doesn't look like an exit sign should in plan, as a circle with an x.

[L.Maas]

Correct. Hereunder screenshot of the Family from the Revit library 

In a floor plan this family shows as a symbol. In a 3D view it shows as a sign.

If you want it to behave differently you have to modify the family or create one yourself.

[jseward123]

Thank you, but how do I load it? None of the family categories under Device in Systems load it for me. What am I doing wrong? Thank you.

[L.Maas]

In your project you go to "Insert" then "Load Family". Then you go to the folder where the family is located. Then it should be availble in your project.

You should be able to find it under "Specialty Equipment" in the families section of the project browser. From there you can insert it in the model. As can be seen in the family editor it is a Ceiling Hosted family, so you will have to select a ceiling in the model to be able to place the sign.

[jseward123]

Alright, I went to Insert and Load Family, then navigated to "Specialty Equipment\Fire Protection\Exit Sign.rfa".

How do I insert it into my model now?

[L.Maas]

Do what I mentioned in my previous post.

---

You should be able to find it under "Specialty Equipment" in the families section of the project browser. From there you can insert it in the model. As can be seen in the family editor it is a Ceiling Hosted family, so you will have to select a ceiling in the model to be able to place the sign.

---

So in the project browser look for the the family you just loaded. Then drag the family type into your model or right click on the family type and select "create instance"). Because it is a Ceiling hosted family you will have to select a ceiling in your project.

[jseward123]

I'm almost there.

I dragged the family type into my model (or right-clicked and selected "create instance").

The "Modify | Place Component" tab is activated and my cursor is the O with the slash through it, even when I click on the ceiling with the correct elevation typed in, and nothing happens.

[L.Maas]

Here, as one way of doing it, I dragged the Exit sign into my model, in this case a 3D view.

In the statusbar you can see what Revit is expecting next, a ceiling. When I click the ceiling the sign gets placed

Another isntance, placed earlier, can be seen already be seen on the ceiling.

It is not necessary to do it in a 3D view, A ceiling view, or another view where the ceiling is visible, can be used also to place the sign

From the screenshot you can see that my cursor does not show the "not allowed" cursor.

If you still run into problems let me know and I will make screencast tomorrow.

[jseward123]

When I insert a light ficture, I go to "Systems" then press "Lighting Fixture," and it knows where the ceiling grid is. But Revit's Exit Sign is not registered as a lighting fixture, so it does not appear with my other light families. (I think this should be fixed in the next Revit update, as exit signs are lights.) Also, Revit lacks a "Specialty Equipment" button under "Device."

Apparently then, the only way I can insert the Revit Exit Sign is directly from the Families tree in the Project Browser. When I do this though, it does not sense the ceiling grid when I follow its command to "Click on Ceiling," (maintaining the "not allowed" cursor) and there are no "Place on Work Plane" or "Place on Face" buttons. As you said, it's a Ceiling Hosted family, so I'm baffled that it's not recognizing the ceiling when I follow the simple command to "Click on Ceiling."

Thank you for all your help thus far.

[L.Maas]

Personally I never use the "Systems", "Device", "Lighting Fixture" route. I basically always work from the project browser or the model itself (using copy and paste or use create similar).

If you feel that the Exit sign should be under ligthing fixtures (not all exit signs are lights), than the normal route would be to modify the family or create a new one.

Dragging it in from the from the project browser and then clicking on the ceiling should work. If not than something else is happening (e.g you are not in the right view, different exit sign family, something is up with your ceiling, something is blocking your ceiling, your ceiling is in a linked file).

I will make a screencast tomorrow, showing what i do.

[L.Maas]

Placng the exit sign on a ceiling

[jseward123]

Thank you for that screen cast. My ceiling grid is in a linked model made by the architect.

[L.Maas · Accepted solution]

Ok, what I mentioned in my earlier post. That is the disadvantage of wall, floor and ceiling host families. They do not host to the objects in linked files.

Only face based families can be hosted on objects in linked files.

Then there are several options left:

-You convert the family to a non hosted family

-You convert the family to a face based famiily

-You place the sign in the linked file

-You look for other exit sign object

[jseward123]

Thanks again! I found another exit sign family we had stored away at my office. It's actually a number of different exit signs expressing different egress conditions. It appears to me the one that comes with Revit is only "single face."