Pipe supports - shtirlitsDva/Revit-PCF-Exporter GitHub Wiki

Pipe supports are currently implemented using the following set up. Refer to the sample project file for an example of a complete set up.

Families for Pipe Supports are created in Pipe Accessory category. The origin of the family (where the built in reference planes cross) must coincide with centre line of pipe (or any other element) to be supported. The coordinates of the family origin will be read during export and written to the CO-ORDS keyword in the SUPPORT entry.

A pipe connector, set to be primary and assigned to the Fitting System Classification, must be present in the family. It must be placed on one of the built in reference planes, thus coinciding with family origin. Its radius (diameter) parameter must be linked to an instance family parameter. The role of this connector is to read the diameter of the pipe in question and place the family at correct elevation.

A pipe connector, assigned to the Global System Classification, must be present in the family. Its role is to acquire and make permanent the application of correct Piping System Type later on.

When placing the support family, a pipe must be selected as host. If another element is to be supported, it must be placed first on a pipe with corresponding diameter and then moved into correct location. As far as experimentation has shown, if the Pipe Support family of Revit category Pipe Accessory is set to part type normal, it will not inherit the correct Piping System Type, but instead show up as "Undefined".

To remedy this problem, a Pipe Support routine has been added to the application, which takes the Piping System Type from a sample pipe and applies it to the placed support.

The procedure is then to place the support at the desired location and click the "Support System Type" button present in the application ribbon panel "PCF Tools" present under the Add-Ins tab in Revit. Then select a pipe in the desired Piping System and select the support in question. The routine changes the "Undefined" support family to the desired Piping System Type.

This set up ensures, that Pipe Supports defined in such a way, can be handled and filtered as a normal Pipe Accessory, thus greatly diminishing the need for speciality programming code to handle the supports.