0'-0" (Top of Slab/story settings) or M.S.L. actual numbers?

[rob2218]

well, we are faced with the following question:
1. Do we use a 0'-0" story vertical elevation for our top of slab reference point....or
2. Do we (can we even force Archicad to do this?) use the actual M.S.L. (mean sea level number) as our top of slab, story setting and subsequent stories above and below this reference number?

Reason for this question is cause one of our sub-consultants wants to establish a "top of slab" as the 'actual Mean Sea Level' number vs using the top of slab (story setting) at 0'-0" and then referencing 0'-0" to a M.S.L. actual number.

Please advise on where I can make these "global" setting changes and what issues it will have on out database.

[DaveOlufs]

rob2218 wrote:
Agreed.
i think the story setting should be set to 0'-0" if this is the "first floor" let's say.
That way you simply equate 0'-0" to a MSL (example 0'-0"=M.S.L. 194.5')
and if the MSL goes up or down or if your building slab needs to be moved up or down...it's based on a 0'-0"=something number.....rather than having to actually 'show' the real world vertical mean sea level number all the time.

But what's happening here is we have a structural engineer who insists on switching over ALL our story settings to the "real" mean sea level numbers. What a nightmare that's going to be for the contractor when he has to figure out and add up strange fractional numbers because our structural engineer decided "IT MUST BE THIS WAY".....

I say find a new engineer. What happened to the KISS technique OR show it once principle? Contractors are working in the field at the site. 12 feet finish floor to the next finish floor reads easier than 194.5 to 206.5. What happens if you use precut lumber, pre-engineered timber products or wood with it's nominal dimensions? Now add 109.125 inches (precut stud with bottom and double top plate) or 9.09 feet to 194.5... getting 203.59... now do this at every floor... now change something.

I think 0'-0" = 194.5 MSL shown once on the site plan is perfect.