:?: RCP

[Anonymous]

This might be a ridiculous question but is there a way I may cut a section of my building(the 3d model i build) to look at the reflected ceiling plan?
Any methods, add-ons, tricks, or otherwise?
Thanks,
-matt

[Richard Morrison]

TomWaltz wrote:
Most of the time, it works.

It's only when you have complex ceilings or want some elements to be solid lines on the RCP and dashed in the floor plan that it's a problem (for me, anyway).

It actually works pretty well if you put the ceiling on a zero depth story above the floor plan. Then you can put soffits as slabs on this story. Here's an example with settings; hope this helps. (Note: you may have to play around with the Floor Plan Cut Plane settings to include some of the floor below.) Just so we're clear, the only items that were drawn on the RCP level were the soffit slab & the ceiling grid; everything else was "automatic".

[TomWaltz]

.... except your door header is missing

[Thomas Holm]

TomWaltz wrote:
A Reflected Ceiling Plan is supposed to be what you would see if you ran a cutting plane though your building at 4'-0" and you had a mirror mounted on top of the cutting plane, so you saw the underside of everything on the ceiling.

Tom, I'm familiar with the RCP. I was just wondering what a "true" CP was. It's kind of implicit in the concept that this is a symbolic representation.

[Richard Morrison]

TomWaltz wrote:
.... except your door header is missing

Door headers are not traditionally shown on an RCP, at least at any firm that I ever worked at over the last 30 years. (What does a door header have to do with what's going on at the ceiling level?) Although to be precise, these headers often end up in RCPs because it's too much trouble to get rid of them, not because they are _supposed_ to be there. Many firms just use a floor plan as a base, and end up even having door swings on an RCP, as well.

[TomWaltz]

Richard wrote:

TomWaltz wrote:
.... except your door header is missing

Door headers are not traditionally shown on an RCP, at least at any firm that I ever worked at over the last 30 years. (What does a door header have to do with what's going on at the ceiling level?) Although to be precise, these headers often end up in RCPs because it's too much trouble to get rid of them, not because they are _supposed_ to be there. Many firms just use a floor plan as a base, and end up even having door swings on an RCP, as well.

That's funny because I've never even seen an RCP without either doors or headers. If an RCP is a true "reflection cut from 4 feet up," you would see the door headers.

Since RCPs are often used as base plans for electrical drawings with exit signs and lighting, it only makes sense to show the door location so the signage & exits are located correctly.

In Archicad, it's trivial to turn off doors in the ceiling through display options.

[Rakela Raul]

Door headers are not traditionally shown on an RCP, at least at any firm that I ever worked at over the last 30 years.

totally opposite for me richard.....just a few more years

[Richard Morrison]

TomWaltz wrote:
That's funny because I've never even seen an RCP without either doors or headers. If an RCP is a true "reflection cut from 4 feet up," you would see the door headers.

Since RCPs are often used as base plans for electrical drawings with exit signs and lighting, it only makes sense to show the door location so the signage & exits are located correctly.

In Archicad, it's trivial to turn off doors in the ceiling through display options.

I suspect that what you have experienced is the result of seeing documents produced mostly in the computer era. I actually learned that RCPs were based on taking a view of approximately 1' below the ceiling (or whatever height was necessary to show everything going on at the ceiling). An RCP, again in the TRADITIONAL sense, is strictly an ARCHITECTURAL drawing. Showing electrical information (and I've seen "RCPs" with switches and wiring) is basically turning an RCP into an electrical drawing, and then it really isn't an RCP any more. If it is more efficient to do it this way, though, then fine. But usually the information on the RCP is (should be) for trades other than the electrician. Just my old fogey opinion. (C'mon, where are the old farts when I need them for support?)

[Anonymous]

Richard wrote:
(C'mon, where are the old farts when I need them for support?)

Richard,
OK , I'll chime in to support you on this one. I guess 20 years makes me kinda' an old fart. "Traditionally," I agree you are correct...that's the way I did it in the hand-drafting era. I think the other opinions are the result of ArchiCAD's, and possibly other software's, ability to turn off door and wdw symbols while leaving the openings visible.

Dan K

[Eduardo Rolon]

My experience goes the other way. I drew my first RCP by hand in the late 80's (while I was still studying) and we drew the doors and windows. Anyway GS must have gotten the idea from somewere.

[TomWaltz]

Eastern vs. Western US maybe? Could be a regional thing.