By Garry Stockton
This topic came up in a recent training session because ceiling hosted lights were deleted when the ceiling is deleted; meaning they would need to be placed again. You could have the situation where no ceiling host object is available for a light, perhaps because a ceiling component is a face-based generic model, such as a specific custom tile. Other options would be to use a generic ceiling (zero thickness) or an in-place ceiling family. This option which originated in Revit MEP (but can be used in Revit Architecture too) may be especially useful where models are linked. For example, linking an architectural model to a lighting model.
In this example you will see how to draft and name the reference plane, and then place lights. Now, you'll be able to move the lights when needed and not worry about a hosting ceiling being deleted and remodelled with subsequent loss of attachments.
Go to Systems or Architecture Tab, Workplane Panel (on far right of Ribbon Bar), Select Reference Plane; as below:
Once the reference Plane has been selected, place the single line then rename it in properties.
In the image below you will note that the lights are showing ‘Light Source’ which has been selected (via Visibility Graphics) to highlight the Light Fitting location.