Component height relative to a reference plane or reference surface

Height settings of architectural elements

You can use this option to define the height of a component’s top or bottom level so that it is relative to the lower or upper reference plane or a reference surface enveloping the whole component or a part of the component.

The component height can be defined relative to the following types of reference planes:

• Reference planes in the drawing file or document (local):
  • Upper and lower default reference planes
  • Custom pairs of reference planes
  • Roof planes or roof frames
  • Local reference surfaces (with names)
  • Roof surfaces (with names)
• Reference planes in plane models (with or without a building structure):
  • Any combination of planes in a plane model (top level and bottom level of the building; top level and bottom level of a story or foundation; offset planes)
  • Roofscapes if they are assigned to the current drawing file
  • Reference surfaces in the plane model (irrespective of local reference surfaces)

Select the reference plane you want to use to define the component height:

• Click the Select reference plane button.
• You can see an overview of all reference planes, reference surfaces and roof surfaces that are available in the document or plane model.
• Select the reference plane, reference surface or roof surface that you want to use.
• Click Restore basic settings to select the upper or lower default reference plane of the drawing file as the reference plane.

To define the height of a component level so that it is relative to a lower reference plane (for example, in the default pair or in a custom pair) below the component, select:

• and enter the offset between the element and a lower reference plane.

If the lower custom reference plane, reference surface or roof surface below the component is inclined, you have the following options:

• Offset (perpendicular) to enter the offset so that is perpendicular to the reference element or
• Offset (vertical) to interpret the offset as being vertical.

To define the height of a component level so that it is relative to an upper reference plane (for example, in the default pair or in a custom pair) above the component, select:

• and enter the offset between the element and the upper plane.

If the upper custom reference plane above the component is inclined, you have the following options:

• Offset (perpendicular) to enter the offset so that is perpendicular to the reference element or
• Offset (vertical) to interpret the offset as being vertical.

Furthermore, you use to associate the top level of a component with the upper reference plane.

Component height, schematic vverview

Reference planes in the “Height” dialog box - details

Reference planes in the “Relative height” dialog box - details