Loadable Families

Loadable Overmodelled Families

Since the size and number of loaded Families in the project greatly affects the speed of the model, the size of each Family should be as small as possible. Ideally, we can achieve that none of the Families in the project is more than 1 MB and most of them are significantly smaller - a few hundred KB.

Families should contain only those parameters and Object Styles that we absolutely need. It is necessary to avoid using “super Families” with dozens of parameters, in which e.g. a parametric bed, toilet and table are in one Family. It is also necessary to avoid so-called Overmodelled Families mostly from manufacturers in which they are modelled in too much detail.

Ideally there should be no DWG imported in the Family.

In-place Families

In-place families should only be used in the exceptional case on elements that are not repeated in the project and do not need to be resized parametrically. In-place Families have many disadvantages:

• problematic scheduling options
• missing parameters
• no identification of the Level on which they are placed
• when copying an element, a new independent original is created
• limited support for parametric modelling (e.g. Family dimensions, Offset from Level...)
• with a large number they will clutter the Project Browser

You can use the In Place Family schedule tool to find all instances of In-Place Families in a project.

System Families

Ramps

Do not use the Ramp command. It is better to model Ramps as Floors with defined slope.

• ramps have no options for creating layers
• you cannot place a Spot Slope nor Spot Elevation on Ramps (prior to revit 2022)