The standard definition of an invert elevation measurement is the dimension from a reference level to the inside bottom of a pipe. If you select a pipe and go to Element Properties you will find that Pipe Types actually have read-only Instance Properties for Outer and Inner Diameters. You will find that these diameter values automatically change when you change the type property for the Material for a pipe type. These pipe diameters are just a few of the pipe characteristics that can be defined and modified in Revit MEP’s Mechanical Settings which may be found on the ribbon on the Manage tab > Project Settings > MEP Settings > Pipe Settings > Sizes.
However, the Invert Elevation tag ignores the Inner and Outer Diameter parameters. The Invert Elevation tag displays the value of a read-only parameter, Invert Elevation that appears to report the distance from the project’s 0’-0” to a Pipe’s Reference Level plus/minus the Pipe Offset (from the Reference Level) minus the pipe’s radius calculated from Size/Diameter (nominal parameters) to provide an elevation value from a project’s 0’-0” to the bottom of a pipe.With this calculation method, the Invert Elevation tag does not satisfy a need for a tag which provides a pipe offset elevation from the current level (other than 0’-0”) or provide accurate information when labeling a sloped pipe as shown in the image to the right. The same elevation is supplied at both ends of a sloped pipe. Also, Invert Elevation tags cannot be applied in a 3D view.
Use the Spot Elevation Tag
The most flexible solution currently available for labeling pipe elevations appears to be the Spot Elevation tool located on the ribbon’s Annotate tab > Dimension panel. You will find several pre-defined spot elevation tag types in the Revit default templates. You can also create and use custom spot elevation tags that might include ELEV:, or I.E.= or something similar as a prefix, choose different arrowheads, text size and font, etc.
Sect a Spot Elevation tag type that suits your need
Most likely you will want to try out a tag with a (Relative) suffix. Use this type of tag to choose which level you would like to measure an elevation from on the Options Bar. If you choose a tag type with (Project) listed as a suffix the Relative Base pulldown on the Options Bar will be unavailable.
Most likely you will want to try out a tag with a (Relative) suffix. Use this type of tag to choose which level you would like to measure an elevation from on the Options Bar. If you choose a tag type with (Project) listed as a suffix the Relative Base pulldown on the Options Bar will be unavailable.
Use the Display Elevations pulldown on the Options Bar to specify the type of elevation you wish to display.
Notice that there is no centerline option. This tool is not specifically designed for pipes or determining the centerlines of objects. Rather it is designed to dimension to the top and/or bottom of any Revit object in plan, section, or 3D.
TIP! Measuring to the Centerline of a Pipe with the Spot Elevations Tool
In a section or elevation view select a relative spot elevation tag and choose the level you wish to measure from. Make sure your Display Elevations setting on the Option bar is set to Actual (Selected) Elevation. As you move your cursor over a pipe the centerline temporarily displays and you will find that it easy to place the centerline elevations you require as shown in the image below.
If you adjust the Spot Elevation tool settings as for a section/elevation view referencing a specific level and set the display elevation setting on the Options bar to Actual (Selected) Elevation as described above and then drag your cursor over the centerline of a pipe in plan view you will be disappointed to find that the real-time spot elevation read-out is displaying the top of pipe elevations directly beneath your moving cursor (even if you set your Model Graphics Style to Wireframe or change the visibility of your pipes to Transparent). Interestingly though, the software finds an elevation at the bottom and top edges of along the pipe length in plan view, corresponding to the 9:00 and 3:00 o’clock locations on a pipe cross-section… which happens to be the same elevation as the centerline. Run your cursor over the top or bottom edge of a pipe in plan view, and you will find it is reading the centerline elevation as shown on the pipe below that has a 9’-0” centerline elevation on the left end and a 9’-10” centerline elevation on the right.
