Ceilings, Hosted Objects, aligning and locking

[david_peterson]

Since I'm relatively new to the Arch side of the work, I'm wondering if anyone has some words of advice when it comes to ceilings and ceiling hosted objects.

I've noticed that the staff I'm working with, doesn't align and lock lights or diffusers to their ceiling grids. So when the grid moves, they need to move all the objects to re-align with the ceiling. I know you can align then lock most lights and diffusers in a panel ceiling (2'x2' or 2'x4'). This way when you adjust the ceiling the hosted object can move with them.

I'm wondering if most people would consider this a good practice or something you really shouldn't do as it could result to over-constraining and maybe additional model lag. ie Is this one of those things that you can do, but in general shouldn't on large project (over say 100ksf)

Anything thoughts or comments would be great.

Thanks in advance.

[CADastrophe]

Are the Families Ceiling-Hosted or Face-Based? If the Families are specifically Ceiling-Hosted, they should automatically move along with the grid lines. I'm from an MEP firm, and we take advantage of this all the time, with lights, smoke detectors, and an array of other ceiling-mounted devices.

[cdatechguy]

Most of the time if you align a light to the grid without locking it will still follow the grid if the grid is moved.

[david_peterson]

I really should have gotten further information before making this post.
About half the objects were face based since they decided it was better to be able to have the objects there if a ceiling got deleted than to replace them. Also didn't have to be a ceiling object to host them. Also if trying to use a consultant/partnering firms model, and someone deletes the ceiling, then again you loose all the hosted elements (or so I'm told)
So no, they aren't ceiling based. Also found out that you can't lock them to the grid, if you do you'll over constrain them.
Not my choice, but that's they way they want to do it, then I guess they get to do all the work for it.