The Concept of Reference Planes in Allplan

Module(s): General: Roofs, Planes, Sections + tool(s): all architectural elements

Reference planes in Allplan are an important instrument enabling an efficient approach to three-dimensional design. Reference planes can be used to define the height and elevation of architectural elements, to create stories or model ”roofscapes”.

Reference planes delimit the top and bottom levels of components. In general, the default reference planes are used. You can also define your own custom reference planes if necessary.

When you create an architectural element (a wall, for example), you can define its height in a number of ways:

• As an absolute height (relative to absolute 0)
• By associating it with the pair of default reference planes
• By associating it with a pair of custom reference planes
• Relative to existing elements
• As a fixed component height, relative to the top or bottom level
• As a maximum component height, relative to the lower plane in the default pair

More information on planes:

Default reference planes

Custom planes

Relationship between default planes and custom planes

Summary of tools for creating planes

Summary of tools for modifying planes