What is a Reflected Ceiling Plan (RCP)?

In construction, RCP stands for Reflected Ceiling Plan, which is a drawing that shows a top-down view of a room's ceiling, essentially depicting what the ceiling would look like if it were reflected onto the floor, including details like light fixtures, HVAC vents, and other ceiling-mounted elements; it's used to visualize and document the ceiling design within a building space.

The Reflected Ceiling Plan, or "RCP", is a mirror reflection of the Floor Plan. Whereas the Floor Plan looks down, the RCP looks up. A Reflected Ceiling Plan might include beams, ceilings, moldings, and ceiling-mounted devices such as lights, vents, and sprinklers (depending on your needs, and what is visible at the time of the survey). The RCP helps an architect understand how the ceiling is constructed, as well as what existing electrical and HVAC components are there for consideration with a remodel. An RCP might also include piping and ductwork, but those items fall under a separate deliverable called an MEP Plan, as this information requires special scanning and modeling efforts.

While your specific project needs may differ, typically building elements and finished spaces that are in our scope as listed below that are visible and accessible during our survey will be modeled orthogonally at a moderate level of detail:

Ceiling height and material
Exposed deck
Exposed beams (location and size only, not structural analysis)
Vertical height information in text (bottom of deck/beam/ceiling)
Ceiling-mounted devices (locations blocked out at correct location and size, not including bolts, runs, or function)

To create a reflected ceiling plan (RCP), you essentially use architectural software like AutoCAD, Revit, or SketchUp to create a top-down view of a building's ceiling, mirroring the floor plan but showing all ceiling elements like fixtures, beams, vents, and structural details, effectively looking up at the ceiling from the floor level; this is typically done by selecting a "Reflected Ceiling Plan" option within the software, then outlining the ceiling boundaries and adding relevant ceiling components with their precise locations and details.

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*Reflected Ceiling Plan of 51 Madison Avenue, illustrating MEP and structural elements.*

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A detailed lReflected Ceiling Plan of NYSE Board Room, documenting precise architectural detailsayout of the auditorium within the opera house, showcasing seating arrangements and stage placement. — *Reflected Ceiling Plan of NYSE Board Room, documenting precise architectural details.*

Existing Conditions 3D Laser Scanning Services

Over the past 27 years, we have measured, documented, and modeled over 10,000 buildings spanning over 700 million square feet across the United States, establishing ourselves as an industry leader in 3D laser scanning. Architects, builders, engineers, developers, facility managers, trust us to deliver digital representations of the as-built environment with unparalleled accuracy and efficiency. Our dedicated Project Managers provide fast and accurate 3D laser scanning services and drone imagery services, and expert CAD and BIM technicians create custom, detailed deliverables. Our greatest reward remains delivering superior-quality scan-to-BIM work and knowing we played a vital role in our clients’ unique and historic projects.

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