What is IFC?

Open BIM

IFC is maintained by buildingSMART International and is the common format for exchanging models in open BIM. An IFC model contains objects such as walls, floors, columns, equipment and pipes, with their geometry and properties. It also contains the relations between the objects: the storey an object belongs to, or the system a pipe is part of.

Versions

The most common versions are IFC2x3 and IFC4. IFC4 is the newer version, with more object types and more ways to describe geometry. IFC 4.3 adds infrastructure, such as roads, railways and bridges. In a project, the parties agree on the version and on which properties a model contains.

IFC in piping work

• The model of the architect or the structural engineer serves as a reference: walls, floors, steel and openings for the pipe route.
• Coordination between disciplines: clash detection between the piping and the building.
• Delivery: the installed situation as part of the documentation for the client.

IFC and PCF

IFC describes a complete model of a building or installation. PCF describes one line, component by component, for isometric drawings and calculations. The two formats complement each other.

In FlowCAD3D

IFC2x3 and IFC4 models are imported as a reference model, as are STEP assemblies. Clash detection checks the piping against the reference model, and new pipes are drawn in the context of the building.