On most Indian projects, the architect, structural engineer, MEP consultant and contractor use different software. IFC is how their models can still work together.
What is IFC?
IFC (Industry Foundation Classes) is an open, vendor-neutral data format for BIM models. It is maintained by buildingSMART International and published as an ISO standard (ISO 16739).
An IFC file describes a building as typed elements, such as walls, slabs, doors, beams and ducts, with their geometry, relationships (which storey, which space) and properties (fire rating, material, U-value). Any software that supports IFC can open it, whoever made the original model.
Why does open BIM matter on Indian projects?
Open BIM means collaborating through open standards like IFC rather than requiring everyone to use the same software. That matters in India because:
- Teams use different tools. Consultants and contractors choose software for their own discipline and budget. IFC lets them exchange models without everyone buying the same licence.
- Projects outlive software. A developer may need the model years after handover. An open format is still readable when a vendor changes its product or licence.
- Clients can own their data. An IFC deliverable is not locked to one vendor, which matters for facility management and future digital twins.
- Quantities and checks can be automated. Typed elements and properties are what make automated quantity takeoff and rule checks possible.
What can go wrong when exchanging IFC?
Most IFC problems come from export settings, not from the format itself:
- Elements exported as generic proxies, so a wall arrives as an "object" with no type, and quantities and checks fail
- Missing properties, because the property sets the receiver needs weren't mapped on export
- Wrong units or coordinates, so models from different disciplines don't line up
- Inconsistent storey names between disciplines, which breaks filtering and scheduling
- Over-detailed geometry, such as furniture or fittings, that makes files slow without adding useful information
None of these are visible until someone opens the file in another tool, which is why checking after every exchange matters.
How should teams agree IFC export settings?
Agree the following at the start of the project, in the BIM execution plan or a one-page exchange note:
- IFC version and view. Choose what everyone's software exports and imports reliably, and test it with a sample model.
- Classification. Make sure each element type exports as the correct IFC class (wall as wall, beam as beam), not as a proxy.
- Required properties. List the properties each party needs, such as fire rating, material and level, and map them. buildingSMART's Information Delivery Specification (IDS) lets you write these requirements in a machine-checkable form.
- Shared coordinates and units. Use one origin, one north and metric units for all disciplines.
- Level of development. Agree how much detail each stage needs.
- Exchange and issue routine. Use a naming convention, an exchange frequency and a place to log issues. The BIM Collaboration Format (BCF) records issues against model elements, independent of software.
How does IFC help AI and automation?
AI and automation need structured data. An IFC model with correct classes and properties lets software:
- count and measure elements for BOQs without guessing from drawings
- check rules such as areas, setbacks and egress distances against typed elements
- find clashes between disciplines
- answer questions about a building ("which doors are fire-rated on level 3?") from its data
CloudBrain's own aecobuild, a free offline 3D modeler with parametric BIM, imports and exports IFC for this reason. Our BIM and data integration service sets up IFC exchange standards and pipelines for AEC firms, so models are useful beyond the software that created them.
Sources
Frequently asked questions
What is IFC in BIM?
- IFC (Industry Foundation Classes) is an open, vendor-neutral file format for BIM models, maintained by buildingSMART International and published as an ISO standard. It lets different BIM software exchange models with their elements and properties.
Which IFC version should we use?
- Use the version all parties' software can export and import reliably. IFC2x3 is still widely supported; IFC4 and later versions add capabilities. Agree the version, and test it, at the start of the project.
Does IFC keep everything from the native model?
- No. IFC carries geometry, element types and properties, but some native features, such as parametric behaviour and certain families, don't transfer. Treat IFC as an exchange and reference format, and check models after each exchange.