Exporting IFC data

Module(s): Interfaces

You can use Export IFC Data to export an IFC model in the formats certified by buildingSMART. The IFC interface transfers geometric data of elements and the attributes assigned.

buildingSMART (founded in 1995 as IAI - International Alliance for Interoperability) is a worldwide consortium. It is committed to driving the development of open internationally-recognized standards, tools and training to support the wider use of Building Information Modeling (BIM) by the Architecture, Engineering & Construction (AEC) and Facilities Management (FM) industries. In supporting BIM, buildingSMART believes significant improvements in cost, value and environmental performance can be achieved through the use of open sharable asset information in the creation and operation of civil infrastructure and buildings worldwide. BIM (Building Information Modeling) is a digital representation of physical and functional characteristics of a facility. A building information model is a shared knowledge resource for information about a facility forming a reliable basis for decisions during its life-cycle; defined as existing from earliest conception to demolition. Open BIM is a universal approach to the collaborative design, realization and operation of buildings based on open standards, in particular the IFC format registered by ISO as ISO 16739.

You can find further information on buildingSMART on the Internet.

IFC stands for Industry Foundation Classes. IFC define an object-oriented data model for all those involved in the building process. It can be used by all applications that support IFC. It facilitates the accurate exchange of data between these applications. IFC are defined and developed by the IAI.

The IFC model exported from Allplan supports the intelligent description of Allplan's architectural elements. In addition to the building topology derived from the building structure, the IFC interface exports the associated components including all data and information (geometry, material properties, layout properties and attributes managed in Allplan's object manager).

buildingSMART's IFC interfaces have proven to be a powerful standard for exchanging intelligent, object-oriented model data in the AEC industry.

Tip: You can use Assign, Modify Object Attributes to assign IFC attributes to architectural elements.

To export an IFC file

• The building structure has to be in compliance with IFC. You can check this using Restrictions of building structure.

1. Click Export IFC Data (How).
   

   Activate Export IFC Data in one of the following ways

   • Menu bar: Create Interfaces

   • Palette: Tools Create area in the following module(s):

   Interfaces

2. In the 'Select drawing file' dialog box, select the structural levels and drawing files you want to export to the IFC model. Click OK to confirm the dialog box.

   Note: You can only export the drawing files that have been assigned to the building structure.

3. Click Settings to specify settings for the IFC interface.
4. Enter the path and file name in the data entry box or click Browse ... to select the path and file in a dialog box.

   Note: You can specify the default setting for the path using the Options - Desktop environment page - Folders for saving.

5. Select the format of the IFC file in the File type area.

   You can choose between IFC and IFC XML.

6. Click OK.
7. Check the log file and click OK.