BIMCollect · IFC · openBIM
What is an IFC file?
IFC stands for Industry Foundation Classes: an open standard for exchanging built asset information between software tools.
More than a 3D image
An IFC exchange can represent objects, their relationships and associated information. What a particular file contains depends on its schema, the source model and the export settings.
An object to inspect
Select a wall in a viewer. Look for its IFC class, identity, storey and property sets. A quantity such as area may be present, but should be checked for its units and definition before use.
IFC and an authoring file
Keep the native authoring model for design work. Use IFC for an agreed information exchange and review. Do not assume that exporting and reimporting IFC reproduces every native feature or editing relationship.