What is IFC and why it matters to building owners

IFC, short for Industry Foundation Classes, is an international open standard for exchanging building information. It makes data move through a construction project more easily and more transparently, regardless of which software each party uses.

IFC and openBIM are closely linked. The clearest way to understand them is to take each one on its own, then look at how they work together.

What is IFC

IFC is a globally recognised open standard for exchanging building information. buildingSMART develops it to support a digital representation of building information across the whole lifecycle of a building, independent of any single software.

The IFC file format lets different software exchange information about building design and construction in a consistent, reliable way, across the preferred tools of each profession in the industry.

What is openBIM

openBIM is an approach to working together in the construction industry, based on open standards and open methods. The process centres on collaborative design, delivery and operation of buildings, built on open standards such as IFC and the other standards defined by buildingSMART.

How IFC and openBIM work together

When we talk about openBIM, we usually mean the process of using open standards such as IFC to support collaboration, interoperability and lifecycle management.

A common language. In an openBIM process, where the goal is seamless collaboration between different professions and systems, IFC acts as the shared language. Information moves between software without being lost in translation.

Open workflows. openBIM promotes open methods, not only open formats. Everyone in the construction process can contribute to the central information, assess it and benefit from it.

Continuous development. buildingSMART develops both IFC and openBIM on an ongoing basis, improving and promoting open standards for the construction and real estate sectors.

So IFC is the technical standard that makes the exchange of building information possible. openBIM is the method and the principles for working together, built on open standards such as IFC.

Is IFC an ISO standard

Yes. IFC has been ratified as an ISO standard, ISO 16739. That gives it further weight and recognition as a global standard and supports its adoption across international markets. Unlike many ISO standards, the IFC specification is openly available online.

Several other ISO standards sit alongside ISO 16739 and matter for openBIM and digital collaboration in construction:

• ISO 19650 series. Managing information with BIM. It replaces the earlier British PAS 1192 standards and covers the processes, procedures, terminology and best practice for BIM projects.
• ISO 23386. Principles and requirements for setting up and running a library of BIM objects.
• ISO 23387. Guidance for producing property data for BIM objects.
• ISO 12006-3. A framework for object-oriented information, relevant to how information is structured in BIM.
• ISO 29481. BIM collaboration processes and information delivery.

BIM standardisation is a moving field. Standards are revised and added as technology and industry needs change, so it pays to keep track of new and updated standards for IFC and openBIM.

Why building owners and facility managers should care

Understanding IFC and being able to work in openBIM processes has become steadily more important for the people who own and run buildings. A few reasons stand out.

• A connected flow of information across the building lifecycle, from design and construction to operation and management. That means detailed, accurate and consistent building data to base decisions on.
• More efficient maintenance and operation. With detailed BIM models, maintenance can be planned and carried out more effectively, which lowers running costs and protects building value over time.
• Real interoperability. Construction has long been shaped by silos, with systems that do not talk to each other. IFC gives a standard way to exchange data and makes collaboration between parties simpler.
• Support for sustainability and regulation. openBIM processes let owners monitor and optimise energy use and environmental performance, which helps meet requirements and certifications such as BREEAM.
• Better use of space. A detailed model lets you analyse and optimise how space is used, so the building works harder.
• Higher property value. Buildings that are managed, maintained and optimised through openBIM attract tenants who value modern, sustainable space.
• A basis for sustainability targets. With the EU 2050 net-zero goal and the UN sustainability goals, reliable building data matters more every year. IFC and openBIM provide it, including data on material reuse that supports an ESG strategy. Run through a life cycle assessment, that same model data makes carbon accounting far easier to keep.

In Finland this is already concrete. The National Archives accepts IFC as an archival format, and the electronic building-permit process, together with coming building-law requirements, expects a machine-readable information model delivered to the authorities. The rest of the Nordics are moving the same way.

Meeting the challenges in the industry

For all its benefits, the sector still faces a low rate of digital adoption and a traditional approach to projects. But with rising costs, energy in particular, the efficiency and innovation that IFC and openBIM support can help owners and managers get past those barriers.

Frequently asked questions

What is IFC IFC, or Industry Foundation Classes, is an open standard used in construction to support digital collaboration.

What is an IFC file An IFC file is a digital representation of building information in a standardised format that different software can read.

How do I open an IFC file You need software that supports IFC. Most BIM tools do.

What does it mean that IFC is a standard It means IFC follows an agreed set of rules and a fixed format, so the information reads and means the same thing across different software.

Why does IFC matter for BIM IFC gives BIM a platform for interoperability, so different software can share and exchange information without loss.

What is the relationship between IFC and buildingSMART buildingSMART is the non-profit organisation that develops and maintains the IFC standard and works to promote openBIM through standardisation. Its membership spans the full range of construction-industry players.

Can I view an IFC model in Archicad Yes. Archicad imports and exports IFC models, so you can work alongside other BIM tools.

Want to go deeper on open standards? Read our openBIM overview, or talk to us about putting IFC and openBIM to work in your projects.