IFC 4.3

The new IFC 4.3 format includes specific extensions and capabilities, particularly for infrastructure. This IFC version was officially approved as an ISO standard in January 2024.

Read more about this on the BuildingSMART website.

Starting with Archicad 29, it is possible to import and export this format. However, if you are required to deliver in IFC 4.3 format, it is important to be aware that no software is currently certified for this version.

We expect the certification process to begin soon, but based on experience, it may take some time. The fact that some software on the market can open and save IFC 4.3 files does not necessarily mean that the data and geometry are represented as intended. This is precisely why a certification system exists – to ensure, through approved test methods, that each application fully complies with the standard. BuildingSMART provides a complete overview of certified software, indicating whether it is approved for import and/or export, or still under development.

If you request file formats that a BIM application is not certified for, it means that no one can guarantee the results. It also raises the question of who will take responsibility for any errors or data inconsistencies that may occur.

The most significant changes in IFC 4.3 concern infrastructure, while only minor adjustments have been made for buildings. Therefore, if you work with buildings, you should specify that deliverables are provided only in a format for which the software is certified by BuildingSMART – for example, IFC 4 or 2x3.