IFC is an industrial infrastructure standard developed by the International IAI organization, commonly known as the BIM standard in China. The history of IFC is extensive, and the author has already provided a detailed introduction to its background in the article on the history of the BIM standard IFC, so it will not be repeated here. Today, we will focus on the role of IFC within BIM.
When discussing Building Information Modeling (BIM), it is important to note that although various BIM-supporting software and platforms enable project teams to communicate and collaborate effectively, having a BIM “platform” alone is not enough. Team members must also adopt BIM “thinking” to unlock BIM’s full potential. Therefore, establishing unified naming conventions and data exchange standards remains a long-term challenge.
In recent years, advancements in “Knowledge Engineering” have greatly improved the interpretation and standardization of data formats, and this progress has started to influence the field of BIM as well.
In Building Information Modeling, the description of components typically relies on the “Industry Foundation Classes” (IFC), a standard proposed by the IAI (Industry Alliance for Interoperability), an international organization founded in 1994. The organization has since evolved into BuildingsMART and includes members from the construction industry, software developers for drawing and modeling, as well as the information technology sector.
The primary goal of this organization is to develop standardized information formats for the construction industry to reduce costs and inefficiencies related to data conversion, enabling seamless information sharing throughout the entire lifecycle of construction projects. IFC, as an open data format, defines a wide range of building elements—from beams, columns, floors, and walls to doors and windows.
It also covers physical objects such as furniture and mechanical, electrical, and plumbing components. Beyond tangible objects, IFC includes abstract conceptual definitions like structural and programmatic elements, making it applicable to the entire construction project lifecycle. By adopting this data exchange standard and naming convention, different files and databases can share and integrate information smoothly.
For example, Autodesk Revit can export models in IFC format, facilitating communication with other BIM software platforms. Unlike traditional 3D models, which only provide geometric information about quantities and boundaries, BIM models offer detailed descriptions of components.
During the modeling process, BIM allows for defining properties of geometric elements and accurately categorizing them as beams, columns, floors, walls, and so on. IFC enables different BIM software to “run on the same track” and “read from the same text” by clearly defining components and attributes used in BIM models. From an ontology perspective, IFC can be seen as a collection of well-defined concepts.
In summary, this overview highlights the critical role IFC plays in BIM. However, it is worth noting that IFC, as an international standard, has relatively limited maturity and adoption within China. This is largely due to significant differences between China’s construction environment and those abroad. Consequently, it is essential for the Chinese government and relevant industry associations to develop localized BIM standards to support healthy and effective growth of BIM technologies in China.
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