IFCOK guide
What is an IFC file?
IFC stands for Industry Foundation Classes. It is an open standard maintained by buildingSMART for exchanging information about buildings and infrastructure between software tools.
IFC and BIM: how they fit together
BIM means Building Information Modelling. It describes working with structured information about a built asset, including its model. IFC provides a common way to exchange some of that information between people using different tools.
An IFC file is one way to deliver BIM information. It is not the same as a native authoring file, and an export may include only a selected part of the original model and its data.
What can an IFC model contain?
IFC describes objects, their attributes and how they relate to one another. The exact content depends on the source model and export settings. A building file may include:
- Geometry: the shapes and positions of walls, doors, slabs and other elements.
- Spatial structure: a site, buildings, storeys and spaces that organise the model.
- Element identity: IFC classes, names and identifiers that distinguish objects.
- Properties and quantities: information such as materials, dimensions or areas where it was supplied.
- Relationships: connections between objects, spatial containers, types and other records.
Why use an IFC reader or viewer?
A viewer lets you inspect a delivered model without opening the authoring application. The 3D view helps you understand the building, while the reader exposes information behind each element. Both views matter: an object may have useful data even when it has no visible geometry.
In IFCOK you can browse storeys, search for an element, filter by class and inspect properties, quantities and relationships. These are inspection tools; IFCOK does not modify or certify the model.
Which IFC versions does IFCOK read?
IFCOK currently reads uncompressed IFC2X3 and IFC4 STEP files with the .ifc extension. IFC4X3 is a different schema and is not supported by the current reader. IFCZIP and IFCXML are also outside its supported input formats.
If you need a compatible file, ask the author to export an IFC2X3 or IFC4 STEP model. See the opening guide for size limits and troubleshooting.
Try a BIM model in your browser
Open the free IFCOK viewer and choose your own IFC file, or try the included Duplex example. No sign-up is needed, and local model contents stay on your device.
Standard reference: buildingSMART’s introduction to Industry Foundation Classes.