Baufil

Baufil is a term encountered in German-speaking contexts that informally refers to a construction project file or a bundle of project documentation. The word is a composite of Bau (construction or building) and Fil (file or filing) and is not a standardized industry term with a single, universal definition.

In practice, baufil can denote either a physical collection of documents or a digital directory that aggregates material related to a building project. Typical contents include architectural drawings, structural and MEP plans, technical specifications, bills of quantities, contracts and tender documents, correspondence with contractors and authorities, change orders, meeting minutes, schedules, and compliance certificates. The exact organization of a baufil often follows internal standards or regional practices, such as discipline-based folders (architecture, structure, MEP), drawing set numbering, and revision control.

Digital interpretations of baufil imagine it as a single, cohesive container or archive that can package all project data for easier transfer and versioning. In this sense, a baufil might carry metadata such as project name, location, client, responsible parties, and version history. However, there is no widely adopted file format or universal standard officially called baufil in mainstream software ecosystems.

Etymology: The term combines Bau (building) and Fil (file or filing) and is primarily used in informal or internal communications rather than formal industry standards.

See also: construction documentation, project management, filing system, document control.