IFCformatet

IFCformatet, commonly referred to as Industry Foundation Classes (IFC), is an open, vendor-neutral standard for exchanging Building Information Modeling (BIM) data. It is developed and maintained by buildingSMART International and is standardized as ISO 16739, providing a common data model for the architecture, engineering, construction, and facilities management sectors.

The standard defines a comprehensive data model that describes buildings, sites, components, properties, and the relationships among them. Its goal is to enable interoperable data transfer across software applications throughout the lifecycle of a project, from initial design through construction and ongoing operation and maintenance.

IFCdata is represented in several serializations. The traditional STEP-based format, IFC-SPF (often with the .ifc extension), is text-based and machine-readable. An XML serialization, IFC-XML, provides an alternative representation. A more modern ZIP packaging format, IFC-ZIP (.ifczip), bundles the IFC data with related resources for easier transport. The underlying model is defined using a formal schema that enables precise description of objects, relationships, quantities, and property sets.

Versions and adoption have evolved over time, with IFC2x3 and IFC4 being two major benchmarks. IFC4 and its incremental updates (such as IFC4x1/IFC4x2) reflect ongoing enhancements in modeling capability and performance. The standard is widely supported by BIM software and is intended to improve interoperability, reduce data loss, and support lifecycle management.

Governance and usage: The IFC Open Specification publishes the normative details and conformance criteria. Software tools can declare compliance with specific IFC classes, enabling consistent data exchange, validation, and collaboration across projects and organizations.