IfcBuildingElementType

IfcBuildingElementType is an object within the Industry Foundation Classes (IFC) data model used for implementing Building Information Modeling (BIM).

This object represents a type of building element that can be used to create instance objects within a building model. An instance object is a specific occurrence of a building element within a project context. Building elements are categorized based on their function or purpose, and each category is associated with a building element type.

A building element type may have common properties shared by its instances, such as material or unit of measure. The type can also define relationships among different instances, such as adjacency or layout dependencies. Through its attributes, a building element type represents the invariant characteristics of its instances.

IfcBuildingElementType inherits from IfcObject, the abstract base class of the IFC data model. Its subclasses may include geometric entities to describe the form, location, or orientation of an element type in the model space.

The ISO 16739 standard, IFC, defines the IfcBuildingElementType class as part of its Core data module. This class, with its attributes and associations, facilitates the exchange of building model data among various systems and stakeholders. When applied, it supports the creation of models that capture essential attributes of a building, such as structural components, hatching information, or finishes, across different domains and applications.

Using IfcBuildingElementType within a structured model enables effective management of building information and facilitates greater built-asset lifecycle insight as well as the ability to import, analyze, and export models in support of construction operations.