How are IFC Files used in design

Hey Alan, editting an IFC element doesn't imply meyhem... you can move them around to your hearts content, and if they are composed of a typical archicad object, you can edit to the heart is content. Where you run into trouble is if the object is a particular manufacturers product and you change it, well, it'snot really their product anymore. So if you modify something to use more generically or even specifically, but different, you should be aware of whether the original author gives you permission to use their work that way, and you should change the ifc info to match your intentions so it doesn't call itself something that is not anymore... as you can see from these comments, revit doesn't play nice, but graphisoft and others have put a lot into preserving interoperability and has invited all the 3D players to join the development process of the 3D BIM equivilent to the .pdf document format.

We are quite often getting IFC models from architects. To help us working with them we are asking for two models one is geometry other is spaces data. From this type of linked models we can create spaces and work on them. Anyway in my opinion native format of Revit files is the best. IFC is a last option I'll consider.

See bim as advanced pdf: handy for exchanging information, as an underlay (linked file) from one disciplie to the next, for mark-up and clashcontrol by non-moddelers, calculation and maintenance. Not to be used to exchange between designers that need to co-operate

Hi Alan-Lucas. Any Revit IFC element imported can be modified in ArchiCAD, but you shouldn't change/modified anything that is effectively not your element to change. This will cause issues with coordination and liability. Use the IFC models from other consultants as a 3D trace reference, so conflicts of issues in the 3D window save as PDF and send to your consultants.

@aln, no problem! yes the items (objects) are editable once imported into ArchiCAD (or any other software), if they have been swapped for other ArchICAD items, you can then edit/adjust the parameters as you normally would.

Whenever I've tried Importing exporting from vector works to revit, the building just comes in as one great mass, nothing editable. (eg not doors etc) it is more like an outline/stencil, you couldn't carry on working with it.

I believe that the file exchange using IFC is most effective between Vectorworks and Archicad or vice versa. The reason for this is that both systems are essentially open BIM as opposed to Revit which is considered to be a closed system. I have found that file interchange using IFC to and from Revit is largely dependent on the expertise of the Revit operator.

Another excellent feature of IFC is that it can export directly to Solibri. This is a free viewer and you can then see quantitive data for every component which has IFC data attached.

Hi Scott. Many thanks for your response. I now get that components (walls, doors, windows etc) from, say, Revit will be substituted by the equivalent items in whatever software the (Revit) IFC file is imported into (ArchiCAD, Bently etc). So a Revit door, after export to IFC and that IFC then imported into ArchiCAD will becaome an ArchiCAD door. Got it! I think I'm getting there. Unfortunately, clarification of one topic often opens up more questions!
Here we go: Are the ex-Revit, now ArchiCAD items, editable, e.g. their sizes, positions etc? Or is this forbidden by the software, as it would obviously cause mayhem?!! Many thanks in anticipation.

Hi Alan, great question!
IFC is mostly used as an exchange format. e.g. say you've designed a building In Autodesk Revit and wanted to import it into ArchiCAD.... IFC is the best (sort of only) way to do that.

Where you say stencils, is a good analogy. When you import an IFC file into Revit or ArchiCAD, the software actually matches it with available library components. e.g. ArchiCAD will place archicad doors, where once they were revit doors etc etc

IFC is also an "open" standard, so they're trying to get more software to support.