From what the terms mean to how the work actually gets done — practical articles for anyone handling IFC and BIM on real projects.
A per-element reference for IFC standard property sets — what Pset_WallCommon, Pset_DoorCommon and the rest contain, plus the Qto_* sets that carry quantities.
Sep 4, 2026 FundamentalsWhat openBIM is: exchanging BIM through open, vendor-neutral standards instead of one company native format. Covers IFC, BCF, IDS, bSDD and the workflow.
Jul 12, 2026 Practical guideWhat a BEP (BIM Execution Plan) is: how it answers the client EIR, what it should contain, pre- and post-appointment versions, and a lightweight way to start.
Jul 12, 2026 FundamentalsIDS explained: the buildingSMART standard that states what information a BIM model must contain, machine-readably, so it can be checked automatically.
Jul 6, 2026 Practical guideQuantity takeoff from IFC: how IFC stores quantities (IfcElementQuantity, base quantities), how model quantities differ from estimating, and the net/gross trap.
Jul 6, 2026 FundamentalsIFC properties (Psets) and classification: standard vs custom Psets, IfcClassification, Uniclass and OmniClass — and why properties go missing or turn messy.
Jul 6, 2026 Practical guideAn IFC opening far from the origin, or two models that will not line up, is usually the coordinate system: base point, survey point, true north, map conversion.
Jul 6, 2026 Practical guideAn IFC that will not open, comes in blank, or arrives 1000x too small is rarely corrupt — usually units, coordinates or export settings. Fix it by symptom.
Jul 6, 2026 FundamentalsWhat LOD means in BIM: Level of Detail versus Level of Development, what LOD 100-500 represent, how they map to project phases, and what to stop believing.
Jun 28, 2026 Practical guide'I sent an IFC but the properties were gone' is a classic failure, and it is nearly always the export settings. Version, properties, coordinates, classes.
Jun 28, 2026 Practical guideSeven practical checks before you pick an IFC viewer: version support, property display, sectioning, sharing and performance — so it does not bite you on site.
Jun 28, 2026 FundamentalsWhat BIM model checking (validation) is: why eyeballing is not enough, the rule types you check against, how it differs from clash detection, and how to run it.
Jun 27, 2026 FundamentalsWhat a CDE (Common Data Environment) is: the problems it solves, the information status states, how ISO 19650 frames it, and how a small team can start.
Jun 27, 2026 FundamentalsWhat IFC4.3 adds: bridges, roads, rail and ports and waterways, the alignment concept, how it differs from IFC4, and what to watch for in practice.
Jun 27, 2026 ReferenceA plain-English glossary of the BIM terms thrown around on real projects — IFC, BCF, LOD, openBIM, CDE, model checking — with the fuzzy parts pinned down.
Jun 26, 2026 FundamentalsA clear guide to BIM, framed by how it differs from 3D CAD: what it means for a model to carry information, the real benefits, and where to start.
Jun 25, 2026 FundamentalsA guide to BCF (BIM Collaboration Format): why issues travel separately from the model, what a topic holds, how it relates to IFC, and how it is used.
Jun 24, 2026 FundamentalsIFC vs RVT: the real open-versus-native difference, what each format is good and bad at, and how to hand over a model without losing data on the way.
Jun 23, 2026 Practical guideSomeone sent you an .ifc file you cannot open? Your options for opening IFC free — in the browser with no install, or offline — with the trade-offs of each.
Jun 22, 2026 FundamentalsA plain-English guide to IFC (Industry Foundation Classes): what it is, why it exists, what it contains, IFC2x3 vs IFC4 vs IFC4.3, and common misconceptions.
Jun 21, 2026