When architects talk about IFC files, they are often described as neutral, technical, or something you export at the end. For a long time, that’s exactly how I saw them too, just another file format, similar to exporting a PDF or a DWG.
But once I started exploring IFC files more closely, I realized they are very different from how most architectural software stores information. And more importantly, they don’t behave the way you expect if you’re used to working inside tools like Revit, Archicad, or Rhino.
This article is a simple attempt to explain what an IFC file actually contains.
Think of an IFC File as a Description, Not a Model
A helpful way to think about an IFC file is this: it is not a model in the same sense as a native software file. It is a description of a building, written in a structured and standardized way.
Instead of focusing on how things look on screen, IFC focuses on:
- what each element is ( example: a wall, floor, roof)
- what information it carries ( example: a wall will have it length, breadth, height etc)
- how it relates to other elements ( example: a wall may have an adjacent walls, have links with other element like door, window etc)
It’s closer to a structured explanation of a building than a design environment.
The First Thing Inside an IFC File: Elements
At its core, an IFC file contains building elements things architects already work with every day.
These include some elements:
- walls
- slabs
- columns
- doors
- windows
- stairs
- spaces
And many more. What’s important is that in IFC, these are not just shapes. Each object is explicitly defined by its role.
This makes IFC more descriptive than purely visual.
Geometry: How Things Are Shaped and Placed
IFC files do store geometry, but not in the same way native design software does.
The geometry in an IFC file describes:
- size
- shape
- position
- orientation
However, it is not optimized for smooth editing or visual performance. The geometry exists to represent elements accurately, not to make them easy to modify or redraw.
This is why IFC models often feel heavier, rougher, or less flexible when opened directly.
Properties: Information Attached to Elements
One of the most important parts of an IFC file is the information attached to elements.
These properties answer questions like:
- What material is this?
- What level does it belong to?
- Is it load-bearing?
- Does it have a ratings?
- What is the name or function of this space?
Instead of being hidden inside software-specific settings, this information is stored in a structured, readable way so different tools can understand it.
This is where IFC becomes more than geometry.
Relationships: How Everything Is Connected
What really defines an IFC file is not the objects themselves, but the relationships between them.
An IFC file records things like:
- which elements belong to which storey
- which doors are part of which walls
- which spaces contain which elements
- how vertical elements connect different levels
These relationships are what turn isolated objects into an actual building system. Without them, you would just have a collection of shapes.
The Spatial Structure of the Building
IFC also organizes the building into a hierarchy:
- site
- building
- storeys
- spaces
This structure helps software understand where elements belong conceptually, not just where they are located in 3D space. It’s a way of giving context to every element.
Here’s the Part That Surprised Me
When I actually explored IFC files more closely, I realized something important: an IFC file does not store information the same way native software does.
It doesn’t preserve everything exactly as it exists in Revit or other tools. Instead, it breaks the building down into a more fundamental, neutral form.
The best way I can describe it is this:
An IFC file feels like a deconstructed LEGO model.
The pieces are all there:
- the blocks
- their sizes
- their roles
- how they connect
But the way they are stored is not optimized for rebuilding the model exactly as it was authored. It’s optimized for understanding, exchanging, and interpreting the building across different systems.
This explains why IFC models often feel “different” when reopened because they are not meant to behave like native files. They are meant to describe the building clearly, not preserve every software-specific behavior.
What This Means for Architects
Once you understand this, IFC becomes less frustrating and more logical.
It’s not trying to replace your design software.
It’s not trying to be editable in the same way.
It’s trying to be clear, neutral, and consistent.
Seeing IFC as a deconstructed but well-described version of your building helps set the right expectations and makes it easier to work with.
To explore more about IFC and its structure, format etc. Kindly look into the following documentation link by buildingsmart.org
Closing Thoughts
IFC files are often misunderstood because we expect them to behave like native models. But they serve a different purpose.
They describe buildings as systems of elements, information, and relationships not as design environments.
They simply become what they are meant to be: a structured way to communicate what a building is.