There are ongoing discussions around the potential mandate of the OpenBIM initiative in the UK by 2026. In preparation for this, it will be increasingly important to support the management and exchange of IFC data within the ACC environment. While ACC currently provides functionality for managing IFC models and exporting coordination issues as BCF files, there is a significant opportunity to enhance these capabilities further.
A valuable enhancement would be to expand the “Specifications” tab within Docs to include support for IDS (Information Delivery Specification). Incorporating IDS would enable in-model validation workflows allowing users to check IFC data directly against defined information requirements. This process would ensure that the model content complies with project-specific information standards before key deliverables are submitted.
Integrating IDS into ACC would create a transparent audit trail for IFC model development. This would provide visibility into how data requirements have evolved throughout the project lifecycle, highlight any missing or non-compliant information, and improve overall data quality and accountability across the design, coordination, and delivery phases.
Such functionality would position ACC as a leading platform for OpenBIM compliance and data governance, aligning with the UK’s anticipated regulatory direction and international best practices for digital construction workflows.
