IFC Models

[vsalimiGRMK9]

Hi everyone,

Just interested to know if the IFC file that we import into Revit works as a reference to remodel everything or we can use its part as a part of our model?

[L.Maas]

Depends on what you are trying to accomplish. Most of the time if you receive an IFC you load it in your project as reference.

IFC are more or less static content. While you can open an IFC and Revit will try to fit it in the proper categories and sometimes even make it parametric, however in many cases it will not have the behavior needed.

Most of the times you receive an IFC because another party is responsible for that part of the building. So changes are normally made by that party and then you will receive a new IFC.

If you receive an IFC and you are going to remodel it, than it seems double work, not very BIM like.

IFC is meant as and endpoint and not meant for modelling.

So do not expect to load the IFC and use it to make changes. So back to the source or remodeling

[JasonLLINDNER]

We do both but not for all disciplines. Majority of the consultants here do not use Revit so we receive mostly IFC. 80% of the time we link it in only for reference. At first thought one thinks that I would be nice to have everything in Revit but at the end of the day this is not really practical when we receive updated MEP models and Structural on a weekly basis. It doesnt matter if the remodeling is BIM or not BIM concept. Administering, editing and remodeling other disciplines is not really in our scope of work.

Sometimes we also receive confederated model in IFC from the client and even though it is nt part of our scope, we end up remodeling certain portions of the IFC sometimes because we need these portions  fully parametric to serve our design and other times like when we need parts of the existing for demolishing purposes for example or because parts of the existing are included in our design options.

but we never remodeled the whole IFC. There is no need for that

[vsalimiGRMK9]

I want to remodel the IFC because the design was done in Vectorworks and I have to continue the detailed documentation in Revit.

[RDAOU]

@vsalimiGRMK9 

Usually they are used for reference. That is the primary purpose of IFC. For the remodeling part of your query, there are 3 questions which you need to ask yourself and how you answer determines if you should remodel or use as is

1. Are you being paid to do it?
2. Is the remodeling a must for you to be able to do/deliver your part of the works?
3. Are there alternatives to do what you need to do without necessarily having to remodel an IFC (example: if they gave you a schematic design model and you need to take it to working drawings...then no you have no other choice but to remodel.

Note: upon linking an IFC, Revit does generate a back to back .ifc.rvt model in the background. You can use that for certain purposes/tasks but it is not fully parametric. This you have to check and evaluate if it suits your needs. After all you might not need more for what you are doing.

[vsalimiGRMK9]

Thanks guys for your comments,

but my problem is that I have an IFC file linked to Revit. However, I cannot place any building pad on its topography. Doors and windows are not schedulable. Many floors and walls are categorized as generic models.

So, my question:

Is this the most that we can expect from an IFC file or my IFC fils is of a low quality?