Export to IFC in BricsCAD
FFiFigureThe Industry Foundation Classes IFC specification is a neutral data format to describe, exchange and share information typically used within the building and facility management industry sector. IFC is the international standard for openBIM
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Exports to the IFC format can be done in a BricsCAD version that supports conversion (BricsCAD BIM). This article is a step by step guide that will cover how the export is done. First, the model must be generated in an empty drawing. Create one under the category 3D in the project browser, as shown below.
Figure 1: New 3D drawing
Before opening the drawing, go to the project folder. Download this IFC file for BricsCAD and paste it into the folder Projectname/design/drawings/common drawings. Give this file the exact same name as the 3D drawing that was just created (erase the original).
Figure 2: Replacing the dwg
Open the empty drawing and generate the elements that will be included in the export by using the generate plan command. Configure your selection of elements and be sure to select the AutoCAD solid (IFC) option found under setup. This allows export to the IFC format.
Figure 3: Generate the elements as IFC-compatible solids
Add information about the elements to include in the export. This is done through the "add property set" command found under the "BASE" tab in BricsCAD.
Figure 4: Add property set...
Make the export from BricsCAD file menu as shown in the image below.
Figure 6: BricsCAD export to IFC
Element color
The elements in the export can be colored in two different ways, both of which depend on how the variable SOLIDCOLORBYMATERIAL is configured. Either, the elements get the color based on AutoCAD's layer 0, which by default is black. Or, the elements will be colored based on its material color. Materials are configured in Standard Admin with an exact color (RGB value).
With the variable value set to 0 (turned off) the model will inherit the color of layer 0 - black.
Figure 7: IFC model colored by layer 0
With the variable value set to 1 (turned on), the elements/components will inherit the color of its material. In the example below the walls have a grey color from the concrete and the CIMs have a slightly darker gray which makes them visible when the model is viewed as somewhat transparent.
Figure 8: IFC model colored by material color (true color)
Access IMPACT data
A huge advantage with exporting IFC from BricsCAD, and not from AutoCAD, is when opening the IFC model in an IFC viewer (in Figure 9 Solibri Model Viewer is used) that the elements will be presented in a tree-structure that categorizes element in buildings, floors, and types (see 1 in Figure 9).
Similar to AutoCAD, the properties of all elements can be found under the IMPACT tab (see 2 in Figure 9).
Figure 9: IFC model in an IFC viewer
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