Export an IFC file of a building

An IFC4 file holds the building: storeys, walls, floors, roofs, stairs, rooms, doors and windows. Use it to send a house or room design to a BIM application or an IFC viewer.

Export the file#

1. Open the house or room project.
2. Select File ▸ Import / Export….
3. On the Export tab, select IFC4 (.ifc).
4. Read the warnings in the report.
5. Click Export….

The file name has the project name and the revision, for example House-rev12.ifc.

What the file holds#

• One storey for each level. If the project has no levels, everything goes on one Ground floor storey.
• Walls with openings for their doors and windows.
• Floors, roof slopes, ceilings, stairs and one space for each room.
• Each furniture item as one solid.

All sizes are in millimetres, with Z up. Each element keeps the same IFC GlobalId when you export the project again.

What the file does not hold#

• Materials, finishes and colours.
• Parameters, the cut list and the parts inside furniture.
• The layers inside a wall. The file has only the overall wall thickness.

If the project has no walls, the report shows a warning. IFC is for buildings and rooms. To export furniture for CAD, see Export a STEP file.