To make use of BriefBuilder’s IFC integration, it is advisable to include the necessary BriefBuilder rules into your project’s BIM protocol. This will ensure that the integration works smoothly and deliverables from the design team can be used in your BriefBuilder project.
Design Rules
- The design model must be exportable in IFC format, using extension .ifc and version IFC2x3 TC1.
- The IFC file must contain spaces (IfcSpace).
- These spaces must be mappable to BriefBuilder space according to the Mapping Rules.
- The IFC file should preferably contain walls (IfcWall/IfcWallStandardCase/IfcCurtainWall), windows (IfcWindow), doors (IfcDoor) and columns (IfcColumn) to create better looking floorplans.
- In the future, BriefBuilder will most likely also process MEP elements and equipment placed in designed spaces that will be represented in the IFC file in many different object types, typically subtypes of IfcElement and IfcSpatialElement. To already prepare for this in a project, ensure that the elements & equipment you want to have mapped in BriefBuilder are also mappable according to the Mapping Rules.
Mapping Rules
- A mapping between a BriefBuilder object (like a Space) and an IFC Object (like an IfcSpace) must be possible. This requires that an attribute of the BriefBuilder object corresponds to an attribute of the IFC object.
The following attributes can be used on the BriefBuilder side:
– The Object ID (like SP-123)
– Any Classification defined in the project for the object’s tree (for example: RoomID, Room number, NL/SfB number, UniClass code)
The following attributes can be used on the IFC side:
– The IFC GUID (e.g. 2YZssV$BT558U_KW9Sow1k)
– The Name
– The Long name
– The Type name (this is the name of the related Type Object, if used)
These are some examples of how the BriefBuilder mapping rules could be applied in a project’s BIM protocol to allow the mapping rule to be satisfied:
“All IFC Object Names must be set to their corresponding BriefBuilder Object ID.”
“All IFC Objects must have a Property Set named ‘Identification’ in which the Property ‘BriefBuilder ID’ must be set to their corresponding BriefBuilder Object ID“
“All IfcSpace Object Names must be set to the corresponding BriefBuilder classification ‘Room Number’ and all IfcElement and IfcSpatialElement Object Names must be set to the corresponding BriefBuilder classification ‘Uniclass code’.“