Exporting Revit models to IFC format is essential for seamless collaboration across disciplines in BIM projects. Kevin Fielding of Sheppard Robson provides valuable insights into best practices, ensuring data integrity and interoperability. In this article, we’ll explore effective strategies and common pitfalls to avoid when converting Revit files to IFC, enhancing your project workflows.
Understanding the Importance of Proper Revit to IFC Export
Converting Revit models to Industry Foundation Classes (IFC) format is a critical step for collaboration, especially when working with multidisciplinary teams and clients using different BIM platforms. Kevin Fielding emphasizes that a well-executed export process preserves essential data, maintains model accuracy, and reduces errors that can compromise project outcomes.
To achieve a successful export, professionals must understand the nuances of IFC standards and Revit’s export settings. Proper preparation ensures that geometry, parameters, and classification data are accurately transferred, enabling smooth coordination and clash detection downstream. Recognizing the importance of this process sets the foundation for efficient project delivery and data interoperability.
Best Practices for Revit to IFC Export
Kevin Fielding recommends a comprehensive approach to ensure a high-quality IFC export. The following key practices are essential:
- Model Cleanup and Organization: Before exporting, review your Revit model for unnecessary elements, duplicates, or unlinked objects that could clutter the IFC file. Use consistent naming and classification standards to streamline the data transfer.
- Configure Export Settings Accurately: In Revit, carefully select export options, focusing on IFC version compatibility, geometry accuracy, and parameter sharing. Fielding suggests customizing the setup by creating and saving specific export mappings tailored to your project’s needs.
- Test and Validate Exports: Conduct test exports with small model sections to identify issues early. Use IFC viewers like Solibri or BIMcollab to verify that the data appears correctly, ensuring that essential information and relationships are maintained.
- Leverage IFC Property Sets and Classifications: Properly assign parameters and classifications within Revit to ensure meaningful data transfer. This step enhances interoperability and enables effective downstream analysis or facility management.
Adopting these practices minimizes errors and ensures the exported IFC file is as representative of the Revit model as possible. Kevin Fielding also emphasizes that ongoing training and staying updated with IFC standards are vital for long-term success.
In Conclusion
Successfully exporting Revit models to IFC requires deliberate preparation, diligent configuration, and validation. Kevin Fielding of Sheppard Robson highlights that applying best practices—such as model cleanup, precise export settings, and thorough testing—can significantly improve data integrity and interoperability. Mastering these steps ensures smoother collaboration and more reliable project outcomes in BIM workflows.