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openBIM formats: IFC, BCF and IDS

Which open format does which job and how model checking with IFC, IDS and BCF works together.

Updated on October 1, 2026Contact: Friedrich Schrödter

Three formats, three jobs

The open formats of buildingSMART International share the work: one carries the model, one the communication about it, one the requirements for the model.

FormatWhat forNote
IFC1Exchange of building models with geometry and meaning (wall, door, space)International standard ISO 16739-1
BCF2Exchange of issues on the model: comment, view and affected elementsReplaces screenshots in e-mails
IDS3Machine-readable information requirements a model is checked against automaticallyMakes EIR checkable
bSDD4Shared dictionary of classifications and propertiesCommon terms for properties

How they work together

Model checking with IFC, IDS and BCFyesnoDisciplinemodelhand overas IFCcheckagainst IDSmet?BCF issueto authorinto thecoordination model
DiagramThe discipline model is handed over as IFC and checked against the IDS requirements; deviations go back to the author as a BCF issue.