If you work with IFC and want an alternative toolset, this is for you. Maybe you’re not thrilled with Revit or Tekla for this task, or you simply want to deliver a clean, tidy, simple IFC without the usual hassle. Maybe you need to edit IFC data, strip what you don’t need, add what you do, and make the file follow your rules—not the software’s. Or you just want a fast quality check to spot missing values, wrong types, or bad levels. That’s where IFC automation in Rhino and Grasshopper comes in. You can tag objects, set properties, run visual QA rules, and export IFCs that are consistent and lightweight. Fewer clicks. Fewer surprises. More control. Check out the article to see how.
Table of Contents
1. Turn Rhino into a BIM machine
Interoperability is no longer optional. Watch our workshop and learn how to master the Rhino–IFC–Revit connection. It will not only save you time on current projects but also future-proof your skills in an AEC industry that demands seamless workflows. Check out the great plugin to Rhino called BEAM that gives Rhino and Grasshopper possibilities to import/export IFC and beyond that!
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2. Automating IFC workflows in Rhino
You can keep your modeling flow in Rhino, but attach just enough BIM data so it exports smart.
You tag objects with real meanings—walls, slabs, beams, doors—and add simple properties like Level, Mark, and Material. Now your Rhino model isn’t “just geometry”; it’s structured IFC Rhino data that drops into Revit without rebuilding the whole thing.
Why it matters
- One source of truth: model once, export many times.
- Clean handover: consultants get usable data, not mystery meshes.
- Repeatable: when design changes, re-export is a click, not a week.
3. Assigning IFC data in Rhino using BEAM
The BEAM panel is where Rhino objects become BIM objects. It’s simple:
- Select objects in Rhino.
- Choose IFC type (e.g., IfcWall, IfcSlab, IfcColumn).
- Set a predefined type (e.g., LoadBearing, Interior).
- Fill basic parameters (Mark/ID, Level, Material, comments).
No code. Just clicks. BEAM stores this info with the objects, so the next time you open the file, everything’s still there. You’ve effectively told Rhino, “this isn’t a random polysurface—it’s a wall on Level 2 with a fire rating.”
Tip: create a small naming + properties convention (Levels, Marks, Psets) and reuse it across projects. That’s how Rhino turns into a BIM machine without heavy overhead.
4. Scheduling, coloring, and exporting IFC with Grasshopper
Here’s where IFC Grasshopper shines.
- Schedules: pull objects and parameters into live lists (doors, sizes, wall areas, marks). Change the model → recompute → schedule updates.
- Color rules (QA): color by Level, by Category, or flag missing data in red. It’s a fast visual check before export.
- Export: when your checks are green, export IFC (IFC4 / IFC2x3) and keep the properties attached.
5. How Grasshopper automates IFC files
Grasshopper is a visual language, so it’s easy to build logic and rules without coding. You can:
- Play with parameters: batch-set FireRating for all doors; auto-fill Level based on Z; renumber elements.
- Make rules for IFC properties:
- if Level is empty → mark red
- if Thickness < 100 mm → add “Check” note
- if Category = “Structural” → lock Material options
- Find errors in imported files: highlight weird sizes, missing Psets, or wrong categories.
- Export correctly: one definition can export multiple IFCs (by floor, by discipline) with the right values every time.
Because it’s visual, the logic is easy to read, share, and reuse. Build it once, reuse forever.
6. Importing IFC files back into Rhino
You can pull IFCs into Rhino too:
- Worksession (lightweight): reference the model read-only for context and coordination.
- Full import (editable): bring geometry + properties into your file to tweak and re-export.
Either way, IFC data remains visible in the BEAM panel. That means you can run the same Grasshopper QA rules on imported models: find missing parameters, wrong levels, or odd values—then fix and round-trip back to IFC.
7. Wrap-up IFC in Rhino and Grasshopper
- Rhino → BIM: BEAM gives your Rhino objects real BIM meaning.
- Grasshopper → automation: visual rules make QA easy and exports consistent.
- Result: cleaner models, fewer surprises, and workflows you can trust.
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