When I first stepped onto the construction site as a design manager and BIM responsible, I thought IFC files were something only designers worried about. After all, contractors build things, not data models.
But reality quickly proved me wrong.
The project I currently work on is a design&build contract, which we execute model-based. From tendering to production, and finally as-built documentation, IFC (Industry Foundation Classes) has become the digital backbone of our project. And not because the client told us to use it — but because, without it, our daily work would be harder, and most probably, more expensive.
In this article, I want to share how IFC supports the contractor’s perspective at three key stages: tendering, production, and as-built handover. I’ll also touch on how IFC links with GIS and HSE (health, safety and environment, two areas becoming increasingly important in infrastructure projects.
Table of Contents
1. IFC – More than just another file format
2. IFC in the tender phase – building the basis for offer
3. IFC in production – from design to construction site
4. IFC in as-built documentation – delivering the digital assets
5. IFC meets GIS – location brings context
1. IFC – More than just another file format
Before diving into workflows, let’s clarify what IFC is.
- IFC, Industry Foundation Classes (designated as ISO 16739), is an open, vendor-neutral standard developed by buildingSMART International.
- It allows different BIM tools to exchange information without locking us into one software ecosystem.
- It stores not just geometry, but also object-level data (material, classification, location, properties).
For contractors, this matters because projects bring together dozens of stakeholders, each with their own tools. IFC becomes the common language — a bridge across the software jungle.
You can read more about IFC on our blog in those articles:
And others – just write ‘IFC’ in the search engine on our Blog!
2. IFC in the tender phase – building the basis for offer
When contractors prepare a tender, time is limited and information is often incomplete. IFC models help us gain clarity and sharpen our offer in several ways:
- a. Understanding the design intent
- Instead of reading hundreds of 2D drawings, we import the IFC model and immediately see the project in 3D.
- This helps the tender team spot design challenges, risks, or missing scope.
- b. Quantity take-off and cost estimation
- IFC objects provide measurable data: volumes of concrete, lengths of pipes, areas of pavement.
- Even if the model is not 100% perfect, it gives us a faster and more reliable starting point than manual take-offs.
- c. Early planning simulations – 4D
- By linking IFC elements to high-level schedules, we can test construction sequences, logistics, or temporary works.
- This improves the accuracy of our tender plan and reduces surprises later.
Example from practice: On our highway project in Norway, the client provided .ifc models as part of the tender documentation for information only. The drawings that were attached to the tender documentation were higher in hierarchy than the models. Still, we were able to extract main quantities and use the models to understand this complicated project in a much better way, also thanks to 4D and planning simulations.
3. IFC in production – from design to construction site
Once the project is won, IFC continues to play a central role in construction planning and execution.
- a. Model coordination
- On the design&build projects, the contractor is responsible for both the design and the execution. IFC models from different disciplines (structural, MEP, road design, landscape, electrical and so on) are combined into a federated model.
- After that, using clash detection tools, designers identify conflicts before they hit the site. Following this control, also our site engineers go through the model and sometimes are able to find out issues that can potentially be problems during the construction.
- Issues are tracked and communicated through BCF (BIM Collaboration Format), or other issue-tracker, closing the loop between designers and site engineers.
- b. 4D planning and logistics
- Linking IFC objects to the schedule (Dynamo, Primavera, MS Project, or other software) allows us to create 4D simulations.
- The site team can visualize when and where each element will be built.
- This supports crane placement, traffic detours, and sequencing of subcontractors.
- On our infrastructure project, it was a requirement from the client to present the most complex and risky works as a 4D simulation.
- c. Procurement and cost control
- Quantities are extracted from IFC models and sent to suppliers. Sometimes we send whole models or give access to our model viewer to the suppliers.
- Procurement orders are based on model data, reducing errors in delivery planning. Everyone also has access to the latest model.
- d. Field use – tablets and AR
- Site engineers and foremen carry IFC models on tablets using them to execute the works. Remember, we are working model-based, with almost no drawings:-)
- Instead of flipping through stacks of drawings, they can zoom into the model, measure directly, and check details.
- In some cases, we overlay IFC geometry with AR tools on the actual site, supporting accurate installation.
Impact on site: Having a federated IFC model accessible to everyone has reduced misunderstandings and improved decision-making. It helps to understand the complexity of works and, in most cases, reduce errors on site – as long as the model is correct:-)
4. IFC in as-built documentation – delivering the digital assets
When the last beam is placed and the last road stripe painted, the contractor’s job is not finished. Clients expect a complete, digital handover — and here, IFC is the format of choice. In Norway public clients increasingly mandate IFC-based as-built models.
- a. Updating the model with as-built data
During and after construction, we update IFC objects with as-built parameters: exact dimensions, equipment IDs and serial numbers, maintenance requirements
- b. Compliance with client requirements
Delivering in IFC ensures we meet contractual obligations without locking the client into a specific vendor.
- c. Supporting facility management
- In the future, the final IFC model can be not just a snapshot of what was built — it can become the digital twin for operations and maintenance. However, in my experience, it is still a work in-progress.
- That would help the facility managers, who could rely on standardized data that remains usable long after the project team is gone.
In practice: Updating the model with as-built data can be done by designers on-going on design & build projects, when they receive the needed input from the construction site. However, if the project is long (or the contractor wants to save some money:-)) it can also be done by contractor’s BIM manager. In such a case, an .ifc file from the designer can be enriched with for example information for maintenance or links to handbooks or material data in .pdf.
5. IFC meets GIS – location brings context
One of the most powerful extensions of IFC is its connection to GIS (Geographic Information Systems).
- Georeferencing: By embedding coordinates in IFC models, we can place them directly in GIS maps.
- Integration with terrain and utilities: Combining IFC with GIS shows how the design interacts with real-world conditions.
- Stakeholder communication: Visualizing a bridge or road in its actual landscape context makes it much easier to explain to municipalities, landowners, and the public.
On our project, integrating IFC with GIS allows us to test traffic detours and safety zones in the real-world road network — something impossible with drawings alone.
6. IFC and HSE – building safety into the model
Another promising area is the use of IFC for Health, Safety, and Environment (HSE) management.
- Temporary works in IFC: We model scaffolding, safety barriers, and crane zones as IFC objects. Often, they do not need to be very detailed – even an ‘object box’ can be good enough to secure space in 3D.
- Risk visualization: Hazardous activities are linked to locations in the model, making risks visible to workers and all project stakeholders.
- 4D safety planning: By connecting risks to the schedule, we know when dangerous activities overlap, and can mitigate in advance.
Example: On our site, we use models with HSE elements to visualize the risk and plan the works. This puts extra focus during both design reviews with designers, as well as gatherings with workers to go through the hazardous activities, before they start working in a given area.
Lessons learned – why contractors should embrace IFC
Looking back, the value of IFC for contractors is clear:
- Tendering: Better understanding, more accurate offers.
- Production: Coordination, planning, construction, and procurement with fewer errors.
- As-built: Reliable documentation (with possible digital twin in the future) delivered to the client.
- GIS & HSE: Extending BIM into the real-world context and safety management.
For me, the most important lesson is that IFC is not about compliance with standards. It is about working smarter, reducing risk, and delivering better projects. And the best part of that is that you do not need to be an expert to understand those advantages:-)
And finally, in a world where data outlives drawings, IFC ensures that what we build today will remain usable tomorrow.
👉 How about you? Do you use IFC in tendering, production, or as-built documentation? Have you connected it with GIS or HSE workflows? Share your experiences in the comments — let’s learn from each other and move the industry forward.
