.IFC File Extension

Industry Foundation Classes File

Developer BuildingSMART
Popularity
3.9  |  38 Votes
 

What is an IFC file?

An IFC file is a model file created in the Industry Foundation Classes (IFC) formats, an open file format used by Building Information Modeling (BIM) programs. It contains a building or facility model, including spatial elements, materials, and shapes.

More Information

Screenshot of a .ifc file in Areddo
IFC file open in Areddo

Autodesk formed a consortium of several companies named Industry Alliance for Interoperability in the 1990s to develop the IFC format. They released the first version of the IFC format in 1996 and have since released many revisions throughout the years (and changed their name to BuildingSMART in 2005).

They developed the IFC file format to be platform-neutral, allowing interoperability between BIM programs utilized in architecture, engineering, and construction industries. As a result, most any BIM program, whether proprietary or open source, can open an IFC file.

How to open an IFC file

You can open an ICF file with various BIM applications, including Autodesk AutoCAD Architecture (Windows), Tekla BIMsight (Windows), and GRAPHISOFT ArchiCAD (multiplatform). You can also view ICF files with Areddo, a free ICF file viewer.

How to convert an IFC file

Various BIM applications, such as Autodesk AutoCAD Architecture, and GRAPHISOFT ArchiCAD, can export an ICF file to other formats.

For example, GRAPHISOFT ArchiCAD can convert ICF files to various file types, including the following formats:

  • .DWG - AutoCAD Drawing
  • .DXF - Drawing Exchange Format
  • .DGN - MicroStation Design
  • .C4D - Cinema 4D Model
  • .3DS - 3D Studio Scene
  • .SKP - SketchUp Document
  • .DAE - Digital Asset Exchange File
  • .OBJ - Wavefront 3D Object
  • .U3D - Universal 3D File
  • .PDF - Portable Document Format
Open over 400 file formats with File Viewer Plus.Free Download

Programs that open IFC files

Verified by FileInfo.com

The FileInfo.com team has independently researched the Industry Foundation Classes file format and Mac and Windows apps listed on this page. Our goal is 100% accuracy and we only publish information about file types that we have verified.

If you would like to suggest any additions or updates to this page, please let us know.