IFC Import to AutoCAD MEP

When you import an IFC file, drawing files are created that correspond to each part of the IFC project structure. The files will be xrefed together into a main host file that represents each part of the file structure in the IFC file.

In some instances, you may need to turn on some display components for them to display after you import an IFC file, such as surfaces of spaces.

Importing IFC files result in the drawing files being organized at the same level.

When you import an IFC file, you specify a name for the top level drawing that is created from the IFC file. This drawing contains xrefs only. For example, importing an IFC file and naming it Small Office Building, creates a DWG called Small Office Building.dwg that contains all of the xrefs that correspond to each part of the project structure contained in the IFC file. During import:

• A site drawing is created if the IfcSite exists in the IFC file. This file is created using the top level drawing name with the IfcSite name appended and is referenced into the top level drawing. If there was no site name specified in the IFC file, no site drawing is created.
• A building drawing is created using the top level drawing name with the IfcBuilding name appended. This file is xrefed into the top level drawing. (Please note that AutoCAD Architecture uses the Project Name from the Export to IFC dialog as the IfcBuilding Name. This is noticeable if you are importing an IFC file that originated in AutoCAD Architecture.) Using the Small Office Building example above, the drawing name would be Small Office Building-Commercial Project.dwg because Commercial Project was the IfcBuilding name in the IFC file.
• A Storey drawing is created for each IfcStorey contained in the IFC file. The files are created using the top level drawing name with the name of the IfcStorey appended. These files are referenced into the project file.