IfcPropertySet: IFC object properties

IfcPropertySet: the difference between predefined and custom properties. How to read, edit and add them to an IFC model

In this post we will take a closer look at what IfcPropertySet is, what it is used for and how a user can edit it.

We’ll also show you how to practically use an online IFC editor for:

• reading the entity properties of your 3D model;
• adding custom properties;
• editing existing properties.

IfcPropertySetdefinition

IfcPropertySet is a set of properties that can be assigned to an IFC model object.

The properties contained in this set can be of two types:

• predefined;
• additional / customized (ie user defined).

The predifined properties within a property set are defined as part of the standard; they are automatically generated by the authoring software that we used to model the project and are listed in the specifications of each entity of the 3D model.

These properties are identified by a string with the Name attribute which needs be of the type: Pset_NAME.

To read and verify the properties assigned to each entity in your project:

• log in to usBIM with your ACCA account;
• upload the IFC file to the usBIM cloud;
• open the file by clicking on the screen icon to the right;
• select the entity;
• read property values directly in the properties toolbox.

Identifying an IfcObject (IfcWindow) and its properties with usBIM

In addition to the predefined properties, you can also define custom properties, i.e. those added to the model directly by the user. These properties follow a non-standardized but conventionally chosen nomenclature among the different actors involved in the construction process

To know more about the IfcPropertySet, take a look at the article “IFC schema: IfcPropertyDefinition”.

Further on this article, we’ll show you an example that shows how to add and edit the custom properties of a 3D model.

What is theIfcPropertySetfor?

The IfcPropertySet, being a proprietary container, serves to communicate project information to all the actors involved and throughout a building’s life cycle.

As above mentioned, by opening an IFC file generated by any BIM authoring software that is certified by buildingSMART, you can find various entities and Pset (PropertySets) for the information exchange  relating to the model.

However, it may happen that the properties envisaged by the standard are not sufficient to communicate all aspects of the entire life cycle of a building.

In these cases, the information system can be implemented by adding custom properties (IfcPropertySet). In an IFC file they are generated as references to external data and therefore do not modify the IFC schema. The “implemented” data schema can be used without issues in all BIM software that support the IFC.

The predefined properties from buildingSMART

The Property Sets predefined by bS for the IfcSharedBldgElements are the following:

• Pset_BeamCommon
• Pset_ColumnCommon
• Pset_CurtainWallCommon
• Pset_DoorCommon
• Pset_DoorWindowGlazingType
• Pset_DoorWindowShadingType
• Pset_MemberCommon
• Pset_PlateCommon
• Pset_RailingCommon
• Pset_RampCommon
• Pset_RampFlightCommon
• Pset_RoofCommon
• Pset_SlabCommon
• Pset_StairCommon
• Pset_StairFlightCommon
• Pset_WallCommon
• Pset_WindowCommon

In practice, for each type of element (doors, windows, walls, etc.) there are “standard” properties that characterize it.

Let’s try to analyze the Pset_WallCommon as example. The wall properties are:

• Reference: this is a property defined by a single value that provides an object ID within the project (eg. tipo “A-1”);
• AcousticRating: indicates the object’s acoustic properties, such as its resistance to sound transmission (instead of providing the complete sound absorption values);
• FireRating: indicates the fire resistance properties of materials according to the national fire classification;
• Combustible: simply indicates whether the material is flammable (true) or not (false);
• SurfaceSpreadOfFlame:indicates the way in which the flames spread around the material surface, according to national regulations on materials behaviour in case of fire;
• ThermalTransmittance: indicates a material thermal transmittance coefficient (U value);
• IsExternal: property that answers the question “is the object intended to carry loads (TRUE) or not (FALSE)?”
• ExtendToStructure: indica se l’oggetto si estende alla struttura sopra (VERO) o meno (FALSO);
• LoadBearing:proprietà che risponde alla domanda “l’oggetto è destinato a trasportare carichi (VERO) o meno (FALSO)?”
• Compartmentation: indicates if the object is designed to act as a fire compartment (TRUE) or not (FALSE).

Custom properties

If the predefined properties are not sufficient or suitable for your project, you can customize them or create new ones.