UniClass 2015 classification for IFC objects
UniClass is a unified classification system used in the BIM approach to organize everything required for built environment assets. Find out how to add a classification to IFC model entities according to the UniClass 2015 system
If you need to address the tedious task of having to classify the entities of an IFC project, or do you have to read the classifications associated with the entities present in an IFC file, well today I’ll explain what the UniClass (Unified Classification for the Construction Industry) system is and what it is used for, including some useful info on how to use it to classify and add information to IFC Model entities.
In this week’s post, I’ll be showing you how to associate or edit a UniClass 2015 classification item directly on a 3D model, using an online IFC editor in a few simple steps.
UniClass classification of IFC objects
What is the UniClass system?
UniClass is a classification system that was introduced for the first time in 1997 in the United Kingdom by the Construction Project Committee. It was born as an integration of existing standards such as EPIC (Electronic Product Information Cooperation) and CAWS (Common Arrangement of Work Sections for Building Works).
In the construction sector, UniClass can be defined as a “faceted” classification system, partly with an enumerative approach, which operates a classification method based on 15 tables and according to a hierarchy of tables.
Going into detail, the tables available in the UniClass classification are as follows:
- Complexes: describes a project in overall terms. It can refer, for example, to residential buildings, sports buildings, school buildings, airports, etc.
- Entity: constitutes one of the parts (or areas) of which a work is composed. It can include buildings, bridges or tunnels within a more complex system.
- Activities: represents the activities to be carried out in a complex or in an entity. For example, in a school building, motor, administrative, recreational, training, etc. activities meet. The table also includes investigations, operation, maintenance and services.
- Spaces: they can host one or more activities, inside a building or related to non-punctual works, such as road systems, railway networks, etc.
- Elements: they are the main components of a structure. For example, in a home, the elements coincide with the floors, pillars, walls, etc.
- Systems: are a set of components associated to form an element or to perform a function. For example, the roof system consists of tiles, insulation, vapor barrier, beams, etc.
Graphical scheme explaining the organization of the tables in the UniClass 2015 classification system
So the UniClass 2015 system is based on tables. Each of these tables relates to a specific informative aspect and can be used individually or combined with other tables to express more complex concepts.
Here are the main titles and contents of the various tables.
| CODE | TITLE | CONTENTS |
| A | Form of information | The documents are classified either based on the type of content (catalogs, price lists, etc. ) and the media (magazines, videos, etc.). |
| B | Subject Disciplines | The disciplines related to the world of construction. |
| C | Management | Concepts related to decision making. |
| D | Facilities | Civil engineering works. |
| E | Construction Entities | The concepts relating to buildings, pavements, bridges and viaducts. |
| F | Spaces | The concepts relating to building spaces, regardless of whether they are internal or external. |
| G | Elements for buildings | The concepts relating to the elements in place belonging to the world of building production. |
| H | Element for civil engineering works | The concepts relating to the elements in place belonging to the world of civil engineering. |
| J | Work Section for buildings | A classification complementary to that of construction works focused on the “work sections “. |
| K | Work section for civil engineering works | A classification complementary to that of civil engineering works focused on the “work sections “. |
| L | Construction products | The products of construction. |
| M | Construction aids | The equipment of the construction site. |
| N | Properties and characteristics | The properties of the entities subject to classification. |
| P | Materials | Materials. |
| Q | Universal decimal classification | Complex concepts, which can be determined by combining different class-specific codes. |
Between 2013 and 2015 the UniClass 2015 classification tables from 15 were reduced to 11.
| Table 1 | Co | Complex (complessi) | Project as a whole (villa, university campus etc.) |
| Table 2 | En | Entities (Entità) | Buildings according to function |
| Table 3 | Ac | Activities (attività) | The activities that are carried out within the spaces |
| Table 4 | SL | Space/Locations (spazi) | The spaces (the premises that make up the building) |
| Table 5 | EF | Elements/Function (Elementi/Funzioni) | The elements are the single main components of a building (walls, foundations, roofs, etc.) |
| Table 6 | Ss | Systems (sistemi) | The set of components of an element (the panels and uprights of a plasterboard wall, the joinery and carpentry elements that make up a door, etc.) |
| Table 7 | Pr | Products (prodotti da costruzione) | |
| Table 8 | TE | Tools and Equipment | |
| Table 9 | Zz | CAD | The concepts related to computer science applied to construction |
| Table 10 | FI | Form of Information | |
| Table 11 | PM | Project Management |
An element is identified by:
- 1 pair of alphabetic letters referred to the table
- 4 pairs of numbers that identify groups, subgroups, sections and objects.
In the next paragraph I’ll also show you how to classify any entity (for example a roof, a wall, etc.) of an IFC model.
You can try to classify the elements of any 3D model yourself (IFC, DWG, SKP, etc.), using an advanced IFC editor.
Editing classifications with usBIM.editor
How to classify IFC entities with an online editor
The IFC standard also uses classification systems to catalog the entities of a project and implement the information system associated with them.
How can I actually add new classifications in the IFC language?
Below I show you a practical example to classify a project entity with usBIM.editor, according to the UniClass 2015 system.
Simply follow these steps:
- log in to usBIM;
- open the IFC file;
- select usBIM.editor (top left);
- click on Edit classifications;
- select a model entity;
- add a new classification;
- fill in the editable fields;
- associate a standard classification system;
- choose the classification type;
- choose subcategories to associate with the selected entity;
- view the change in the toolbox.
To know whether the classification has been associated to your element, you can use an easy free online BIM viewer that allows you to view any element and check all its properties.
Essentially, with usBIM you can:
- open the IFC file with usBIM
- select an entity (e.g. a door, a wall, an attic, etc.)
- read the classification information in the toolbox of the Properties on the right-hand side:
IfcClassificationReferenceshows the code corresponding to the type of information that was added;IfcClassificationexpresses information on the type of classification system adopted (in this case UniClass 2015).
Remember that with usBIM.editor you have the opportunity to classify all elements of your model according to major classification systems such as:
- MasterFormat;
- NatSpec;
- NBS Create;
- OmniClass;
- SCFclass;
- UniClass (version 2);
- UniClass 2015;
- UniFormat.
Video
In the video below I’ll show you how you can assign the UniClass 2015 classification to entities in the IFC model using an online IFC editor.
