{"id":13558,"date":"2026-03-25T12:31:42","date_gmt":"2026-03-25T11:31:42","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/biblus.accasoftware.com\/en\/?p=13558"},"modified":"2026-03-25T12:32:59","modified_gmt":"2026-03-25T11:32:59","slug":"uniclass-2015-ifc-object-classification","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/biblus.accasoftware.com\/en\/uniclass-2015-ifc-object-classification\/","title":{"rendered":"UniClass 2015 Classification of IFC objects"},"content":{"rendered":"

IFC and classification systems: how to add a classification to the entities of an IFC model according to the UniClass 2015 system<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Do you need to classify the entities of an IFC project? Or do you need to read the classifications associated with the entities contained in an IFC file? In this article, I will explain what the UniClass 2015 classification system is, what it is used for, and how to use it to classify and add information to the entities of an IFC model.<\/p>\n

In this article, I will show you how to associate or modify a UniClass 2015 classification entry directly on a 3D model using an online IFC editor<\/a>, in just a few simple steps.<\/p>\n

\"How

What is UniClass 2015 (Uniclass 2015 classification)?<\/h2>\n

Origin of the UniClass system<\/h3>\n

UniClass<\/em><\/strong> (Unified Classification for the Construction Industry<\/em>) is a classification system first introduced in 1997 in the United Kingdom by the Construction Project Commitee<\/em>. It was developed as an integration of existing standards such as EPIC (Electronic Product Information Cooperation<\/em>) and CAWS (Common Arrangement of Work Sections for Building Works<\/em>).<\/p>\n

Within the construction industry, UniClass can be defined as a \u201cfaceted\u201d classification system, partly based on an enumerative approach, which applies a classification method structured around 15 tables<\/strong> organized in a hierarchical framework.<\/p>\n

How the UniClass classification works<\/h3>\n

More specifically, the tables<\/strong> included in the UniClass classification are the following:<\/p>\n

    \n
  • Complexes: <\/strong>describes a project as a whole. It can refer, for example, to residential developments, sports facilities, school buildings, airports, etc.;<\/li>\n
  • Entities: <\/strong>represents one of the parts (or zones) that make up a facility. It may include buildings, bridges, or tunnels within a larger infrastructure system;<\/li>\n
  • Activities: <\/strong>represents the activities carried out within a complex or an entity. For example, within a school building there may be physical, administrative, recreational, and educational activities. The table also includes investigation, operation, maintenance, and services;<\/li>\n
  • Spaces: <\/strong>may host one or more activities within a built asset or within non-point infrastructures such as road networks, railway systems, etc.;<\/li>\n
  • Elements: <\/strong>these are the main components of a structure. For instance, in a residential building, elements correspond to slabs, columns, walls, etc.;<\/li>\n
  • Systems: <\/strong>represent a set of components assembled to form an element or to perform a specific function. For example, a roof system may consist of tiles, insulation layers, vapor barriers, beams, etc.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
    \"Image

    Structure of the UniClass 2015 tables<\/h3>\n

    In addition to the tables described above, the UniClass 2015 system is structured around classification tables<\/strong>. Each table addresses a specific information domain and can be used individually or combined with other tables to express more complex concepts.<\/p>\n

    Below are the titles and the main contents of the tables.<\/p>\n

    The 15 original UniClass tables<\/h3>\n

    The tables shown below were in force from 1997 until 2015.<\/p>\n

    \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
    CODE<\/strong><\/td>\n TITLE<\/strong><\/td>\nCONTENT<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    A<\/td>\nForm of information<\/td>\nDocuments are classified both according to the type of content (catalogues, price lists, etc.) and the medium used (journals, videos, etc.).<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    B<\/td>\nSubject Disciplines<\/td>\nDisciplines related to the construction sector.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    C<\/td>\nManagement<\/td>\nConcepts related to decision-making processes.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    D<\/td>\nFacilities<\/td>\nCivil engineering works.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    E<\/td>\nConstruction Entities<\/td>\nConcepts related to buildings, pavements, bridges, and viaducts.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    F<\/td>\nSpaces<\/td>\nConcepts related to building spaces, regardless of whether they are internal or external.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    G<\/td>\nElements for buildings<\/td>\nConcepts related to in-place elements belonging to the building construction sector.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    H<\/td>\nElement for civil engineering works<\/td>\nConcepts related to in-place elements belonging to the civil engineering sector.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    J<\/td>\nWork Section for buildings<\/td>\nA complementary classification to building works focused on \u201cwork sections\u201d.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    K<\/td>\nWork section for civil engineering works<\/td>\nA complementary classification to civil engineering works focused on \u201cwork sections\u201d.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    L<\/td>\nConstruction products<\/td>\nConstruction products.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    M<\/td>\nConstruction aids<\/td>\nSite equipment and construction aids.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    N<\/td>\nProperties and characteristics<\/td>\nProperties of the entities subject to classification.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    P<\/td>\nMaterials<\/td>\nMaterials.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    Q<\/td>\nUniversal decimal classification<\/td>\nComplex concepts that can be defined by combining multiple specific class codes.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table><\/div>\n

    Evolution of the UniClass 2015 system<\/h3>\n

    Between 2013 and 2015, the UniClass classification tables were reduced from 15 to 11.<\/p>\n

    \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
    Table 1<\/td>\nCo<\/td>\nComplex<\/td>\nThe project as a whole (villa, university campus, etc.)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    Table 2<\/td>\nEn<\/td>\nEntities<\/td>\nBuildings classified according to their function<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    Table 3<\/td>\nAc<\/td>\nActivities<\/td>\nActivities carried out within spaces<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    Table 4<\/td>\nSL<\/td>\nSpace\/Locations<\/td>\nSpaces (rooms that make up the building)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    Table 5<\/td>\nEF<\/td>\nElements\/Function<\/td>\nElements are the main components of a building (walls, foundations, roofs, etc.)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    Table 6<\/td>\nSs<\/td>\nSystems<\/td>\nA set of components forming an element (e.g., boards and studs in a drywall partition, carpentry components forming a door, etc.)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    Table 7<\/td>\nPr<\/td>\nProducts<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    Table 8<\/td>\nTE<\/td>\nTools and Equipment<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    Table 9<\/td>\nZz<\/td>\nCAD<\/td>\nConcepts related to information technology applied to construction<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    Table 10<\/td>\nFI<\/td>\nForm of Information<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    Table 11<\/td>\nPM<\/td>\nProject Management<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table><\/div>\n

    An element is identified by:<\/p>\n

      \n
    • 1 pair of alphabetical letters referring to the Table;<\/li>\n
    • 4 pairs of numbers identifying groups, subgroups, sections, and objects.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

      In the next paragraph, I will show you how to classify any entity (for example a roof, a wall, etc.) in an IFC model.<\/p>\n

      You can try classifying the elements of any 3D model (IFC, DWG, SKP, etc.) yourself by using a free IFC editor<\/a> online.<\/p>\n

      \"Classification

      How to classify IFC objects with UniClass 2015<\/h2>\n

      The IFC standard also uses classification systems to categorize project entities and enhance the information system associated with them.<\/p>\n

      IFC classification with an online IFC editor<\/h3>\n

      How can I practically add new classifications in the IFC environment?<\/p>\n

      Below is a practical example of how to classify a project entity with usBIM.editor according to the UniClass 2015 system:<\/p>\n

        \n
      • access usBIM<\/a>;<\/li>\n
      • open the IFC file;<\/li>\n
      • select usBIM.editor (top left);<\/li>\n
      • click on Edit classifications<\/code>;<\/li>\n
      • select a model entity;<\/li>\n
      • add a new classification;<\/li>\n
      • fill in the editable fields;<\/li>\n
      • associate a standard classification system;<\/li>\n
      • choose the classification type;<\/li>\n
      • select the subcategories to associate with the selected entity;<\/li>\n
      • view the changes in the properties toolbox.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

        How to verify the UniClass classification in an IFC file<\/h2>\n

        If you want to check whether the classification has been associated with an element, you can use a simple free online BIM viewer<\/a> that allows you to visualize any element and check all its properties.<\/p>\n

        Verification with a BIM viewer<\/h3>\n

        With usBIM you can proceed as follows:<\/p>\n

          \n
        • open the IFC file with usBIM;<\/li>\n
        • select the entity of interest (for example a door, wall, slab, etc.);<\/li>\n
        • read the classification information in the properties section located on the right side of the window. Here you will find two sections related to classification:\n
            \n
          • IfcClassificationReference<\/code> indicates the code corresponding to the type of information added;<\/li>\n
          • IfcClassification<\/code> indicates the classification system used (in this case UniClass 2015).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

            Remember that with usBIM.editor you can classify all the elements of your model according to the main classification systems such as:<\/p>\n

              \n
            • MasterFormat;<\/li>\n
            • NatSpec;<\/li>\n
            • NBS Create;<\/li>\n
            • OmniClass<\/a>;<\/li>\n
            • SCFclass;<\/li>\n
            • UniClass (version 2);<\/li>\n
            • UniClass 2015;<\/li>\n
            • UniFormat.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

              Video on IFC file classification<\/h2>\n

              In this video, I show you how, using an online IFC editor<\/a>, you can assign the UniClass 2015 classification to the entities contained in an IFC model.<\/p>\n