Some notes on IFC terminology

Here is a brief guide to some of the terms you will encounter when working with IFC files and LEGION Model Builder' 'IFC Import – Layer Organisation' dialog box:

Storeys – the storeys that comprise a building.

Spaces – arbitrary regions within an IFC model, typically used to represent individual rooms (but not always used as such). They can span one or more storeys. The original IFC designer decides if and how spaces are organised.

Zones – arbitrarily represent regions of a model such as public or private areas, parking areas, gardens and courtyards. As with spaces, the use of zones is at the whim of the designer.

Note: Most IFC models tend to work with storeys but this is not guaranteed, hence options for spaces and zones. Within a storey/space/zone, LEGION is interested in only those IFC element types that represent obstacles or features that pedestrians can interact with. Such elements comprise:

Slabs – literally concrete slabs forming a floor or ceiling
Walls – any kind of wall (standard, partition, dwarf, curtain)
Windows – we include these because some windows are floor-to-ceiling and are effectively walls
Columns – typically any architectural or aesthetic supporting structure
Doors – any kind of door
Openings – an opening is a gap in a wall which is not filled by a door or window
Physical objects – any kind of furniture or structure not specifically captured by other element types, which pedestrians would consider an obstacle and/or thing to interact with
Stair lights – the steps of a stair
Ramp flights – the slope section of a ramp.

During the import process, you can decide to include or exclude some of these IFC elements.