IFC Properties are additional (mostly IFC Type-specific) parameters assigned to an IFC Entity. IFC Properties can be either standard, so-called “IFC 2x3 scheme” data (which are defined by buildingSMART and stored in property sets whose names begin with the prefix “Pset_”); or they can be non-standard, which are created by the exporting application using any property name and stored in any property set (the names of these property sets usually contain the name of the exporting application), or the IFC model view definition required for the property.
Hint: IFC Properties are extremely useful for assigning those data to ArchiCAD project elements which are not available in the ArchiCAD tools themselves. For example, fire rating and acoustic rating can be assigned to non-Object-type building elements, using the IFC Property. This can be a great advantage in an ArchiCAD project, because any custom (and thus any IFC) data can be accessed in ArchiCAD using the Find & Select, Schedule, Label and other functions. In sum: use IFC Properties, Attributes and Classification Reference not just for communication among different professions, but also to enhance the data properties of model elements.
Examples:
•The ArchiCAD parameters, quantities, and all Library Part parameters can be automatically exported from an ArchiCAD model as custom IFC Properties with IFC export, thanks to an export option. In this case, the parameters and quantities are exported with their localized name and under a property set having the prefix “AC_Pset_”. These data are not available in the IFC Manager, because they are generated at export only.
See Export Options.
•IFC Property and Attribute values can be set automatically from ArchiCAD parameters, quantities and Library Part parameters by using mapping rules defined by the current scheme. In this case, the IFC data will be exported with its rule-defined name. In the IFC Manager and in Element Settings dialog boxes, these values are shown with a lock icon (indicating that they have been mapped). However, their value can be modified at the element level as needed.
See IFC Scheme Setup.
Some properties are mapped and are not editable (their properties are shown in grey), because there is a 1-to-1 mapping relationship with ArchiCAD parameters. Examples: the “Renovation Status” (same as the Renovation Status in ArchiCAD); the “LoadBearing” (same as Structural Function in ArchiCAD); and the “IsExternal” (same as ArchiCAD Position).