IFC Container (relating object of IfcRelAggregates) is an IFC entity that does not have its own body geometry, but its components (related objects of IfcRelAggregates) contain all geometry and structure-related data.
In an ARCHICAD project,
•an ARCHICAD Curtain Wall is an IfcCurtainWall IFC Container entity with its Frame (IfcMember) and Panel (IfcPlate) components;
•IfcStair, IfcRamp and IfcRoof entities can also be IFC Containers if they originate from an IFC model that was exported by another application and merged into the ARCHICAD project earlier. For example, the geometry-defining components of an IfcStair container are typically IfcStairFlight, IfcSlab (with predefined type Landing), IfcRailings, or any kind of entity such as the simple IfcBuildingElementProxy.
Note:
•An ARCHICAD Stair or Ramp Object is mapped and exported as single (not container) IfcStair or IfcRamp element.
•No matter how complex the ARCHICAD Roof element, it will not be considered an IfcRoof container element. Rather, it will be a single IfcSlab, of predefined type “Roof”, having a single-component geometry.
•IFC export that uses the “Explode Composite and Complex Profile elements into parts” option (see Geometry conversion:) generates IFC Container elements from building elements in the output IFC file: for example a composite wall element is saved as an “IfcWall”-type IFC Container element without geometry, and its skin parts will provide the geometry as “IfcBuildingElementPart” elements.