IfcBuildingElement

Natural language names
deBauteil / Bauelement
enBuilding Element
frElément de construction
Semantic definitions at the entity
Entity definition

The building element comprises all elements that are primarily part of the construction of a building, i.e., its structural and space separating system. Building elements are all physically existent and tangible things

NOTE  Definition from ISO 6707-1:
Major functional part of a building, examples are foundation, floor, roof, wall.

This IfcBuildingElement is a generalization of all elements that participate in a building system. Typical examples of IfcBuildingElement 's are (among others):

EXAMPLE  Building elements are walls, curtain wall, doors, columns, pile, and others.

The IfcBuildingElement is an abstract entity that cannot be instantiated. For arbitrary building elements, that cannot be expressed by a subtype of IfcBuildingElement, use IfcBuildingElementProxy.

HISTORY  New entity in IFC1.0
Formal Propositions
RuleDescription
MaxOneMaterialAssociationThere should be only a maximum of one material association assigned to an building element.
NOTE  The material association can assign a single material, a set of materials, a set of material layers, or a set of material profiles by a single association relationship.
FC2x4 CHANGE The where rule has been promoted from the subtype IfcWall.
Inherited definitions from supertypes
Entity inheritance IfcBeam IfcBuildingElementProxy IfcChimney IfcColumn IfcCovering IfcCurtainWall IfcDoor IfcFooting IfcMember IfcPile IfcPlate IfcRailing IfcRamp IfcRampFlight IfcRoof IfcShadingDevice IfcSlab IfcStair IfcStairFlight IfcWall IfcWindow IfcElement IfcProduct IfcObject IfcObjectDefinition IfcRoot
Attribute inheritance
#AttributeTypeCardinalityDescriptionC
IfcRoot
1GlobalIdIfcGloballyUniqueId[1:1] Assignment of a globally unique identifier within the entire software world. X
2OwnerHistoryIfcOwnerHistory[0:1] Assignment of the information about the current ownership of that object, including owning actor, application, local identification and information captured about the recent changes of the object,
NOTE  only the last modification in stored - either as addition, deletion or modification.
X
3NameIfcLabel[0:1] Optional name for use by the participating software systems or users. For some subtypes of IfcRoot the insertion of the Name attribute may be required. This would be enforced by a where rule. X
4DescriptionIfcText[0:1] Optional description, provided for exchanging informative comments.X
IfcObjectDefinition
HasAssignmentsIfcRelAssigns
@RelatedObjects
S[0:?]Reference to the relationship objects, that assign (by an association relationship) other subtypes of IfcObject to this object instance. Examples are the association to products, processes, controls, resources or groups.X
NestsIfcRelNests
@RelatedObjects
S[0:1]References to the decomposition relationship being a nesting. It determines that this object definition is a part within an ordered whole/part decomposition relationship. An object occurrence or type can only be part of a single decomposition (to allow hierarchical strutures only). X
IsNestedByIfcRelNests
@RelatingObject
S[0:?]References to the decomposition relationship being a nesting. It determines that this object definition is the whole within an ordered whole/part decomposition relationship. An object or object type can be nested by several other objects (occurrences or types). X
HasContextIfcRelDeclares
@RelatedDefinitions
S[0:1]References to the context providing context information such as project unit or representation context. It should only be asserted for the uppermost non-spatial object. X
IsDecomposedByIfcRelAggregates
@RelatingObject
S[0:?]References to the decomposition relationship being an aggregation. It determines that this object definition is whole within an unordered whole/part decomposition relationship. An object definitions can be aggregated by several other objects (occurrences or parts). X
DecomposesIfcRelAggregates
@RelatedObjects
S[0:1]References to the decomposition relationship being an aggregation. It determines that this object definition is a part within an unordered whole/part decomposition relationship. An object definitions can only be part of a single decomposition (to allow hierarchical strutures only). X
HasAssociationsIfcRelAssociates
@RelatedObjects
S[0:?]Reference to the relationship objects, that associates external references or other resource definitions to the object.. Examples are the association to library, documentation or classification.X
IfcObject
5ObjectTypeIfcLabel[0:1] The type denotes a particular type that indicates the object further. The use has to be established at the level of instantiable subtypes. In particular it holds the user defined type, if the enumeration of the attribute PredefinedType is set to USERDEFINED.
X
IsDeclaredByIfcRelDefinesByObject
@RelatedObjects
S[0:1]Link to the relationship object pointing to the declaring object that provides the object definitions for this object occurrence. The declaring object has to be part of an object type decomposition. The associated IfcObject, or its subtypes, contains the specific information (as part of a type, or style, definition), that is common to all reflected instances of the declaring IfcObject, or its subtypes. X
DeclaresIfcRelDefinesByObject
@RelatingObject
S[0:?]Link to the relationship object pointing to the reflected object(s) that receives the object definitions. The reflected object has to be part of an object occurrence decomposition. The associated IfcObject, or its subtypes, provides the specific information (as part of a type, or style, definition), that is common to all reflected instances of the declaring IfcObject, or its subtypes. X
IsTypedByIfcRelDefinesByType
@RelatedObjects
S[0:1]Set of relationships to the object type that provides the type definitions for this object occurrence. The then associated IfcTypeObject, or its subtypes, contains the specific information (or type, or style), that is common to all instances of IfcObject, or its subtypes, referring to the same type. X
IsDefinedByIfcRelDefinesByProperties
@RelatedObjects
S[0:?]Set of relationships to property set definitions attached to this object. Those statically or dynamically defined properties contain alphanumeric information content that further defines the object. X
IfcProduct
6ObjectPlacementIfcObjectPlacement[0:1] Placement of the product in space, the placement can either be absolute (relative to the world coordinate system), relative (relative to the object placement of another product), or constraint (e.g. relative to grid axes). It is determined by the various subtypes of IfcObjectPlacement, which includes the axis placement information to determine the transformation for the object coordinate system.X
7RepresentationIfcProductRepresentation[0:1] Reference to the representations of the product, being either a representation (IfcProductRepresentation) or as a special case a shape representations (IfcProductDefinitionShape). The product definition shape provides for multiple geometric representations of the shape property of the object within the same object coordinate system, defined by the object placement.X
ReferencedByIfcRelAssignsToProduct
@RelatingProduct
S[0:?]Reference to the IfcRelAssignsToProduct relationship, by which other products, processes, controls, resources or actors (as subtypes of IfcObjectDefinition) can be related to this product.X
IfcElement
8TagIfcIdentifier[0:1] The tag (or label) identifier at the particular instance of a product, e.g. the serial number, or the position number. It is the identifier at the occurrence level.X
FillsVoidsIfcRelFillsElement
@RelatedBuildingElement
S[0:1]Reference to the IfcRelFillsElement Relationship that puts the element as a filling into the opening created within another element. X
ConnectedToIfcRelConnectsElements
@RelatingElement
S[0:?]Reference to the element connection relationship. The relationship then refers to the other element to which this element is connected to. X
IsInterferedByElementsIfcRelInterferesElements
@RelatedElement
S[0:?]Reference to the interference relationship to indicate the element that is interfered. The relationship, if provided, indicates that this element has an interference with one or many other elements.
NOTE  There is no indication of precedence between IsInterferedByElements and InterferesElements.
X
InterferesElementsIfcRelInterferesElements
@RelatingElement
S[0:?]Reference to the interference relationship to indicate the element that interferes. The relationship, if provided, indicates that this element has an interference with one or many other elements.
NOTE  There is no indication of precedence between IsInterferedByElements and InterferesElements.
X
HasProjectionsIfcRelProjectsElement
@RelatingElement
S[0:?]Projection relationship that adds a feature (using a Boolean union) to the IfcBuildingElement.X
ReferencedInStructuresIfcRelReferencedInSpatialStructure
@RelatedElements
S[0:?]Reference relationship to the spatial structure element, to which the element is additionally associated. This relationship may not be hierarchical, an element may be referenced by zero, one or many spatial structure elements. X
HasOpeningsIfcRelVoidsElement
@RelatingBuildingElement
S[0:?]Reference to the IfcRelVoidsElement relationship that creates an opening in an element. An element can incorporate zero-to-many openings. For each opening, that voids the element, a new relationship IfcRelVoidsElement is generated. X
IsConnectionRealizationIfcRelConnectsWithRealizingElements
@RealizingElements
S[0:?]Reference to the connection relationship with realizing element. The relationship, if provided, assigns this element as the realizing element to the connection, which provides the physical manifestation of the connection relationship. X
ProvidesBoundariesIfcRelSpaceBoundary
@RelatedBuildingElement
S[0:?]Reference to space boundaries by virtue of the objectified relationship IfcRelSpaceBoundary. It defines the concept of an element bounding spaces. X
ConnectedFromIfcRelConnectsElements
@RelatedElement
S[0:?]Reference to the element connection relationship. The relationship then refers to the other element that is connected to this element. X
ContainedInStructureIfcRelContainedInSpatialStructure
@RelatedElements
S[0:1]Containment relationship to the spatial structure element, to which the element is primarily associated. This containment relationship has to be hierachical, i.e. an element may only be assigned directly to zero or one spatial structure. X
HasCoveringsIfcRelCoversBldgElements
@RelatingBuildingElement
S[0:?]Reference to IfcCovering by virtue of the objectified relationship IfcRelCoversBldgElement. It defines the concept of an element having coverings associated.X
IfcBuildingElement
Definitions applying to Common Use Definitions

 Instance diagram


Concept usage

Property Sets for Objects

The Property Sets for Objects concept applies to this entity as shown in Table 29.

PredefinedTypeNameProperties
 Pset_EnvironmentalImpactIndicatorsSingle Value
NameValue
ReferenceIfcIdentifier
FunctionalUnitReferenceIfcLabel
UnitIfcText
ExpectedServiceLifeIfcTimeMeasure
TotalPrimaryEnergyConsumptionPerUnitIfcEnergyMeasure
WaterConsumptionPerUnitIfcVolumeMeasure
HazardousWastePerUnitIfcMassMeasure
NonHazardousWastePerUnitIfcMassMeasure
ClimateChangePerUnitIfcMassMeasure
AtmosphericAcidificationPerUnitIfcMassMeasure
RenewableEnergyConsumptionPerUnitIfcEnergyMeasure
NonRenewableEnergyConsumptionPerUnitIfcEnergyMeasure
ResourceDepletionPerUnitIfcMassMeasure
InertWastePerUnitIfcMassMeasure
RadioactiveWastePerUnitIfcMassMeasure
StratosphericOzoneLayerDestructionPerUnitIfcMassMeasure
PhotochemicalOzoneFormationPerUnitIfcMassMeasure
EutrophicationPerUnitIfcMassMeasure
Enumerated Value
NameValueValue
LifeCyclePhaseIfcLabelIfcLabel
 Pset_EnvironmentalImpactValuesSingle Value
NameValue
TotalPrimaryEnergyConsumptionIfcEnergyMeasure
WaterConsumptionIfcVolumeMeasure
HazardousWasteIfcMassMeasure
NonHazardousWasteIfcMassMeasure
ClimateChangeIfcMassMeasure
AtmosphericAcidificationIfcMassMeasure
RenewableEnergyConsumptionIfcEnergyMeasure
NonRenewableEnergyConsumptionIfcEnergyMeasure
ResourceDepletionIfcMassMeasure
InertWasteIfcMassMeasure
RadioactiveWasteIfcMassMeasure
StratosphericOzoneLayerDestructionIfcMassMeasure
PhotochemicalOzoneFormationIfcMassMeasure
EutrophicationIfcMassMeasure
LeadInTimeIfcDuration
DurationIfcDuration
LeadOutTime 
 Pset_ConditionSingle Value
NameValue
AssessmentDateIfcDate
AssessmentConditionIfcLabel
AssessmentDescriptionIfcText
 Pset_ManufacturerOccurrenceSingle Value
NameValue
AcquisitionDateIfcDate
BarCodeIfcIdentifier
SerialNumberIfcIdentifier
BatchReferenceIfcIdentifier
Enumerated Value
NameValueValue
AssemblyPlaceIfcLabelIfcLabel
 Pset_ManufacturerTypeInformationSingle Value
NameValue
GlobalTradeItemNumberIfcIdentifier
ArticleNumberIfcIdentifier
ModelReferenceIfcLabel
ModelLabelIfcLabel
ManufacturerIfcLabel
ProductionYearIfcLabel
Enumerated Value
NameValueValue
AssemblyPlaceIfcLabelIfcLabel
 Pset_ServiceLifeSingle Value
NameValue
MeanTimeBetweenFailureIfcDuration
Bounded Value
NameValueValue
ServiceLifeDurationIfcDurationIfcDuration
 Pset_WarrantySingle Value
NameValue
WarrantyIdentifierIfcIdentifier
WarrantyStartDateIfcDate
WarrantyEndDateIfcDate
IsExtendedWarrantyIfcBoolean
WarrantyPeriodIfcTimeMeasure
WarrantyContentIfcText
ExclusionsIfcText

Table 29 — IfcBuildingElement Property Sets for Objects



Product Assignment

The Product Assignment concept applies to this entity as shown in Table 30.

TypeDescription
IfcTaskTask for operating upon the building element.

Table 30 — IfcBuildingElement Product Assignment



Spatial Containment

The Spatial Containment concept applies to this entity as shown in Table 31.

Structure
IfcBuildingStorey
IfcBuilding
IfcSite

Table 31 — IfcBuildingElement Spatial Containment



Surface 3D Geometry

The Surface 3D Geometry concept applies to this entity.

Some IfcBuildingElement may be represented by an surface as an abstract geometric representation. See each subtype for specific guidance.



Concept inheritance

#ConceptModel View
IfcRoot
Software IdentityCommon Use Definitions
Revision ControlCommon Use Definitions
IfcObject
Object Occurrence Predefined TypeCommon Use Definitions
IfcElement
Product Local PlacementCommon Use Definitions
Box GeometryCommon Use Definitions
FootPrint GeometryCommon Use Definitions
Body SurfaceOrSolidModel GeometryCommon Use Definitions
Body SurfaceModel GeometryCommon Use Definitions
Body Tessellation GeometryCommon Use Definitions
Body Brep GeometryCommon Use Definitions
Body AdvancedBrep GeometryCommon Use Definitions
Body CSG GeometryCommon Use Definitions
Mapped GeometryCommon Use Definitions
Mesh GeometryCommon Use Definitions
IfcBuildingElement
Property Sets for ObjectsCommon Use Definitions
Product AssignmentCommon Use Definitions
Spatial ContainmentCommon Use Definitions
Surface 3D GeometryCommon Use Definitions
Formal representations
XSD Specification
 <xs:element name="IfcBuildingElement" type="ifc:IfcBuildingElement" abstract="true" substitutionGroup="ifc:IfcElement" nillable="true"/>
 <xs:complexType name="IfcBuildingElement" abstract="true">
  <xs:complexContent>
   <xs:extension base="ifc:IfcElement"/>
  </xs:complexContent>
 </xs:complexType>
EXPRESS Specification
ENTITY IfcBuildingElement
 ABSTRACT SUPERTYPE OF(ONEOF(IfcBeam, IfcBuildingElementProxy, IfcChimney, IfcColumn, IfcCovering, IfcCurtainWall, IfcDoor, IfcFooting, IfcMember, IfcPile, IfcPlate, IfcRailing, IfcRamp, IfcRampFlight, IfcRoof, IfcShadingDevice, IfcSlab, IfcStair, IfcStairFlight, IfcWall, IfcWindow))
 SUBTYPE OF (IfcElement);
 WHERE
  MaxOneMaterialAssociation : SIZEOF (QUERY(temp <* SELF\IfcObjectDefinition.HasAssociations | 'IFCPRODUCTEXTENSION.IFCRELASSOCIATESMATERIAL' IN TYPEOF(temp) )) <= 1;
END_ENTITY;

Link to EXPRESS-G diagram EXPRESS-G diagram

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