Change units in IFC upload

Import, Integrations & BIM Plugins IFC Viewer & Importer
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image2273Ă—1339 181 KB
Hi Team,

I am testing out the 3d IFC upload for LCA. I would like to change the units of the double glazing to number of units instead of m3 and the waterproof membrane to m2 is it possible?

Best,

Prethvi,

UNS

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Hi Prethvi,

Yes, you can change the unit of measurement during the data mapping phase.

Screenshot 2025-09-30 090319
Screenshot 2025-09-30 0903193728Ă—1384 509 KB

Please be aware that if you change the fundamental type of quantity (e.g., from volume in m3 to area in m2), the model requires additional information, such as material thickness, to perform the conversion automatically.

If this data is unavailable, the value can always be edited manually.

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Morning Steven,

Thanks for the tip, it helps to custom set few things for our workflow.
Also, could you share me the .ifc file of the house from your image above for our reference?

Best,
Prethvi.

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Hi Prethvi, certainly. I will send you a wetransfer link to your email as the model is a bit to big to share over email.

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Hi Thanks steven for the model. Could you also share the BIM software (Revit or others) for reference?

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image1293Ă—1072 62.6 KB

Also, how does the Ifc import method determines whether to measure component with certain units in m2 or m3? Is there a parameter that we can control in the BIM software perhaps while modeling it?

Best,

Prethvi

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Hi Prethvi, for this model I only have an IFC version but I believe it was originally modeled in Revit.

On how we determinate which units are measured:

For walls, our system always attempts to determine the area quantity (m2). If the area cannot be determined, it defaults to using the volume (m3).

The process for this is as follows:

  1. Check IFC Quantity Sets: First, we check for default quantity sets within the IFC file. The system looks for exported quantities such as NetArea or Area. This data may not be present if it wasn’t included in the BIM software’s export settings or if the property names are not in English.

  2. Calculate from Thickness: If the pre-defined quantities are not available, we then try to calculate the area. This is done by taking the component’s calculated volume and dividing it by the material thickness provided in the IFC data.

  3. Default to Volume: If neither of the above methods is successful, we use the volume (m3) calculated directly from the component’s 3D geometry.

This explains why the unit for a wall can differ. A wall will be measured in m2 if its material thickness is available, allowing for the calculation in step 2. If the thickness is not provided, it will be measured in m3.

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