IFC Classifier △●▢●◯

A simple tool to add classifications to your IFC models 🛠️

🎯 The Problem

Working with IFC files? Then you know how hard it can be to get everyone to consistently classify model elements. Whether you're using Uniclass, eBKP-H, or your own system, getting teams to properly implement IfcClassificationReference is often a pain.

After initially thinking about how to fully automating this process, I quickly realized that regulations, responsibilities across disciplines, and accountability requirements make that approach less practical.

✨ What This Tool Does

IFC Classifier helps you classify IFC elements without needing expert knowledge of BIM authoring tools. It's designed to make the process simpler and more repeatable.

Note: This is a Work In Progress and open source under the AGPL v3 license.

🏗️ Architecture Overview

Tech Stack

The application follows a modern web architecture with:

• Frontend: Next.js + React with TypeScript for type safety
• 3D Visualization: Three.js with React Three Fiber for IFC model rendering
• IFC Processing: web-ifc for parsing and IfcOpenShell via Pyodide/WASM for advanced operations
• Styling: Tailwind CSS with Shadcn/ui components for a consistent design system
• Privacy-First: All processing happens locally in the browser - no data leaves your device

🌟 Features

• 🖼️ IFC Viewer:

  • View IFC models in your browser
  • Standard navigation (orbit, pan, zoom)
  • Easy model exploration through spatial tree
  • Check element properties
  • Hide/show elements as needed

• 📖 IFC Schema Documentation:

  • Real-time schema previews: Hover over IFC class names to see instant schema information
  • Full documentation reader: Click "View Schema" to open comprehensive IFC documentation

• 📚 Classification Systems:

  • Use ready-made systems:
    • 🇨🇭 Swiss CRB eBKP-H
    • 🇬🇧 Uniclass
  • Or create your own custom system
  • Assign colors to visualize different classifications
  • Import or export classification sets as JSON or Excel files

• ⚙️ Rule-Based Sorting:

  • Create rules to automatically sort elements
  • Based on properties like: IsExternal, LoadBearing, etc.
  • Example: "Put all external, non-load bearing walls (except basement) into category C02.01"
  • See rule results live on your model
  • Import rules from JSON or Excel for easy setup
  • Export rules to JSON or Excel for sharing

• ✍️ Export Your Work:

  • Save your model with proper IfcClassificationReference entities
  • Use the improved file in other BIM tools

• 🔎 Search & Filter:

  • Search across the model tree or entire 3D scene
  • Cancel long searches and track progress
  • Quickly hide or unhide found elements

• 📋 Property-Based Classification:

  • Support for classification codes stored in property sets (Psets)
  • Automatically map full classifications from existing Psets
  • Extract classifications from existing property values in the model
  • Flexible property set name matching with wildcard support

• 🗣️ Multi-Language UI:

  • English, French, Italian and German built in
  • Switch languages from the menu or settings panel
  • Add new translations via simple JSON files

• 🔐 Privacy First:

  • All processing happens locally in your browser
  • IFC data never leaves your device
  • Open DevTools → Network to confirm no IFC file is uploaded

🚀 Recent Updates

July 10, 2025:

• README update, added architecture overview diagrams

May 23, 2025:

• Added comprehensive schema preview and documentation reader for IFC classes
• Integrated schema preview tooltips and "View Schema" links

May 22, 2025:

• Added search across the 3D view and model explorer with progress feedback.
• Implemented automatic mapping of classifications from property sets with wildcard support.
• Introduced central IFC property caching for faster lookups.
• Improved language selection menu and settings layout.
• Refined properties panel and overall UI styling.

May 21, 2025:

• Added ability to import rule definitions from Excel (.xlsx) files.
• Added ability to export rules to Excel for easier sharing.

May 20, 2025:

• Enhanced user interface with footer improvements.
• Added settings for managing rules and default classifications.
• Implemented IFC GUID display with a copy-to-clipboard feature in the properties panel.
• Major refactor of classification and IFC model components for better performance and readability.
• Fixed an issue to preserve model coordinates when loading new IFC files.
• Improved layout and introduced a rule management menu for easier access.
• Added functionality to import and export classifications as JSON files.
• Added favicons for better cross-browser compatibility.
• Enhanced property extraction and rendering from IFC models.

May 19, 2025:

• Introduced 3D selection-based classification, allowing manual assignment of classifications to selected elements.
• Refactored and cleaned up code in ModelInfo and SpatialTreePanel components.
• Fixed a bug related to null values for IFC class names in the spatial tree.
• Added display for material sections and improved IFC model property extraction.

May 18, 2025:

• Initial project setup and README creation.

💡 Goal

Make IFC classification simple enough that anyone can do it properly.

🛠️ Tech Stack

• Next.js
• React
• TypeScript
• Three.js / @react-three/fiber
• web-ifc
• IfcOpenShell via Pyodide/WASM
• Tailwind CSS
• Shadcn/ui
• Radix UI - For accessible UI primitives

📄 License

GNU Affero General Public License v3.0 - See the LICENSE file for details.