Make sure you have the things listed below before starting:

We have added different Excel templates which you can use for Excel imports.

See the table below to see which Excel form you should use, along with a link to download the file.

You only need to have Microsoft Excel installed.

If the model is taken directly from the Building Information Model using One Click LCA import, it is automatically in the correct form. If you use some other source for Excel, you will need to add correct data heading labels, units, and classification for the data (see guidance here) or try the updated import process if you have access to it.

If you are using one of the Excel templates, then you simply fill in the Excel template with the available building materials quantity takeoff.

Below are provided explanations for different classes and guidance on how to fill in the data.

The class defines to which question in the query we map, the values have to be one of the listed ones in exactly the same format. Please find the list of accepted CLASS values for building projects and information on which question each of them is mapped to in the table below. Infrastructure and EPD projects have their own classification system. The classes can be found in the Excel templates, which can be downloaded from the bottom of this article.

The distinguishable material name that we use to map the material to the label in the tool. Mapping is based on CLASS & IFCMATERIAL combination. Many generic labels, such as Concrete 40/50, are automatically mapped. For other materials, choose a material label that you wish to use for that material. When you import it for the first time, you can teach it to the tool and it will be automatically recognized in the future. If you input the precise name of an One Click LCA data point (as listed in the data card) as the IFCMATERIAL, the corresponding environmental profile will be automatically assigned during the import process, provided that the data point is accessible in the chosen tool and the selected unit aligns with the data point's supported units.

Number, use a comma as a decimal separator.

Unit, accepted values are M3, KG, and M2. Please note that if you are using M2, you’ll also need to give THICKNESS in mm units.

Transport distance in km from the manufacturer site to the building site (optional, can also be added later in the query).

Additional information: You can add additional information you want to use to the Excel template by using the Comment column or adding new columns. If you add extra columns, consider removing unused columns, as there is a maximum number of columns that can be present in an imported Excel file. In the additional settings during the import process, you can change the data grouping and combine based on any additional imported columns. The imported info for each item in the Excel file is also available in the "Mapping" step and the data input pages (building material query) by clicking the paper icon.

When all the listed are available, you can simply open your project design where you wish to import the data and click 'Input data' and 'Import Excel or gbXML files'.

You can also download the Excel from your existing BIM or IFC model and then add additional rows for it or make corrections. For instance, if some of the material specifications in the model are not distinguishable enough, such as Wall 1, you can split those into several rows to represent the actual building materials in it.

Note that the old import process includes all tabs in the Excel file. This can cause issues with column limitations, and to avoid this, it is recommended to import Excel files with one tab only.

Please check the FAQ section of the following article, which explains this functionality: Private Classifications