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About the IFC Viewer
One Click LCA users can now take advantage of the built-in IFC file viewer and data importer, allowing them to preview 3D models and import quantities to the One Click LCA platform. This connection enables users to perform carbon and life-cycle assessments, as well as generate Environmental Product Declarations, using data created within the IFC format file.
The IFC (Industry Foundation Classes) file format is an open, neutral format used to represent building and construction data digitally. Many BIM (Building Information Modeling) software tools export their models in the IFC format, allowing for easy data exchange and collaboration across different platforms.
How do you access the IFC Viewer?
Make sure you have the things listed below before starting:
One Click LCA account and license with Designer features or higher
Latest Updates:
17th June 2025. The updated version includes:
Added support to view and import additional IFC properties via the Properties panel.
Added "Comment" field allows users to add notes to individual element rows, which carry over to One Click LCA.
Renamed data table columns: IfcType ➜ IFC Class, IfcName ➜ IFC Type (property references remain unchanged).
Fallback logic for <Unnamed> materials, now displaying the IFC Name when available.
Updated fallback logic for materials with "0" quantity, now displays the number of pieces instead of showing "0".
Increased rounding of Quantity column to 0.00001.
Improve thickness reporting.
Key functionalities of the IFC Viewer
Import IFC files directly into One Click LCA without any additional software or steps.
View your imported file as a 3D model within the IFC Viewer feature.
Interact with the 3D model using zoom, rotation, and highlighting features to explore elements and their respective quantities.
Filter and review the model’s content, selecting the relevant data for import into One Click LCA.
View and import data from additional IFC properties.
Extract the Bill of Materials from your model and bring it directly into One Click LCA.
Major highlights of the IFC Viewer functionality
Security and privacy
The IFC file is processed entirely in your browser and is never stored or shared by One Click LCA.
File handling and processing
Currently, the maximum file size is 1000 MB. Files larger than 300 MB may encounter performance issues.
The feature supports reading and viewing only one IFC file at a time.
Data handling
Material is retrieved from IFC material property; if unavailable, falls back to IFC Type, then IFC Name, and IFC Class.The "Material" in the data table takes data from IfcMaterial. If unavailable, IfcObjectType is used, followed by IfcName and IfcType. This column can then be directly used in the import process by One Click LCA to match automatically appropriate environmental profiles to each material. In the newer import interface, users can switch the column that is used for that purpose to any imported column.
The material quantities displayed in the data table are based on the IfcQuantities property and are also calculated using the geometry engine. Available units can be volume, area and number of pieces. Typically, minor discrepancies up to 1% can occur when comparing these quantities with other IFC readers or the original software.
Composite objects reporting logic:
Elements with material layers (e.g., walls, floors, roofs) are split and reported by individual material layers using data from IFC MaterialLayer. Each layer appears as a separate entry in the viewer.
The following classes are reported as whole elements, without splitting into individual materials:
IFCDOOR, IFCWINDOW, IFCCURTAINWALL, IFCRAILING, IFCFURNISHINGELEMENT, IFCFLOWTERMINAL.
Saving and data retention
Currently, the 3D model and any viewing customization settings cannot be saved. Visualization and related settings are lost when the user closes the browser.
Project compatibility
The feature is available for Building, Infrastructure, and Product projects; Import setup is a bit better optimized for Building projects at the moment, so that the material data are imported to the correct building part section in building LCA tools without a need for further actions (managed through the "One Click LCA Class" column), but the import works also for Product and Infrastructure tools.
How to use the IFC Viewer?
Step-by-step guidance:
1. Start a new project or open an existing one. See our guidance on how you can create a project here - Creating A Project
2. Open your One Click LCA project and select the "View and import IFC" feature from input data dropdown.
3. Drag and drop, or select the IFC file you want to upload.
4. Click "Next" to begin reading the IFC file.
5. Once the model is read and rendered in the browser, navigate through the Model Preview & Data Filtering page. Here you can:
Interact with the 3D model
View the 3D model with basic interactions like zoom, rotate, and pan.
Select an element in the 3D model to view its details in the data table.
Enable/disable visibility of the IFC Classes.
View & filter the data through the data table.
The table can be triggered for visibility by using a toggle button called "Table". It includes filtering, sorting, and content customization features.
Select the IFC Classes and/or the individual objects/materials to import to One Click LCA. The number of selected objects/materials for import is displayed above the table.
The data table content includes:
IFC Class column. Data is grouped by IFC Class, and the groups can be expanded to view individual materials / objects.
One Click LCA Class column. This column is preassigned based on the IFC Class.
IFC Type column.
Material column. Material is retrieved from IFC material property; if unavailable, falls back to IFC Type, then IFC Name, and IFC Class.
Quantity column. Quantities of materials are based on IFC Quantities property and also are calculated via the geometry engine.
Unit column. For example, m³, m², or unit (number of pieces).
Thickness column. Displays the thickness of a material layer or object, if available. The value is taken from the assigned IFC MaterialLayer. If that is not available and the object has only one material assigned, it falls back to the IFC Thickness value.
Comments can be added to individual element rows, but not to groups. They are imported into the design and shown in data input pages and detailed results export, depending on the 'combine' setting in the next import step.
Additionally, you can add columns ID and IFC Class by selecting them from the column management menu (3-dot button; see image further below).
View & add additional IFC properties to data table and import to One Click LCA
The Properties panel can be enabled by:
Using a toggle button called "Properties".
Right-clicking in the model space and choosing "Show IFC Properties".
Right-clicking in the data table on an individual row and choosing "Show IFC Properties".
In the data table, clicking the document icon on the right side of the individual element row.
Once the Properties tab is open, you can manage adding/removing additional properties in 2 tabs:
"In selected element" – Property names and their values are shown for the selected element, whether selected in the 3D view or the data table.
"All properties" – Displays a list of all properties in the model for easy browsing and addition.
Additional properties can be added using the toggle next to each property name and value.
To remove an additional property from the data table, right-click the column header and select "Remove Additional Column".
Some properties are added by default and are locked (cannot be toggled off).
Once a property is added, it will be shown in the data table and, upon clicking the "Import" button, will be included in the next stage of data import.
You can add to the data table and import up to 30 additional properties.
Additional actions
Click "Import" to import selected data.
Click "Previous" to go back to previous page and select other IFC file.
Click "Read more" to access the IFC Viewer customer success help centre article.
Hide/Show the side panel: The side panel indicates your current step and provides an option to return to your project.
6. Once your selection is ready, click "Import" to send the data to the One Click LCA import process.
7. From this step, follow the standard procedure for data import.
FAQ
Q: What happens with the IFC file I am sharing with IFC Viewer? Is my data secure?
A: The uploaded IFC file is never stored or shared by One Click LCA and is only processed within your browser. Imported data by the user can include exclusively Bill of Materials data. Additionally, at One Click LCA, we are dedicated to your data security. One Click LCA is certified with ISO 27001, the world’s most demanding cybersecurity standard, SOC 2 and is also certified for Cyber Essentials Plus, required for many UK government contracts.
Q: Does the IFC Viewer support multiple IFC files?
A: At the moment the feature supports only one IFC file at a time.
Q: Can I add more IFC properties to the exported data
A: Yes, the additional properties can be added via the "Properties" panel. Please see guidance above.Q: Can I add more IFC properties to the exported data
Q: How can I provide more feedback?
A: Share your feedback with [email protected] or add your comments in this Community Post. Our experts would also look forward to jumping on a call with you for a more extended discussion.
Q: My IFC model wasn't read at all?
A:This issue is most commonly caused by browser memory limitations. Since IFC file reading is processed entirely within your browser, the application may encounter memory constraints, especially if other heavy tasks or processes are running simultaneously in the browser.
Here are some steps to troubleshoot:
Close other tabs and processes. Ensure there are no other resource-intensive tasks or tabs open in your browser while attempting to load the IFC model.
Restart your browser can free up memory and improve performance.
Try a different browser. Some browsers handle memory differently, so switching to another browser might help.
Q: What are the recommended additional properties to add to the data table and import?
A: Recommended additional properties include quantities such as "Pieces" and "Calculated Volume", as well as element descriptions like "IFC Name", "Category", and "Family". Please note that these properties may not always be available, depending on the content of the IFC model.
Q: In the data table, why can’t I see the thickness of all elements that should have it available?
A: Thickness may not appear for all elements because it depends on the presence of the IFC MaterialLayer or IFC Thickness property in the IFC file. If those properties are missing, the viewer cannot retrieve the thickness. Ensure that the IFC MaterialLayer and IFC Thickness property are correctly defined and included during export to IFC file. Alternatively add thickness as additional property to your imported data.
Q: Why in some models I can access many properties and in others only a few? How can I improve this?
A: The number of accessible properties depends on the IFC export settings from the original BIM software. To improve this, ensure that the export includes as many relevant property sets as possible, including common and custom parameters. It’s also recommended to split elements into parts where possible to capture detailed material information. Proper configuration of export settings and use of property mapping or schedules will help maximize available properties in the IFC file. For the best IFC export settings, please refer to the guidance provided by your specific BIM software.