About the IFC Import to Carbon Designer 3D
The IFC import feature allows you to import an IFC building model and automatically generate a simplified Carbon Designer 3D model for early-stage embodied carbon analysis.
Instead of reproducing the full BIM model, the importer extracts the essential building geometry and converts it into a simplified analytical model. This enables Carbon Designer 3D to estimate material quantities and embodied carbon quickly during the concept and early design phases.
The generated model is intended for rapid design exploration rather than detailed BIM coordination or quantity take-offs.
Important: This feature is currently in Beta. The imported model is intentionally simplified and does not preserve every detail of the original IFC model.
How the workflow works
Step 1 - Create a design. Start a new design in Carbon Designer 3D as you normally would.
Step 2 - Select the scope. Set the assessment scope, structural frame, and other project settings required for your analysis.
Step 3 - Select the shape. Import your IFC model so Carbon Designer 3D can read its building and storey structure.
Step 4 - Generate the geometry. Carbon Designer 3D calculates material quantities from the simplified geometry. Review the generated quantities against your model before moving forward with the embodied carbon assessment.
Step 5 - Review carbon results. Access Carbon Designer 3D’s main page to review the embodied carbon results for your generated 3D model.
How the import works
During import, Carbon Designer 3D:
Reads the building and storey structure from the IFC model.
Identifies supported building elements (walls, slabs, and roofs).
Groups elements by storey.
Generates a simplified building model.
Calculates material quantities based on the simplified geometry for early-stage embodied carbon assessments.
Because the model is simplified, some IFC elements and geometric details are intentionally ignored or approximated.
Preparing your IFC file
For the best import results, ensure your IFC model follows the recommendations below.
Supported IFC structure
Your IFC file must contain:
At least one IFC Building (IfcBuilding)
Properly defined IFC Storeys (IfcBuildingStorey) with valid elevation values
Building elements assigned to one of the building's storeys
The importer uses the building and storey hierarchy to organize the model. Walls, slabs, and roofs are assigned to floors based on their storey association.
Without properly defined IFC Storeys and storey elevations, no elements will be imported.
Supported IFC element types
The importer currently uses only the following IFC categories:
IfcBuilding
IfcBuildingStorey
IfcWall
IfcWallStandardCase
IfcSlab
IfcRoof
All other IFC element types are ignored during import.
Supported building models
One building per IFC file: Only a single building model is supported. If the IFC file contains multiple disconnected building models, only one of them will be imported. This may produce unexpected results.
At least one above-ground floor: The model must contain at least one above-ground storey. Models containing only underground levels cannot be imported.
Geometry limitations: To simplify the building for early-stage analysis, some geometry is interpreted differently from the original model.
Inclined elements: Inclined slabs and roofs are treated as horizontal elements. Their quantities are included in the corresponding building part, but their original slope is not preserved in the simplified model.
Exterior non-building elements: To improve import quality, remove elements that are not part of the building but use supported IFC classes (especially IfcSlab, IfcWall, or IfcRoof) such as site slabs, terraces, retaining walls, etc. These elements can interfere with the automatic detection of the building geometry and may produce inaccurate results.
Before importing
Check that:
The file contains one building only.
The model includes at least one above-ground storey.
Storeys have valid elevations.
Walls, slabs, and roofs are assigned to one of the building's storeys.
Exterior non-building elements using supported IFC classes have been removed.
Summary
The IFC import feature provides a fast way to create a Carbon Designer 3D model from an existing IFC file, helping you begin embodied carbon assessments earlier in the design process.
For the best results, ensure your IFC model follows the recommendations in this article and review the generated model after import. As the IFC import feature evolves, improvements to the import algorithm will continue to enhance the accuracy of the generated 3D model and building quantities.