Skip to content
BIMpedia
SoftwareTopic: Clash coordination

BCF (BIM Collaboration Format)

An open format from buildingSMART for exchanging model-based issues — with viewpoints, comments and element references — between BIM tools.
Updated 3 November 2026Draft · awaiting review

BCF (BIM Collaboration Format) is an open standard from buildingSMART International for exchanging issues about models between different software. Instead of sending a screenshot and a description, you send an issue that opens at exactly the right place in the model.

What a BCF topic contains

  • a title, description, type, status, priority and assignee
  • one or more viewpoints — camera position, visible and selected elements, clipping planes
  • snapshots (images)
  • comments forming a discussion thread
  • references to model elements using their IFC GUIDs

Two ways to exchange

  • File-based: topics are packaged in a .bcfzip file and sent or uploaded.
  • API-based: tools connect to a server that holds topics, so everyone sees the same live list.

Version 2.1 is widely supported; version 3.0 refines the format and its API.

Issues travel between tools with BCF
Your BIM toolSolibri, Revizto, Navisworks…
.bcfzipTopics, comments, snapshots
BCF ViewerReview and select
Meeting PackIssue log, owners, dates
BCF 2.1 exportOne topic per issue

Where it fits

BCF is often used for clash issues, design review comments and model-checking results. It works best with IFC, because element IDs are stable across tools.

In a coordination issue log, the View / clash ref column is a good place for the BCF topic ID, so each issue in the minutes can be opened directly in the model.

Discussion