IFC has been published in several versions. Each version is a different schema: the classes, properties and rules it contains. Software must support the version you exchange in, and projects must state which version they use. A second idea, the model view definition (MVD), describes which subset of a version a particular exchange uses.
At a glance
| Version | Published | Status | Key points |
|---|---|---|---|
| IFC 2x3 TC1 | 2007 | Still very widely used | The long-time default for coordination (Coordination View 2.0) |
| IFC 4 (ADD2 TC1) | 2013, corrected 2017 | ISO 16739-1:2018 | Better geometry, properties and georeferencing; Reference View and Design Transfer View |
| IFC 4.3 (ADD2) | 2024 | ISO 16739-1:2024 | Adds infrastructure: roads, railways, bridges, ports and waterways, alignment |
| IFC 5 | In development | Not for project use yet | A redesigned, more modular schema |
What changed in IFC 4
- More precise and more efficient geometry (for example tessellated meshes and NURBS surfaces).
- Better georeferencing (IfcMapConversion and IfcProjectedCRS).
- Many more predefined types and standard property sets.
- Clearer handling of types, materials and quantities.
What IFC 4.3 adds
- Facilities beyond buildings: IfcRoad, IfcRailway, IfcBridge, IfcMarineFacility.
- Alignment, the geometric centre line that roads and railways are designed along.
- Linear placement (positions along an alignment).
- Earthworks, geotechnical and track elements.
Model view definitions
An MVD is an agreed subset of a schema for one purpose, with rules about what must be present.
| MVD | Version | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Coordination View 2.0 | IFC 2x3 | Coordination between disciplines |
| Reference View | IFC 4 | Viewing, coordination, quantities; simpler geometry, not for editing |
| Design Transfer View | IFC 4 | Transferring editable models (limited tool support) |
| COBie | IFC 2x3 | Facility handover data |
Software is usually certified per MVD, not per version. "Supports IFC 4" may mean it supports Reference View only.
Choosing a version
- Use the newest version that every tool on the project reads and writes reliably. Test exports early.
- For buildings, IFC 4 Reference View is now a sound choice in most tools; IFC 2x3 remains the safe fallback.
- For infrastructure, IFC 4.3 is the first version that models alignments and linear assets properly.
- State the version and MVD in the BEP and the IDS files.
Common mistakes
- Mixing versions in one federated model without checking how each tool converts them.
- Assuming a newer version is always better supported.
- Choosing IFC 4.3 for a building project when a tool on the team cannot yet export it.
Where to read more
buildingSMART publishes the schema documentation and the list of certified software for each version and MVD.