IFC Types Mapping

How BEAM categories map to IFC entities

When a family's IFC Type is Automatic, BEAM picks the IFC entity from the family's category. The table shows the IFC4 entities. To use a different entity for a family, set its Type in Ifc Properties.

BEAM category	IFC element	IFC type
Casework	IfcFurniture	IfcFurnitureType
Ceilings	IfcCovering	IfcCoveringType
Columns	IfcColumn	IfcColumnType
Curtain Panels	IfcCurtainWall	IfcCurtainWallType
Doors	IfcDoor	IfcDoorType
Electrical Equipment	IfcElectricAppliance	IfcElectricApplianceType
Electrical Fixtures	IfcDistributionControlElement	IfcDistributionControlElementType
Entourage	IfcBuildingElementProxy	IfcBuildingElementProxyType
Floors	IfcSlab	IfcSlabType
Furniture	IfcFurniture	IfcFurnitureType
Furniture Systems	IfcFurniture	IfcFurnitureType
Generic Models	IfcBuildingElementProxy	IfcBuildingElementProxyType
Lighting Fixtures	IfcLightFixture	IfcLightFixtureType
Mass	IfcBuildingElementProxy	IfcBuildingElementProxyType
Mechanical Equipment	IfcFlowTerminal	IfcFlowTerminalType
Mullions	IfcMember	IfcMemberType
Parking	IfcBuildingElementProxy	IfcBuildingElementProxyType
Planting	IfcBuildingElementProxy	IfcBuildingElementProxyType
Plumbing Fixtures	IfcSanitaryTerminal	IfcSanitaryTerminalType
Railings	IfcRailing	IfcRailingType
Ramps	IfcRamp	IfcRampType
Roofs	IfcRoof	IfcRoofType
Site	IfcBuildingElementProxy	IfcBuildingElementProxyType
Specialty Equipment	IfcBuildingElementProxy	IfcBuildingElementProxyType
Stairs	IfcStair	IfcStairType
Structural Columns	IfcColumn	IfcColumnType
Structural Connections	IfcMechanicalFastener	IfcMechanicalFastenerType
Structural Foundations	IfcBuildingElementProxy	IfcBuildingElementProxyType
Structural Framing	IfcBeam	IfcBeamType
Structural Stiffeners	IfcBuildingElementProxy	IfcBuildingElementProxyType
Topography	IfcGeographicElement	IfcGeographicElementType
Walls	IfcWall	IfcWallType
Windows	IfcWindow	IfcWindowType

On import

IFC import maps entities back to categories. For example, IfcBeam and IfcMember become Structural Framing, IfcCovering becomes Ceilings, IfcFooting becomes Structural Foundations, and anything without a match becomes Generic Models.