Import

Import IFC files into Rhino.

You can import IFC files into Rhino in two ways:

• Rhino Import Command – use Rhino’s standard Import command. When BEAM is installed, IFC files are automatically recognized.

• IFC Import Button – click the IFC Import button on the BEAM panel in Rhino for a direct workflow.

When an IFC is imported or referenced, both its geometry and BIM data are brought into Rhino. All the data is accessible in the BEAM panel, where you can inspect categories, parameters, and materials directly.

Import Settings

The IFC Import Settings dialog provides several options to customize how IFC files are brought into Rhino.

If Worksession is enabled, the IFC file is imported as a separate .3dm and attached to the current session as a worksession, making it useful as a background or reference model. If it is disabled, the IFC content is imported directly into the active Rhino document.

The option Import Spaces controls whether IfcSpace entities are included. Turning it on brings spaces into the model; turning it off excludes them.

With Import All Categories, you can decide between importing every category in the IFC file or selecting specific IFC types for a more controlled import.

The Merge Coplanar Faces option applies Rhino’s display setting that merges adjacent coplanar surfaces. This only affects how objects are displayed in the viewport, improving visual clarity, but it does not change the actual geometry.

Finally, IFC files can also be positioned on a specific CPlane in Rhino. To use this option, the target CPlane must be saved in the Rhino model before import.