IFC Entity and IFC PredefinedType in Allplan

Given that Allplan is primarily aligned towards the AEC industry, the data model - the IFC library - includes all common objects in the fields of architecture (wall, window, room, ...), engineering (beam, foundation, …) and building services (conduit, switch, outlet, ...). Each new version comes with more and more objects of related fields and thus definitions of new objects.

If you ever encounter a situation where there is no suitable Allplan tool for an object or component, or you cannot use it owing to specific characteristics, you can model it as a custom object via the 3D modeling module. You can use the IFC Entity attribute to retroactively assign an entity to all elements you design there. The same applies to objects combined into a smart 3D symbol or SmartParts you defined yourself. Allplan then transfers these objects in accordance with the entity assigned.

User-defined architectural elements are a special form in Allplan. As opposed to components, these elements can have any shape. However, they are more 'intelligent' than 3D solids. For example, you can define how user-defined architectural elements look in plan. You can use the Convert Elements tool to create user-defined architectural elements from 3D solids. All you need to do is select the 3D to U-D elements conversion mode.

You can create objects of any IFC entity that is currently available and supported by Allplan, regardless of whether there is an appropriate tool. However, the object must have a 3D geometry (volume solid). As you know, 2D elements in any form, including smart 2D symbols or 2D SmartParts, will not be transferred. 3D lines and surfaces are not 3D objects either because they only have two dimensions.

We recommend converting an element to a BIM object, that is to say, an IFC object, immediately after you have created it. Otherwise, you might forget to do this or lose track of objects you must still classify.