Mandating IFC ensures data is open and available, and directives enable interoperable working methods. The benefits of mandating IFC are clear: it provides clarity, consistency, and reliability, and it is a foundational framework that is open, non-proprietary, and vendor-neutral. While BIM is mostly encouraged but not mandatory, the use of openBIM is not specified. It is a goal of this forum to advocate for more examples of openBIM mandates driving change for the better.
Picture map of IFC mandates : link towards the report
Despite the EU Public Procurement Directive (EU 2014/24) requiring BIM based on open standards, in the significant majority, openBIM is not yet fully mandated in Europe, with only some countries taking the lead on specifying IFC and openBIM as an exchange methodology. Additionally, different levels of BIM implementation and BIM usage in European countries are not harmonized. There are no common approaches for implementation on a European level. Several European Chapters of buildingSMART International (1) supported the development of national roadmaps for implementing openBIM standards in their respective countries. At the same time, the EU BIM Task group (2) promotes digital uses in construction for the public market. In this context, the idea of creating the European openBIM Forum emerged to propose initiatives aligned with the EU strategy in digital construction pathway and support the implementation of openBIM in European strategies. The European buildingSMART chapters can enhance their efforts by working together through the Forum. As a result, there are many benefits for Europe and buildingSMART chapters, and for the broader buildingSMART community. The European chapters of buildingSMART International see an opportunity for their work and support to be pooled, to maximize the beneficial impact of openBIM in Europe. This is enabled by advancing the global adoption and implementation of openBIM standards.
1. buildingSMART International is the worldwide organisation of national associations called Chapters and private members. This non-profit organisation drives the transformation of the built asset industry through creation, development, maintenance and adoption of open- neutral standards (such as IFC, bSDD, and BCF). These rules establishing a common standard allows the AECO community to benefit from a common language to export and import data through the entire project and asset lifecycle.
2. A pan-European approach to best practice in BIM (building information modelling). Bringing together national efforts into a common and aligned European approach to develop a world-class digital construction sector. Mission : Support public clients responsible for the built environment to implement digital transformation in practice. Who’s part of it : About – EU BIM Task Group
