IfcElement

IfcElement

Definition from IAI: Generalization of all components that make up an AEC product. Those elements can be logically contained by a spatial structure element that constitutes a certain level within a project structure hierarchy (e.g., site, building, storey or space). This is done by using the IfcRelContainedInSpatialStructure relationship.

Elements are physically existent objects, although they might be void elements, such as holes. Elements either remain permanently in the AEC product, or only temporarily, as formwork does. Elements can be either assembled on site or pre-manufactured and built in on site.

EXAMPLEs of elements in a building construction context are walls, floors, windows and recesses.

An element can have material and quantity information assigned through the IfcRelAssociatesMaterial and IfcRelDefinesByProperties relationship.

In addition an element can be declared to be a specific occurrence of an element type (and thereby be defined by the element type properties) using the IfcRelDefinesByType relationship.

An element can also be defined as an element assembly that is a group of semantically and topologically related elements that form a higher level part of the AEC product. Those element assemblies are defined by virtue of the IfcRelAggregates relationship.

EXAMPLEs for element assembly are complete Roof Structures, made by several Roof Areas, or a Stair, composed by Flights and Landings.

Elements that performs the same function may be grouped by an "Element Group By Function". It is realized by an instance of IfcGroup with the ObjectType = 'ElementGroupByFunction".

HISTORY New entity in IFC Release 1.0

EXPRESS specification:

ENTITY IfcElement

ABSTRACT SUPERTYPE OF

(ONEOF(IfcBuildingElement, IfcFurnishingElement, IfcElectricalElement, IfcDistributionElement, IfcTransportElement, IfcEquipmentElement, IfcFeatureElement, IfcElementAssembly))

SUBTYPE OF (

IfcProduct);

Tag

OPTIONAL IfcIdentifier;

INVERSE

FillsVoids

SET [0:1] OF IfcRelFillsElement FOR RelatedBuildingElement;

ConnectedTo

SET OF IfcRelConnectsElements FOR RelatingElement;

HasCoverings

SET OF IfcRelCoversBldgElements FOR RelatingBuildingElement;

HasProjections

SET OF IfcRelProjectsElement FOR RelatingElement;

HasPorts

SET OF IfcRelConnectsPortToElement FOR RelatedElement;

HasOpenings

SET OF IfcRelVoidsElement FOR RelatingBuildingElement;

IsConnectionRealization

SET OF IfcRelConnectsWithRealizingElements FOR RealizingElements;

ProvidesBoundaries

SET OF IfcRelSpaceBoundary FOR RelatedBuildingElement;

ConnectedFrom

SET OF IfcRelConnectsElements FOR RelatedElement;

ContainedInStructure

SET [0:1] OF IfcRelContainedInSpatialStructure FOR RelatedElements;

END_ENTITY;

Attribute definitions:

Tag	:	The tag (or label) identifier at the particular instance of a product, e.g. the serial number, or the position number. It is the identifier at the occurrance level.
FillsVoids	:	Reference to the Fills Relationship that puts the Element into the Opening within another Element.
ConnectedTo	:	Reference to the element connection relationship. The relationship then refers to the other element to which this element is connected to.
HasProjections	:	Projection relationship that adds a feature (using a Boolean union) to the IfcBuildingElement.
HasPorts	:	Reference to the element to port connection relationship. The relationship then refers to the port which is contained in this element.
HasOpenings	:	Reference to the Voids Relationship that creates an opening in an element. An element can incorporate zero-to-many openings.
ProvidesBoundaries	:	Reference to Space Boundaries by virtue of the objectified relationship IfcRelSeparatesSpaces. It defines the concept of an Building Element bounding Spaces.
ConnectedFrom	:	Reference to the element connection relationship. The relationship then refers to the other element that is connected to this element.
ContainedInStructure	:	Relationship to a spatial structure element, to which the element is primarily associated.

Inheritance graph

ENTITY IfcElement;

ENTITY IfcRoot;

GlobalId

IfcGloballyUniqueId;

OwnerHistory

IfcOwnerHistory;

Name

OPTIONAL IfcLabel;

Description

OPTIONAL IfcText;

ENTITY IfcObject;

ObjectType

OPTIONAL IfcLabel;

INVERSE

IsDefinedBy

SET OF IfcRelDefines FOR RelatedObjects;

HasAssociations

SET OF IfcRelAssociates FOR RelatedObjects;

HasAssignments

SET OF IfcRelAssigns FOR RelatedObjects;

Decomposes

SET [0:1] OF IfcRelDecomposes FOR RelatedObjects;

IsDecomposedBy

SET OF IfcRelDecomposes FOR RelatingObject;

ENTITY IfcProduct;

ObjectPlacement

OPTIONAL IfcObjectPlacement;

Representation

OPTIONAL IfcProductRepresentation;

INVERSE

ReferencedBy

SET OF IfcRelAssignsToProduct FOR RelatingProduct;

ENTITY IfcElement;

Tag

OPTIONAL IfcIdentifier;

INVERSE

FillsVoids

SET [0:1] OF IfcRelFillsElement FOR RelatedBuildingElement;

ConnectedTo

SET OF IfcRelConnectsElements FOR RelatingElement;

HasCoverings

SET OF IfcRelCoversBldgElements FOR RelatingBuildingElement;

HasProjections

SET OF IfcRelProjectsElement FOR RelatingElement;

HasPorts

SET OF IfcRelConnectsPortToElement FOR RelatedElement;

HasOpenings

SET OF IfcRelVoidsElement FOR RelatingBuildingElement;

IsConnectionRealization

SET OF IfcRelConnectsWithRealizingElements FOR RealizingElements;

ProvidesBoundaries

SET OF IfcRelSpaceBoundary FOR RelatedBuildingElement;

ConnectedFrom

SET OF IfcRelConnectsElements FOR RelatedElement;

ContainedInStructure

SET [0:1] OF IfcRelContainedInSpatialStructure FOR RelatedElements;

END_ENTITY;