How to eliminate diagnostic messages regarding interpretation of IFC model
| Product | InstalSystem 5 |
| Type of article | TIP&TRICK |
| Source for translation | 2021-08-26 |
Problem description
In some cases, due to the quality of the imported IFC model and the complexity of the project situation, the following operations:
- BIM - Interpretation of ifcSpace elements into rooms of InstalSystem 5 package
- BIM - Interpretation of IFC elements into building structure elements of InstalSystem 5 package
may not be successful. Problems related to the correct interpretation of objects from IFC models into the native construction components of the InstalSystem 5 package are diagnosed by the program with precise error or warning messages.
Attention! When doing Thermal calculations of building the structure of which is based on an IFC model, it is worthwhile to analyse the model and consider which building components should be interpreted using the automatic functions available in the program. Components excluded from the interpretation should be drawn in a simplified manner in order to obtain the same (or similar) result for the value of Heat loss due to heat transfer.
The most common errors and warnings include:
- Unable to recognize wall - no storey covering levels on which wall is located with range of elevations.
This error message is displayed when:- During a Creates walls from an IFC file operation the program detects that the elevations of the interpreted components ifcWall, ifcWallStandardCase or ifcCurtainWall do not agree with the elevations of Storey components. For more information, see: BIM - Creating storeys based on data from IFC model.
- Window / door / opening cannot be recognized because there is no wall where this element is inserted.
This error message is displayed when:- During a Creates windows, doors, and wall openings from an IFC file operation the program finds that the elevations of the interpreted components ifcWindow, ifcDoor or ifcOpeningElement do not agree with the elevations of Wall component within which Window, Door, Opening in wall components are to be placed.
- Incorrect element type.
This error message is displayed when:- IFC objects marked by the user before calling the interpreting operation are of other type than the one required by that operation.
- Roof could not be generated from IFC element.
This error message is displayed when:- The program is not able to create a Roof component by interpreting ifcRoof and ifcSlab components or other type of component marked for Creates roofs from an IFC file operation.
- ifcPlate is a component of a IfcCurtainWall and cannot be interpreted separately.
This error message is displayed when:- During a Creates walls from an IFC file operation the program detects that the ifcPlate selected for intepretation is a component of an IfcCurtainWall.
- Unable to recognize room - no storey covering levels on which room is located with range of elevations.
This warning message is displayed when:- During a Creates rooms from an IFC file operation the program detects that the elevations of the ifcSpace components to be interpreted do not agree with the elevations of Storey components. For more information, see: BIM - Creating storeys based on data from IFC model.
Solution
Upon clicking the error or warning message in the Diagnostics window, the objects from the IFC model that cause problems with interpretation are highlighted in 2D editor, 3D view and Project browser. If the message applies to more than one component, then these are grouped in the Component field list.
Elimination of each error requires an analysis of the correctness of object definitions in the IFC model. If it is not possible to solve the identified problems and the design situation requires it, it is possible to approach the interpretation of the components in a hybrid manner, i.e. interpret the selected objects by applying the automatic functions storey by storey, component by component, and then manually supplement the created building structure with the required structural components. For more information, see: Preparation of building structure.
Attention! It is a good idea to interpret the structure in several turns. It is not recommended, especially for complex buildings, to perform the interpretation of a whole group of IFC elements/objects in a single operation. This approach allows for more complete control over potentially occurring problems indicated by messages in the Diagnostics window and facilitates the resolution of these problems.
Unable to recognize wall - no storey covering levels on which wall is located with range of elevations
- In the General data window, Storeys management tab, verify the correctness of the storeys arrangement created from an IFC model. Firstly, the data of the Storey component should be analysed and, if necessary, corrected with regard to Position and Sizes. For more information, see: BIM - Creating storeys based on data from IFC model.
Window / door / opening cannot be recognized because there is no wall where this element is inserted
- When the elevation range of a Wall or a Curtain wall does not agree with the elevation of an interpreted ifcWindow, ifcDoor or ifcOpeningElement, the Wall or Curtain wall component must be modified by changing the storeys range for the component in the Data table window and the value in the Shift of the lower edge or Shift of the upper edge field.
Incorrect element type
- Mark the IFC objects of the type appropriate for the operation carried out. For more information, see: Selecting components to be interpreted:
- Objects: ifcWall, ifcWallStandardCase, ifcCurtainWall (or other, see below) for the Creates walls from an IFC file operation. For more information, see: Interpretation of walls.
- Objects: ifcWindow, ifcDoor, ifcOpeningElement for the Creates windows, doors, and wall openings from an IFC file operation. For more information, see: Interpretation of windows, doors and openings.
- Objects ifcRoof and ifcSlab (or other, see below) for the Creates roofs from an IFC file operation. For more information, see: Interpretation of roofs.
- Objects ifcSlab (or other, see below) for the Creates slabs from an IFC file operation. For more information, see: Interpretation of slabs.
Attention! It is also possible to partially interpret other components from the IFC model (not listed above, and representing the building structure) into native components of InstalSystem 5 using the functions mentioned above. This applies to such components as, for instance, IfcBuildingElementProxy, IfcColumn, IfcStair, IfcStairFlight, IfcCovering. In most IFC models, they represent the complex architecture of the building, rather than the structure needed to perform Thermal calculations of building. Such additional interpretation should therefore be preceded by a detailed analysis of the model and, if the design situation requires it, be carried out. The created construction components can be manually modified by the user in further steps, deleted if necessary and supplemented by manually inserted construction components from InstalSystem 5.
Roof could not be generated from IFC element
- Append the project with manually inserted Roof components based on 2D plan view of the IFC model and on the AUTO function, and then add roof edges appropriately using the Add roof edge function. For more information, see: Inserting a roof.
IfcPlate is a component of a ifcCurtainWall and cannot be interpreted separately
- The parent component of the ifcCurtainWall type, which includes the indicated ifcPlate component, should be interpreted.
Unable to recognize room - no storey covering levels on which room is located with range of elevations
- Verify the correctness of the storeys arrangement created from the IFC model in the General data window, Storeys management tab. First, the data of the Storey component should be analysed and, if necessary, corrected with regard to the values of Position and Sizes. For more information, see: BIM - Creating storeys based on data from IFC model.