IFC 4.3 is now formally approved and published as an international standard by the International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO), buildingSMART International has announced.
Following the approval announcement in January, IFC 4.3 is now formally published and solidified as the latest iteration of the successful ISO 16739 standard.
IFC 4.3 is the result of a series of development projects that aimed to advance the use of Industry Foundation Classes, seen as a central standard to the digitalisation of the construction industry, to encompass horizontal assets, such as roads, railways and associated infrastructure spread across landscapes.
This scope supports a range of industry domains, including roads, railways, ports & waterways, and bridges, as well as common elements shared among these sectors.
Many contributors collaborated to develop and enhance the standard, providing both financial investment and work in kind. These individuals and organisations have advanced the IFC standard to make it more applicable and usable by infrastructure domains and, at the same time, easier for software vendors to implement. By addressing diverse use cases and incorporating a wide array of infrastructure elements, IFC 4.3 enhances interoperability and fosters comprehensive support for the complex needs of horizontal asset management and development.
IFC 4.3: A decade in the making
Clive Billiald, chief executive of buildingSMART International, said: “The formal publication of IFC 4.3 as an internationally accredited standard is a testament to the tireless efforts of everyone involved in its development. This was almost 10 years in the making. I want to acknowledge and recognise the hard work, dedication and commitment of a diverse, global group of experts, in both the buildingSMART and ISO/CEN communities, who have made this possible. Their efforts have delivered a standard which will support the built environment sector for many years to come, contributing to a more productive and sustainable industry.
“Our focus now shifts to facilitating the seamless adoption and utilisation of this crucial standard by industry professionals and software vendors alike.”
Øivind Rooth, chair of the technical committee ISO/TC 59/SC 13, added: “Thanks to buildingSMART International for a good and trusting collaboration with ISO/TC 59/SC 13 in the process of adopting IFC 4.3 as an ISO standard. The IFC standard is a central standard for the digitalisation of the construction industry, and thanks to buildingSMART for having it approved as an ISO standard, it makes it possible to connect it to other BIM standards developed by ISO/TC 59/SC 13.”
You can access the published IFC 4.3 standard on the ISO website.
