IFC 4.3.2.20250327 (IFC4X3_ADD2) under development

5.4.3.40 IfcOpeningElement

5.4.3.40.1 Semantic definition

The opening element stands for opening, recess or chase, all reflecting voids. It represents a void within any element that has physical manifestation. Openings can be inserted into walls, slabs, beams, columns, or other elements.

There are two different types of opening elements. The attribute PredefinedType should be used to capture the differences:

  • an opening, where the thickness of the opening is greater or equal to the thickness of the element — the attribute PredefinedType is set to OPENING
  • a recess or niche, where the thickness of the recess is smaller than the thickness of the element — the attribute PredefinedType is set to RECESS for a recess or niche.

If the value for PredefinedType is omitted, or the value is set to NOTDEFINED, no specific information of whether it is an opening or recess shall be assumed.

An IfcOpeningElement has to be inserted into an IfcElement by using the IfcRelVoidsElement relationship. It may be filled by an IfcDoor, IfcWindow, or another filling element by using the relationship IfcRelFillsElement. Depending on the type of the IfcShapeRepresentation of the IfcOpeningElement the voiding relationship implies:

  • if the IfcShapeRepresentation.RepresentationIdentifier = 'Body', then the Body shape representation of the opening has to be subtracted from the body shape representation of the voided element - implicit Boolean difference operation.
  • if the IfcShapeRepresentation.RepresentationIdentifier = 'Reference', then the Reference shape representation of the opening is not subtracted. It is provided in addition to the hole in the Body shape representation of the voided element.

The IfcOpeningElement shall not participate in the containment relationship, i.e. it is not linked directly to the spatial structure of the project. It has a mandatory VoidsElements inverse relationship pointing to the IfcElement that is contained in the spatial structure. The inverse relationship ContainedInStructure shall be NIL.

5.4.3.40.2 Entity inheritance

5.4.3.40.3 Attributes

# Attribute Type Description
IfcRoot (4)
IfcObjectDefinition (7)
IfcObject (5)
IfcProduct (5)
IfcElement (13)
IfcFeatureElementSubtraction (1)
Click to show 35 hidden inherited attributes
IfcOpeningElement (2)
9 PredefinedType OPTIONAL IfcOpeningElementTypeEnum

Predefined generic type for an opening that is specified in an enumeration. There may be a property set given specifically for the predefined types.

HasFillings SET [0:?] OF IfcRelFillsElement FOR RelatingOpeningElement

Reference to the Filling Relationship that is used to assign Elements as Fillings for this Opening Element. The Opening Element can be filled with zero-to-many Elements.

Table 5.4.3.40.H

5.4.3.40.4 Formal propositions

Name Description
CorrectPredefinedType

Either PredefinedType is unset or the inherited attribute ObjectType shall be provided, if the PredefinedType is set to USERDEFINED.

NOT(EXISTS(PredefinedType)) OR
(PredefinedType <> IfcOpeningElementTypeEnum.USERDEFINED) OR
((PredefinedType = IfcOpeningElementTypeEnum.USERDEFINED) AND EXISTS (SELF\IfcObject.ObjectType))
Table 5.4.3.40.I

5.4.3.40.5 Property sets

  • Pset_Condition
    • AssessmentDate
    • AssessmentCondition
    • AssessmentDescription
    • AssessmentType
    • AssessmentMethod
    • LastAssessmentReport
    • NextAssessmentDate
    • AssessmentFrequency
  • Pset_ConstructionAdministration
    • ProcurementMethod
    • SpecificationSectionNumber
    • SubmittalIdentifer
  • Pset_ConstructionOccurence
    • InstallationDate
    • ModelNumber
    • TagNumber
    • AssetIdentifier
  • Pset_ElementKinematics
    • CyclicPath
    • CyclicRange
    • LinearPath
    • LinearRange
    • MaximumAngularVelocity
    • MaximumConstantSpeed
    • MinimumTime
  • Pset_EnvironmentalCondition
    • ReferenceAirRelativeHumidity
    • ReferenceEnvironmentTemperature
    • MaximumAtmosphericPressure
    • StorageTemperatureRange
    • MaximumWindSpeed
    • OperationalTemperatureRange
    • MaximumRainIntensity
    • SaltMistLevel
    • SeismicResistance
    • SmokeLevel
    • MaximumSolarRadiation
  • Pset_EnvironmentalImpactIndicators
    • Reference
    • FunctionalUnitReference
    • IndicatorsUnit
    • LifeCyclePhase
    • ExpectedServiceLife
    • TotalPrimaryEnergyConsumptionPerUnit
    • WaterConsumptionPerUnit
    • HazardousWastePerUnit
    • NonHazardousWastePerUnit
    • ClimateChangePerUnit
    • AtmosphericAcidificationPerUnit
    • RenewableEnergyConsumptionPerUnit
    • NonRenewableEnergyConsumptionPerUnit
    • ResourceDepletionPerUnit
    • InertWastePerUnit
    • RadioactiveWastePerUnit
    • StratosphericOzoneLayerDestructionPerUnit
    • PhotochemicalOzoneFormationPerUnit
    • EutrophicationPerUnit
  • Pset_EnvironmentalImpactValues
    • TotalPrimaryEnergyConsumption
    • WaterConsumption
    • HazardousWaste
    • NonHazardousWaste
    • ClimateChange
    • AtmosphericAcidification
    • RenewableEnergyConsumption
    • NonRenewableEnergyConsumption
    • ResourceDepletion
    • InertWaste
    • RadioactiveWaste
    • StratosphericOzoneLayerDestruction
    • PhotochemicalOzoneFormation
    • Eutrophication
    • LeadInTime
    • Duration
    • LeadOutTime
  • Pset_InstallationOccurrence
    • InstallationDate
    • AcceptanceDate
    • PutIntoOperationDate
  • Pset_MaintenanceStrategy
    • AssetCriticality
    • AssetFrailty
    • AssetPriority
    • MonitoringType
    • AccidentResponse
  • Pset_MaintenanceTriggerCondition
    • ConditionTargetPerformance
    • ConditionMaintenanceLevel
    • ConditionReplacementLevel
    • ConditionDisposalLevel
  • Pset_MaintenanceTriggerDuration
    • DurationTargetPerformance
    • DurationMaintenanceLevel
    • DurationReplacementLevel
    • DurationDisposalLevel
  • Pset_MaintenanceTriggerPerformance
    • TargetPerformance
    • PerformanceMaintenanceLevel
    • ReplacementLevel
    • DisposalLevel
  • Pset_ManufacturerOccurrence
    • AcquisitionDate
    • BarCode
    • SerialNumber
    • BatchReference
    • AssemblyPlace
    • ManufacturingDate
  • Pset_ManufacturerTypeInformation
    • GlobalTradeItemNumber
    • ArticleNumber
    • ModelReference
    • ModelLabel
    • Manufacturer
    • ProductionYear
    • AssemblyPlace
    • OperationalDocument
    • SafetyDocument
    • PerformanceCertificate
  • Pset_OpeningElementCommon
    • Reference
    • Status
    • Purpose
    • FireExit
    • FireRating
    • AcousticRating
  • Pset_RepairOccurrence
    • RepairContent
    • RepairDate
    • MeanTimeToRepair
  • Pset_Risk
    • RiskName
    • RiskType
    • NatureOfRisk
    • RiskAssessmentMethodology
    • UnmitigatedRiskLikelihood
    • UnmitigatedRiskConsequence
    • UnmitigatedRiskSignificance
    • MitigationPlanned
    • MitigatedRiskLikelihood
    • MitigatedRiskConsequence
    • MitigatedRiskSignificance
    • MitigationProposed
    • AssociatedProduct
    • AssociatedActivity
    • AssociatedLocation
  • Pset_ServiceLife
    • ServiceLifeDuration
    • MeanTimeBetweenFailure
  • Pset_Tolerance
    • ToleranceDescription
    • ToleranceBasis
    • OverallTolerance
    • HorizontalTolerance
    • OrthogonalTolerance
    • VerticalTolerance
    • PlanarFlatness
    • HorizontalFlatness
    • ElevationalFlatness
    • SideFlatness
    • OverallOrthogonality
    • HorizontalOrthogonality
    • OrthogonalOrthogonality
    • VerticalOrthogonality
    • OverallStraightness
    • HorizontalStraightness
    • OrthogonalStraightness
    • VerticalStraightness
  • Pset_Uncertainty
    • UncertaintyBasis
    • UncertaintyDescription
    • HorizontalUncertainty
    • LinearUncertainty
    • OrthogonalUncertainty
    • VerticalUncertainty
  • Pset_Warranty
    • WarrantyIdentifier
    • WarrantyStartDate
    • IsExtendedWarranty
    • WarrantyPeriod
    • WarrantyContent
    • PointOfContact
    • Exclusions
  • Qto_BodyGeometryValidation
    • GrossSurfaceArea
    • NetSurfaceArea
    • GrossVolume
    • NetVolume
    • SurfaceGenusBeforeFeatures
    • SurfaceGenusAfterFeatures
  • Qto_OpeningElementBaseQuantities
    • Width
    • Height
    • Depth
    • Area
    • Volume

5.4.3.40.6 Concept usage

Concept Usage Description
IfcRoot (2)
IfcObjectDefinition (9)
IfcObject (5)
IfcProduct (18)
IfcElement (44)
IfcFeatureElement (1)
Click to show 79 hidden inherited concepts
IfcOpeningElement (7)
Body SweptSolid Geometry General

The 'Body' representation of IfcOpeningElement can be represented using the representation types 'SweptSolid'. The following attribute values for the IfcShapeRepresentation holding this geometric representation shall be used:

The following constraints are recommended:

If parametric profiles are used, the parameters may be interpreted to be the dimensions of the opening:

There are two main extrusion directions: perpendicular and parallel.

Perpendicular Swept Solid Representation Type

For a perpendicular swept solid, IfcExtrudedAreaSolid.ExtrudedDirection shall extrude the profile perpendicular to the element it is voiding. This may be horizontal for wall openings, or vertical for floor openings.

standard opening
Figure 5.4.3.40.D — Opening with full extrusion
recess
Figure 5.4.3.40.E — Opening with recess extrusion

Parallel Swept Solid Representation Type

For a parallel swept solid,IfcExtrudedAreaSolid.ExtrudedDirection shall extrude the profile parallel to the element it is voiding. This may be vertical in the case of walls.

Parallel extrusions shall be used when an opening or recess has a non rectangular foot print geometry that does not change along the height of the opening or recess.

Figure 5.4.3.40.F shows a vertical extrusion with multiple extrusion bodies for the opening. Each extrusion body has a different extrusion length.

vertical extrusion
Figure 5.4.3.40.F — Opening with multiple extrusions
Product Local Placement General

The local placement for IfcOpeningElement is defined in its supertype IfcProduct. It is defined by the IfcLocalPlacement, which defines the local coordinate system that is referenced by all geometric representations.

  • The PlacementRelTo relationship of IfcLocalPlacement should point to the local placement of the element which is voided by the opening, i.e. referred to by VoidsElement.RelatingBuildingElement.
Property Sets for Objects General

This concept can be applied to the following resources:

Quantity Sets General

This concept can be applied to the following resources:

Reference Geometry General

Since there are no Boolean operations, either as IfcBooleanResult or implicitly by IfcRelVoidsElement, the geometry of the IfcOpeningElement shall not be used to subtract the opening from the 'Body' shape representation of the voided element.

Reference SweptSolid PolyCurve Geometry General

Since there are no Boolean operations, either as IfcBooleanResult or implicitly by IfcRelVoidsElement, the geometry of the IfcOpeningElement shall not be used to subtract the opening from the 'Body' shape representation of the voided element.

Reference Tessellation Geometry General

Since there are no Boolean operations, either as IfcBooleanResult or implicitly by IfcRelVoidsElement, the geometry of the IfcOpeningElement shall not be used to subtract the opening from the 'Body' shape representation of the voided element.

Table 5.4.3.40.J

5.4.3.40.7 Examples

5.4.3.40.8 Formal representation

ENTITY IfcOpeningElement
SUBTYPE OF (IfcFeatureElementSubtraction);
PredefinedType : OPTIONAL IfcOpeningElementTypeEnum;
INVERSE
HasFillings : SET [0:?] OF IfcRelFillsElement FOR RelatingOpeningElement;
WHERE
CorrectPredefinedType : NOT(EXISTS(PredefinedType)) OR
(PredefinedType <> IfcOpeningElementTypeEnum.USERDEFINED) OR
((PredefinedType = IfcOpeningElementTypeEnum.USERDEFINED) AND EXISTS (SELF\IfcObject.ObjectType));
END_ENTITY;

5.4.3.40.9 References

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5.4.3.40.10 Changelog

5.4.3.40.10.1 IFC4

  • attribute, PredefinedType

5.4.3.40.10.2 IFC4.3_DEV_738df036

  • where rule, CorrectPredefinedType