5.4.3.64 IfcSpace
5.4.3.64.1 Semantic definition
A space represents an area or volume bounded actually or theoretically. Spaces are areas or volumes that provide for certain functions within a building.
A space is associated to a building storey (or in case of exterior spaces to a site). A space may span over several connected spaces. Therefore a space group provides for a collection of spaces included in a storey. A space can also be decomposed in parts, where each part defines a partial space. This is defined by the CompositionType attribute of the supertype IfcSpatialStructureElement which is interpreted as follow:
- COMPLEX = space group
- ELEMENT = space
- PARTIAL = partial space
Figure 5.4.3.64.A shows the IfcSpace as part of the spatial structure. It also serves as the spatial container for space related elements.

The following guidelines should apply for using the Name, Description, LongName and ObjectType attributes.
- Name holds the unique name (or space number) from the plan.
- Description holds any additional information field the user may have specified, there are no further recommendations.
- LongName holds the full name of the space, it is often used in addition to the Name, if a number is assigned to the room, then the descriptive name is exchanged as LongName.
- ObjectType holds the space type, i.e. usually the functional category of the space .
Figure 5.4.3.64.B describes the heights and elevations of the IfcSpace.
- elevation of the space (top of construction slab) equals elevation of storey: provided by IfcBuildingStorey.Elevation relative to IfcBuilding.ElevationOfRefHeight
- elevation of the space flooring (top of flooring on top of slab): provided by IfcSpace.ElevationWithFlooring relative to IfcBuilding.ElevationOfRefHeight
- height of space (top of slab below to bottom of slab above): provided by BaseQuantity with Name="Height"
- floor height of space (top of slab below to top of flooring): provided by BaseQuantity with Name="FinishFloorHeight"
- net height of space (top of flooring to bottom of suspended ceiling): provided by BaseQuantity with Name="FinishCeilingHeight"

5.4.3.64.2 Entity inheritance
5.4.3.64.3 Attributes
# | Attribute | Type | Description |
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IfcRoot (4) | |||
IfcObjectDefinition (7) | |||
IfcObject (5) | |||
IfcProduct (5) | |||
IfcSpatialElement (6) | |||
IfcSpatialStructureElement (1) | |||
Click to show 28 hidden inherited attributes Click to hide 28 inherited attributes | |||
IfcSpace (4) | |||
10 | PredefinedType | OPTIONAL IfcSpaceTypeEnum |
Predefined generic types for a space that are specified in an enumeration. There might be property sets defined specifically for each predefined type. |
11 | ElevationWithFlooring | OPTIONAL IfcLengthMeasure |
Level of flooring of this space; the average shall be taken, if the space ground surface is sloping or if there are level differences within this space. |
HasCoverings | SET [0:?] OF IfcRelCoversSpaces FOR RelatingSpace |
Reference to IfcCovering by virtue of the objectified relationship IfcRelCoversSpaces. It defines the concept of a space having coverings assigned. Those coverings may represent different flooring, or tiling areas. |
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BoundedBy | SET [0:?] OF IfcRelSpaceBoundary FOR RelatingSpace |
Reference to a set of IfcRelSpaceBoundary's that defines the physical or virtual delimitation of that space against physical or virtual boundaries. |
5.4.3.64.4 Formal propositions
Name | Description | ||||||
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CorrectPredefinedType |
Either the PredefinedType attribute is unset (e.g. because an IfcSpaceType is associated), or the inherited attribute ObjectType shall be provided, if the PredefinedType is set to USERDEFINED. |
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CorrectTypeAssigned |
Either there is no space type object associated, i.e. the IsTypedBy inverse relationship is not provided, or the associated type object has to be of type IfcSpaceType. |
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5.4.3.64.5 Property sets
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Pset_AirSideSystemInformation
- Description
- AirSideSystemType
- AirSideSystemDistributionType
- TotalAirFlow
- EnergyGainTotal
- AirFlowSensible
- EnergyGainSensible
- EnergyLoss
- InfiltrationDiversitySummer
- InfiltrationDiversityWinter
- ApplianceDiversity
- HeatingTemperatureDelta
- CoolingTemperatureDelta
- Ventilation
- FanPower
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Pset_BerthCommon
BERTH
- BerthApproach
- BerthMode
- BerthingAngle
- BerthingVelocity
- AbnormalBerthingFactor
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Pset_FenderDesignCriteria
BERTH
- CoefficientOfFriction
- EnergyAbsorptionTolerance
- MaxReactionTolerance
- MaximumTemperatureFactor
- MinimumTemperatureFactor
- VelocityFactorEnergy
- VelocityFactorReaction
- EnergyAbsorption
- MaxReaction
- MinCompressedFenderHeight
- AddedMassCoefficientMethod
-
Pset_ProcessCapacity
- ProcessItem
- ProcessCapacity
- ProcessPerformance
- DownstreamConnections
- UpstreamConnections
-
Pset_PropertyAgreement
- AgreementType
- TrackingIdentifier
- AgreementVersion
- AgreementDate
- PropertyName
- CommencementDate
- TerminationDate
- Duration
- Options
- ConditionCommencement
- Restrictions
- ConditionTermination
-
Pset_Risk
- RiskName
- RiskType
- NatureOfRisk
- RiskAssessmentMethodology
- UnmitigatedRiskLikelihood
- UnmitigatedRiskConsequence
- UnmitigatedRiskSignificance
- MitigationPlanned
- MitigatedRiskLikelihood
- MitigatedRiskConsequence
- MitigatedRiskSignificance
- MitigationProposed
- AssociatedProduct
- AssociatedActivity
- AssociatedLocation
-
Pset_SpaceAirHandlingDimensioning
- CoolingDesignAirFlow
- HeatingDesignAirFlow
- SensibleHeatGain
- TotalHeatGain
- TotalHeatLoss
- CoolingDryBulb
- CoolingRelativeHumidity
- HeatingDryBulb
- HeatingRelativeHumidity
- VentilationDesignAirFlow
- DesignAirFlow
- CeilingRAPlenum
- BoundaryAreaHeatLoss
-
Pset_SpaceCommon
- Reference
- IsExternal
- GrossPlannedArea
- NetPlannedArea
- PubliclyAccessible
- HandicapAccessible
-
Pset_SpaceCoveringRequirements
- FloorCovering
- FloorCoveringThickness
- WallCovering
- WallCoveringThickness
- CeilingCovering
- CeilingCoveringThickness
- SkirtingBoard
- SkirtingBoardHeight
- Molding
- MoldingHeight
- ConcealedFlooring
- ConcealedFlooringOffset
- ConcealedCeiling
- ConcealedCeilingOffset
-
Pset_SpaceFireSafetyRequirements
- FireRiskFactor
- FlammableStorage
- FireExit
- SprinklerProtection
- SprinklerProtectionAutomatic
- AirPressurization
-
Pset_SpaceHVACDesign
- TemperatureSetPoint
- TemperatureMax
- TemperatureMin
- TemperatureSummerMax
- TemperatureSummerMin
- TemperatureWinterMax
- TemperatureWinterMin
- HumiditySetPoint
- HumidityMax
- HumidityMin
- HumiditySummer
- HumidityWinter
- DiscontinuedHeating
- NaturalVentilation
- NaturalVentilationRate
- MechanicalVentilation
- MechanicalVentilationRate
- AirConditioning
- AirConditioningCentral
- AirHandlingName
-
Pset_SpaceLightingDesign
- ArtificialLighting
- Illuminance
-
Pset_SpaceOccupancyRequirements
- OccupancyType
- OccupancyNumber
- OccupancyNumberPeak
- OccupancyTimePerDay
- AreaPerOccupant
- MinimumHeadroom
- IsOutlookDesirable
-
Pset_SpaceParking
PARKING
- ParkingUse
- ParkingUnits
- IsAisle
- IsOneWay
-
Pset_SpaceThermalLoad
- People
- Lighting
- EquipmentSensible
- VentilationIndoorAir
- VentilationOutdoorAir
- RecirculatedAir
- ExhaustAir
- AirExchangeRate
- DryBulbTemperature
- RelativeHumidity
- InfiltrationSensible
- TotalSensibleLoad
- TotalLatentLoad
- TotalRadiantLoad
-
Pset_SpaceThermalLoadPHistory
- PeopleHistory
- LightingHistory
- EquipmentSensibleHistory
- VentilationIndoorAirHistory
- VentilationOutdoorAirHistory
- RecirculatedAirHistory
- ExhaustAirHistory
- AirExchangeRateTimeHistory
- DryBulbTemperatureHistory
- RelativeHumidityHistory
- InfiltrationSensibleHistory
- TotalSensibleLoadHistory
- TotalLatentLoadHistory
- TotalRadiantLoadHistory
-
Pset_SpaceThermalPHistory
- CoolingAirFlowRate
- HeatingAirFlowRate
- VentilationAirFlowRateHistory
- ExhaustAirFlowRate
- SpaceTemperatureHistory
- SpaceRelativeHumidity
-
Pset_ThermalLoad
- OccupancyDiversity
- LightingDiversity
- ApplianceDiversity
- OutsideAirPerPerson
- ReceptacleLoadIntensity
- AppliancePercentLoadToRadiant
- LightingLoadIntensity
- LightingPercentLoadToReturnAir
- TotalCoolingLoad
- TotalHeatingLoad
- InfiltrationDiversitySummer
- InfiltrationDiversityWinter
- LoadSafetyFactor
-
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
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Qto_BodyGeometryValidation
- GrossSurfaceArea
- NetSurfaceArea
- GrossVolume
- NetVolume
- SurfaceGenusBeforeFeatures
- SurfaceGenusAfterFeatures
-
Qto_SpaceBaseQuantities
- Height
- FinishCeilingHeight
- FinishFloorHeight
- GrossPerimeter
- NetPerimeter
- GrossFloorArea
- NetFloorArea
- GrossWallArea
- NetWallArea
- GrossCeilingArea
- NetCeilingArea
- GrossVolume
- NetVolume
5.4.3.64.6 Concept usage
Concept | Usage | Description | |
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IfcRoot (2) | |||
IfcObjectDefinition (9) | |||
IfcObject (5) | |||
IfcProduct (18) | |||
IfcSpatialElement (11) | |||
IfcSpatialStructureElement (2) | |||
Click to show 47 hidden inherited concepts Click to hide 47 inherited concepts | |||
IfcSpace (11) | |||
FootPrint GeomSet Geometry | General |
The following constraints apply to the 2D representation:
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Product Local Placement | General |
The local placement for IfcSpace is defined at its supertype IfcProduct. It is defined by the IfcLocalPlacement, which defines the local coordinate system that is referenced by all geometric representations.
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Property Sets for Objects | General |
This concept can be applied to the following resources:
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Quantity Sets | General |
This concept can be applied to the following resources: |
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Space Attributes | General |
No description available. |
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Space Boundaries 1st Level | General |
No description available. |
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Space Boundaries 2nd Level | General |
No description available. |
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Spatial Composition | General |
By using the inverse relationship IfcSpace.IsDecomposedBy it references IfcSpace by IfcRelAggregates.RelatedObjects. If it refers to another instance of IfcSpace, the referenced IfcSpace needs to have a different and lower CompositionType, i.e. ELEMENT (if the other IfcSpace has COMPLEX), or PARTIAL (if the other IfcSpace has ELEMENT). This concept can be applied to the following resources: |
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Spatial Container | General |
If there are building elements and/or other elements directly related to the IfcSpace (like most furniture and distribution elements), they are associated with the IfcSpace by using the objectified relationship IfcRelContainedInSpatialStructure. The IfcSpace references them by its inverse relationship:
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Spatial Decomposition | General |
By using the inverse relationship IfcSpace.Decomposes it references IfcSite || IfcBuildingStorey || IfcSpace by IfcRelAggregates.RelatingObject. If it refers to another instance of IfcSpace, the referenced IfcSpace needs to have a different and higher CompositionType, i.e. COMPLEX (if the other IfcSpace has ELEMENT), or ELEMENT (if the other IfcSpace has PARTIAL). This concept can be applied to the following resources: |
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Object Typing | General |
This concept can be applied to the following resources: |
5.4.3.64.7 Formal representation
ENTITY IfcSpace SUBTYPE OF (IfcSpatialStructureElement); PredefinedType : OPTIONAL IfcSpaceTypeEnum; ElevationWithFlooring : OPTIONAL IfcLengthMeasure; INVERSE HasCoverings : SET [0:?] OF IfcRelCoversSpaces FOR RelatingSpace; BoundedBy : SET [0:?] OF IfcRelSpaceBoundary FOR RelatingSpace; WHERE CorrectPredefinedType : NOT(EXISTS(PredefinedType)) OR (PredefinedType <> IfcSpaceTypeEnum.USERDEFINED) OR ((PredefinedType = IfcSpaceTypeEnum.USERDEFINED) AND EXISTS (SELF\IfcObject.ObjectType)); CorrectTypeAssigned : (SIZEOF(IsTypedBy) = 0) OR ('IFC4X3_DEV_738df036.IFCSPACETYPE' IN TYPEOF(SELF\IfcObject.IsTypedBy[1].RelatingType)); END_ENTITY;