Audience
Who this is for
This guide is for BIM managers, model reviewers, information managers and technical leads who need to inspect IFC models without turning every review into a modeling session. It focuses on viewer-side model understanding, not on selling external coordination services.
Problem
The model can look right and still be weak
IFC review fails when geometry is checked but the structure, properties, classifications, quantities and issue context are ignored. A viewer workflow should help the team move from navigation to evidence: which elements are present, what data they carry, and which areas need follow-up.
Workflow
Review structure, properties and visibility together
Start with model tree navigation, then inspect properties on representative element groups. Use hide, isolate and reset visibility to reduce visual noise. For dense models, pair visibility control with focused Section Box views so reviewers can inspect the relevant volume without losing model context.
- Check IFC entity mapping and element grouping before detailed review.
- Inspect property sets and quantity fields that matter for downstream reporting.
- Use visibility states to isolate candidate issues before creating notes or reports.
Inspection and validation
Separate IFC model inspection from requirements checking
An IFC viewer helps you open the file, navigate elements and inspect properties. Structured IFC model checking starts when a project compares that information with explicit requirements, such as an IDS specification. ExyViewer supports IDS validation as a review workflow, but the result still requires project and engineering judgment.
- Visual review provides geometry and coordination context.
- Property inspection shows which information each IFC element carries.
- IDS validation checks defined information requirements; it is not automatic regulatory approval.
Mistakes
Common IFC viewer mistakes
The most common mistake is treating the viewer as a screenshot tool. A stronger workflow uses the viewer to qualify model trust: whether a property is missing, whether an element group is misclassified, or whether the model scope is too broad for the question being asked.
- Do not approve a model from geometry alone.
- Do not run broad checks before the review scope is clear.
- Do not separate dashboard signals from visual model context.