IFC and Blender

The IFC is the reference BIM model, containing the available objects, relationships and information. A companion .blend file provides the Blender scene arrangement, such as views and inspection settings. The files serve different purposes; an attractive scene does not establish that IFC data is loaded or current.

Download both from the same delivery revision when both are supplied. Keep their filenames and received subfolders together in one working folder. Make a review copy and do not pair a new IFC with an old scene. If the declared association is missing, ask the author before relying on the scene.

Download Blender from its official website, choosing the build for your operating system and computer architecture. The LTS release page explains the longer support cycle. For a delivered model, start with the Blender/Bonsai combination actually tested and specified by its author.

Check the Bonsai version matrix before installation: the newest release is not automatically compatible with your Blender. If the delivery names no tested combination, request confirmation; this guide does not certify a particular setup. Check the official hardware requirements too, rather than inferring compatibility from a Mac or PC product name alone.

Start Blender and open Edit → Preferences → Get Extensions. Allow online access when requested, search for Bonsai and install a compatible version. Confirm that it is enabled and that Open IFC Project appears in the File menu.

If the command is missing, resolve the installation first using the official guide. Opening successive project files will not repair an extension problem. Note the Blender version, Bonsai version and complete error message for assistance. Any different installation steps depend on the selected software pair and should be checked against the documentation for that version.

Choose File → Open IFC Project and select the .ifc review copy. Wait for loading to finish before interpreting an empty view. Under Scene Properties → Project Overview → Project Info, inspect Filename, IFC File, schema and the Saved indication.

Compare the file with the received revision reference: its name, date and delivery information should agree. Record what you actually opened. Visible geometry alone does not establish a complete survey, property set, quantity record or design; the scope declared by the author remains the starting point for your review.

Open the .blend review copy through File → Open. Return to Project Info: geometry in a scene does not prove that BIM data is loaded. Check the IFC reference. If no project is loaded, follow the tested delivery instructions for Load Project or Select a different IFC file, choosing the IFC from the same revision.

Reloading an IFC does not automatically repair scene geometry and its binding. Do not assume the association survived a previous save. If it is missing or shows inconsistent data, start a new Blender session and inspect the IFC separately, preserving the original scene. Tell the author which step you cannot complete.

Custom panels or menus supplied with a delivery may need an explicit startup step following the author’s instructions. Double-clicking a .blend file does not guarantee that these controls will activate on another computer. Keep the IFC and scene in the same folder; do not change global security or automatic script-execution preferences to make the controls appear.

With the pointer over the 3D viewport, the middle mouse button orbits; Shift plus the middle button pans; the wheel zooms. With trackpad gestures enabled, two fingers orbit, Shift plus two fingers pans, and Ctrl or OSKey (Command on macOS) plus two fingers zooms. Behaviour depends on preferences and the operating system.

The orientation gizmo offers another way to position the view. In the View menu, Frame Selected centres the selected object and Frame All frames visible content; both help when you lose the model. Use small movements and choose a clear view before capturing a screenshot.

Explore the building and levels in Spatial Decomposition. Select an element and inspect Object Information, Property Sets and Quantity Sets where available. With the pointer over the 3D viewport, H hides the selection, Shift+H isolates it and Alt+H restores hidden objects.

Read the object identity before discussing a value. Missing information remains missing; a quantity needs its unit, scope and origin before reuse. For a focused review, note the level, element and specific question. An object’s colour or position does not establish its material, performance or professional validation.

Existing conditions and the intervention scenario can be inspected separately only when the author has organised and explained them in the delivery. They do not appear automatically when an IFC or .blend opens. Look for the supplied views and instructions; if none are available, ask how the two readings are distinguished.

Compare the same level and scope in both views. A represented proposal is not an approved design, completed construction or verified solution. Record survey gaps separately from comments on proposed work, and do not interpret an unmodelled area as proof that an element is absent.

Bonsai saves IFC through File → Save IFC Project; Blender saves its scene through Save As. These are separate operations. For a straightforward review, retain the originals and save any working copies under recognisable names without replacing received files.

Send revision-specific comments with the level, identifiable object, screenshot and a description of the issue. Separate observations from proposals and identify any drawing used for comparison. A focused question helps the author respond and check related information, while keeping a readable history of changes. Agree where comments will be collected before sending competing versions to several recipients.

For an empty view, try Frame All first, then check IFC loading, visibility and revision. For missing data, inspect Project Info. For compatibility problems, return to the version matrix and installation guide. Do not alter original geometry or file references to work around an opening error.

When requesting help, provide your operating system, software versions, affected file and exact step, together with the error message. Share only material you are authorised to disclose. Inspection supports useful observations; professional validation, certification and technical decisions remain the responsibility of the appropriate specialists.