IfcDistributionElement

Definition from IAI: Generalization of all elements that participate in a distribution system. It is further specialized in the IFC model.

HISTORY New entity in IFC Release 1.5.

Geometry Use Definitions:

The geometric representation of IfcDistributionElement is given by the IfcProductDefinitionShape, allowing multiple geometric representation.

Local Placement

The local placement for IfcDistributionElement 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 shall point (if given) to the local placement of the same IfcSpatialStructureElement , which is used in the ContainedInStructure inverse attribute, or to a spatial structure element at a higher level, referenced by that.
If the relative placement is not used, the absolute placement is defined within the world coordinate system.

Geometric Representation

The geometric representation of IfcDistributionElement is defined using different geometric representation types for the various subtypes. In general, the following guidelines should be used:

all fixtures (all non distribution flow elements, i.e. everything which is not a duct, pipe or later cable) should be defined by an b-rep - the new mapped item should be used if appropriate as it allows for reusing the geometry definition of the element type at element instances. In this case the IfcShapeRepresentation.RepresentationType = MappedRepresentation.
all "simple" distribution flow elements (general ducts and pipes) are defined by sweep geometry . In this case the IfcShapeRepresentation.RepresentationType = SweptSolid.
an additional representation type for all "simple" distribution flow elements (general ducts and pipes) is the ability to have a simple line based representation. In this case the IfcShapeRepresentation.RepresentationType = GeometricSet.
distribution flow elements with size changes (e.g. reducer) are defined by sectioned spine representations. In this case the IfcShapeRepresentation.RepresentationType = SectionedSpine.
all complex distribution elements (e.g. Y branch or T branch) are defined using b-rep geometry. In this case the IfcShapeRepresentation.RepresentationType = Brep.

EXPRESS specification:

ENTITY IfcDistributionElement

SUPERTYPE OF

(ONEOF(IfcDistributionFlowElement, IfcDistributionControlElement))

SUBTYPE OF (

IfcElement);

END_ENTITY;

Inheritance graph

ENTITY IfcDistributionElement;

ENTITY IfcRoot;

GlobalId

IfcGloballyUniqueId;

OwnerHistory

IfcOwnerHistory;

Name

OPTIONAL IfcLabel;

Description

OPTIONAL IfcText;

ENTITY IfcObjectDefinition;

INVERSE

HasAssignments

SET OF IfcRelAssigns FOR RelatedObjects;

IsDecomposedBy

SET OF IfcRelDecomposes FOR RelatingObject;

Decomposes

SET [0:1] OF IfcRelDecomposes FOR RelatedObjects;

HasAssociations

SET OF IfcRelAssociates FOR RelatedObjects;

ENTITY IfcObject;

ObjectType

OPTIONAL IfcLabel;

INVERSE

IsDefinedBy

SET OF IfcRelDefines FOR RelatedObjects;

ENTITY IfcProduct;

ObjectPlacement

OPTIONAL IfcObjectPlacement;

Representation

OPTIONAL IfcProductRepresentation;

INVERSE

ReferencedBy

SET OF IfcRelAssignsToProduct FOR RelatingProduct;

ENTITY IfcElement;

Tag

OPTIONAL IfcIdentifier;

INVERSE

FillsVoids

SET [0:1] OF IfcRelFillsElement FOR RelatedBuildingElement;

ConnectedTo

SET OF IfcRelConnectsElements FOR RelatingElement;

HasCoverings

SET OF IfcRelCoversBldgElements FOR RelatingBuildingElement;

HasProjections

SET OF IfcRelProjectsElement FOR RelatingElement;

HasStructuralMember

SET OF IfcRelConnectsStructuralElement FOR RelatingElement;

ReferencedInStructures

SET OF IfcRelReferencedInSpatialStructure FOR RelatedElements;

HasPorts

SET OF IfcRelConnectsPortToElement FOR RelatedElement;

HasOpenings

SET OF IfcRelVoidsElement FOR RelatingBuildingElement;

IsConnectionRealization

SET OF IfcRelConnectsWithRealizingElements FOR RealizingElements;

ProvidesBoundaries

SET OF IfcRelSpaceBoundary FOR RelatedBuildingElement;

ConnectedFrom

SET OF IfcRelConnectsElements FOR RelatedElement;

ContainedInStructure

SET [0:1] OF IfcRelContainedInSpatialStructure FOR RelatedElements;

ENTITY IfcDistributionElement;

END_ENTITY;