Validate IFC online — free model checker with IDS, health & clash
The Validate tab is a browser cockpit for checking BIM models: pick or upload an IFC, run any of 19 checks — model health, clash detection, buildingSMART IDS compliance, clearance, fire egress, and more — and see every finding as a ranked list wired straight into the 3D viewer. No desktop validator, no plug-in, no install: it is an IFC checker online, free to run, and a sample building is already loaded so you can try it before uploading anything.
Results persist per model, so you can reopen a previous run without re-running it, and a basis-aware comparison shows what got fixed and what appeared between two runs of the same check.
19 checks in one catalog
The checks catalog on the left of the cockpit groups every validation tool by what it protects. Picking a check opens its configuration — nothing runs blind:
- Essentials — Health report, Clash detection, IDS check: the three headline checks, also pinned as one-click chips in the cockpit bar.
- Model quality — Geometry Health, Schema & Identity, Spatial Structure, Coordinates & Georeference, Data Completeness, Name Validation, Level Consistency, Unit Consistency, and Performance Analysis.
- Safety & accessibility — Clearance (headroom over walkable surfaces), Accessibility, Fire Egress, and Fire Compartmentation.
- Spaces & structure — Space Program, Floor Area Takeoff, and Load-Bearing Continuity.
The model health report
The one-click health check audits the model across six scored sections — Schema & Identity (duplicate GlobalIds, schema conformance), Spatial Structure (elements outside the storey/building hierarchy), Coordinates & Georeferencing (far-from-origin placement), Geometry Health, Data Completeness (missing properties the downstream workflow expects), and Performance & Footprint (what's bloating the file). Federated models get a seventh Federation section auditing the members against each other. Each section carries a 0–100 score, so a model's health is comparable revision to revision.
IDS validation online (buildingSMART IDS)
Upload a buildingSMART IDS 1.0 specification (.ids or .xml) and check the model against it — per-spec pass/fail with the failing elements listed and locatable in 3D. Specs can target IFC2x3, IFC4, or IFC4.3 model versions. If you don't have an IDS file yet, bundled starter specs (like an ISO 19650 element-naming starter) get a first run going, and the built-in IDS Maker authors full specifications visually — no hand-written XML.
Clash detection with element groups
Clash tests are defined as Set A versus Set B — each set built from IFC classes, a saved search, a saved selection, or whatever is currently selected in the viewer. Three modes cover the common coordination questions: hard clash (real geometric overlap, 10 mm default tolerance), clearance (minimum distance between the sets, 50 mm default), and duplicates (same-place same-size elements within one set). Test setups can be saved and reused, and existing Navisworks Clash Detective test definitions import as XML so a desktop setup doesn't have to be rebuilt by hand.
Findings you can act on
Every check reports into the same results dock: findings ranked by severity (info, low, medium, high, critical), grouped, filterable, and clickable — selecting a finding highlights the offending elements in the 3D stage. Charts summarise the run, and the run-to-run comparison marks what's new and what got fixed since the previous run of that check.
Downloads come in four formats: a self-contained HTML report with embedded snapshots, CSV, a multi-sheet XLSX workbook, and BCF 2.1 (.bcfzip) for any BCF-compatible coordination tool. Selected findings can also be sent straight into a BIMCamel collaboration room as issues.
Previous runs, the sample model, and free limits
The cockpit keeps validation history per model: the run picker reopens any past run's results instantly, and each check's configuration shows its own recent runs so you can compare settings. First visit with nothing uploaded? The cockpit auto-loads a sample building with a pre-computed health and clash run, so the whole surface is explorable before you upload a file.
Honest limits: every tier sees the full results on screen. Guests get 3 runs a day on files up to 25 MB, with exports capped to the first 10 findings; a free account gets 10 runs a day, 100 MB uploads, 7-day result retention, and 200-finding exports. Pro (€19/mo) adds uncapped exports, 200 runs a day, and 500 MB uploads.
Frequently asked questions
What does the IFC health check actually look for?
Six scored sections: schema and identity problems (duplicate GlobalIds), spatial structure gaps (elements outside the storey hierarchy), coordinate and georeferencing issues (far-from-origin placement), geometry health, data completeness (missing property sets), and performance/footprint bloat. Federated models add a seventh section auditing the federation members against each other.
Can I run buildingSMART IDS validation online?
Yes — upload a buildingSMART IDS 1.0 file (.ids or .xml) and the model is checked spec by spec, with failing elements listed and highlighted in 3D. Bundled starter specs are included if you don't have an IDS yet, and the IDS Maker tool authors specifications visually without hand-writing XML.
What export formats do validation results support?
Four: a self-contained HTML report with embedded viewpoint snapshots, CSV, a multi-sheet XLSX workbook, and BCF 2.1 (.bcfzip) that opens in any BCF-compatible coordination tool. All findings show on screen on every tier; on guest and free tiers the export is capped (10 / 200 findings), while Pro exports the full result set.
Is the IFC checker really free?
Yes. Guests get 3 validation runs a day on files up to 25 MB with no account at all; a free account raises that to 10 runs a day and 100 MB uploads. Every check in the catalog is available on every tier — paid plans lift quantity caps, not capability.
Can I try it without uploading my own model?
Yes. The cockpit auto-loads a sample building with a pre-computed health and clash run, so you can explore findings, the 3D drill-in, and the charts before uploading anything. One click swaps in your own IFC.
How is clash detection configured?
Each test pits Set A against Set B, where a set is built from IFC classes, a saved search, a saved selection, or the current viewer selection. Modes are hard clash (10 mm default tolerance), clearance distance (50 mm default), and duplicate detection. Setups save for reuse, and Navisworks Clash Detective XML imports directly.
Which IFC versions can be validated?
IFC2x3 and IFC4 — the schemas essentially every AEC authoring tool exports. IFC4x3 files open in the viewer, but the checks don't run on them yet. IDS specifications can declare which of these versions they apply to.
What happens to my file after processing?
Your file is uploaded over HTTPS and processed on our servers. Guest uploads are stream-only — the working files are deleted as soon as your download finishes. Free accounts keep results for 7 days; Pro keeps them 90 days and Team 180 days. Files are never shared with third parties or used to train AI.