IFC in Québec in 2026: from BIM interoperability to unlocking building data

Québec, a territory committed to the digital transition in construction

For several years, Québec’s construction sector has been accelerating its digital transformation.

The government roadmap for building information modelling (BIM) is a major driver of this development. It supports public clients and construction professionals in adopting working methods based on digital collaboration, information management and interoperability.

This momentum is reflected in the growing number of public projects adopting BIM. According to the government review published in 2025, the eight partner public clients recorded 265 ongoing or completed BIM projects as at 31 March 2025, compared with 77 in 2021.

This development signals a structural change: the digital model is no longer simply a means of representing geometry. It is gradually becoming an environment for producing, transmitting and using technical data.

In this context, IFC plays a strategic role.

IFC: an open standard supporting interoperability

IFC (Industry Foundation Classes) is an open international standard, standardised under ISO 16739-1, intended to describe and exchange information about built assets.

Its value lies in the ability to transmit information independently of the software environments used by different participants.

An IFC file can contain information such as:

• The geometry and spatial organisation of a building.
• The technical properties of components.
• Object classifications and identifiers.
• Materials and equipment characteristics.
• Relationships between building elements.
• Data useful for studies, construction and operation.

This independence is a major consideration for projects in Québec involving architects, engineers, contractors, BIM specialists and property managers.

IFC enables information continuity between disciplines, tools and the different stages of an asset’s life cycle.

However, the availability of an IFC file does not, by itself, guarantee the quality or usability of the information it contains.

In 2026, the real challenge is no longer simply exchanging IFC files

The first phase of IFC adoption mainly focused on exchanging models between design and coordination applications.

This practice is now an important foundation of BIM approaches.

But requirements are evolving.

Professionals must now answer more demanding questions:

• Does the information in the models actually meet the project requirements?
• Are object properties consistent and correctly populated?
• Are the classifications suitable for the intended uses?
• Can quantities and technical characteristics be used without manual reprocessing?
• Can information produced during design be reused for construction and operation?

These questions mark the transition from exchanging files to controlling data.

The value of an IFC file no longer lies solely in its ability to open in different software packages, but in the quality and usefulness of the information it makes accessible.

IFC editing: a practice set to become more important in Québec

IFC editing means working directly on the structured data of a digital model to check, complete, reorganise or adapt it to specific uses.

It opens new opportunities for professionals in Québec who are transforming their BIM processes.

1. Improve the reliability of digital model information

IFC models can come from several disciplines and organisations, with different naming conventions, classifications and properties.

Harmonising them produces more consistent deliverables, reduces manual rework and facilitates quality checks.

2. Structure data around professional needs

The information needed by an architect, a quantity surveyor, a contractor or a property manager is not the same.

IFC editing enables datasets to be prepared for each use without imposing a single information structure on every participant.

3. Automate repetitive processing

Classifying objects, standardising properties, selecting elements or preparing information can take considerable time.

Automating these operations reduces repetitive handling and allows more resources to be devoted to technical analysis and project decisions.

4. Prepare data for use

IFC files can become an information source for estimating, reporting, quality control or asset management processes.

This requires the data to be correctly organised and adapted to the systems that will use it.

IFC editing then becomes a transformation stage between design data and the information required by each profession.

Increasingly influential information requirements

In Québec, public clients’ BIM approaches help reinforce the importance of the quality of delivered information.

The Société québécoise des infrastructures (SQI), in particular, develops documented practices concerning BIM requirements, information management and digital deliverables.

This direction aligns with the principles of the ISO 19650 series, which places information management at the heart of the life cycle of built assets.

The aim is not to produce ever more data.

It is to have the right information, at the right level of detail, at the right time and for the right use.

This approach encourages better definition of information needs before projects begin and more rigorous verification of deliverables.

It also supports the emergence of methods for checking and transforming data independently of the software used to produce it.

From BIM models to data for decision-making

One of the most important opportunities concerns the use of IFC data outside traditional modelling environments.

Structured building data can, for example, feed:

• Project monitoring dashboards.
• Quantitative and technical analyses.
• Deliverable compliance indicators.
• Tools for preparing estimates.
• Equipment and component inventories.
• Information systems dedicated to property asset management.

This development is gradually changing the role of the digital model.

The BIM model is no longer necessarily the main interface for consulting information. Its data can be extracted, organised and put to use in other professional environments.

IFC thus becomes both a means of interoperability and an information resource capable of supporting new digital processes.

Challenges still to address in Québec

Despite the progress made, several challenges remain before advanced use of IFC becomes widespread.

• Variation in practices. Not all organisations have the same level of BIM maturity. Production methods, data conventions and delivery requirements can vary considerably.
• Information quality. A geometrically correct model does not guarantee that its associated data is complete, consistent or suitable for the intended uses.
• Process control. Automation requires a precise understanding of data, transformation rules and professional objectives.
• Skills development. Advanced use of IFC requires skills that complement traditional modelling.
• Digital continuity. Information must flow between design, construction and operation without multiplying manual re-entry or data loss.

These challenges also offer opportunities to develop professional practices.

Simplebim: supporting the transition from IFC exchange to data use

In this context, Simplebim addresses a fundamental evolution in BIM needs: having the means to work on IFC information and prepare it for organisations’ actual uses.

Simplebim enables users to select, check, restructure, enrich and transform information contained in IFC files.

It therefore helps build more consistent, repeatable processes adapted to projects’ information requirements.

Its value extends beyond the technical handling of files.

It lies in the opportunity to rethink working methods by using data that has already been produced, rather than multiplying manual operations and data re-entry.

But adopting this approach does not depend on technology alone.

It also requires an understanding of professional needs, the definition of suitable processing rules and support for teams as their practices evolve.

Technology makes transformation possible. Human expertise makes it operational, lasting and valuable.

What are the prospects for IFC in Québec after 2026?

The growth of BIM in Québec creates favourable conditions for more advanced use of open data.

Several directions are likely to become more important in the coming years:

• Formalising and verifying information requirements.
• Standardising properties and classifications.
• Automating data checks and transformations.
• Using IFC information in estimating and construction processes.
• Preparing data for asset management and maintenance.
• Developing connections between digital models and tools for decision-making analysis.

However, this momentum should be distinguished from the actual adoption of specialised IFC editing, for which public data in Québec remains limited.

The challenge in the coming years will therefore be less about multiplying digital files than improving their quality, consistency and reuse.

Conclusion: Québec enters a new stage of BIM maturity

In 2026, Québec has an institutional and professional environment favourable to the development of open BIM practices.

The use of IFC is part of this development, but its potential extends far beyond simply exchanging models between software packages.

The next step is to treat IFC data as a technical and strategic resource capable of directly supporting professional processes.

This transformation calls for new methods, suitable tools and human skills that connect digital requirements with operational realities.

The future of IFC in Québec is not just about exchanging models better. It is about using their data better to build, decide and manage more effectively.

What if your IFC files became a real driver of productivity?

Do you already use IFC files in your BIM projects and want to go further with their data quality, structuring or automation?

Discover how Simplebim can support the development of your working methods, from analysing your needs to implementing processes adapted to your organisation.

Contact our experts to discuss your IFC uses and arrange a Simplebim demonstration based on your professional challenges.