topic Re: Name of a window building material in Collaboration with other software

Name of a window building material

marcocioeta — Thu, 10 Sep 2026 12:21:04 GMT

Hello,
I have modeled a window, but when I export the IFC, I get the surface name instead of the building material name. I need the building material name; how can this be resolved?
Thank you to everyone

Re: Name of a window building material

Laszlo Nagy — Thu, 10 Sep 2026 12:22:48 GMT

Can you give some more info about this (along with screenshots if possible)?

What is the current result that you are getting?

What is the exact Window parameter you want to see exported to the IFC file?

What is the exact IFC Property where you want to see this information exported into?

Re: Name of a window building material

Ricardo Lopez — Thu, 10 Sep 2026 20:40:50 GMT

Hi @marcocioeta

As far as I know, Archicad's default windows do not have a building material as such; instead, they have surfaces for several parts, depending on the library object. Anyway one of these options could help:

Option A: An easy way to export the building material name, without creating new properties, property sets or complex could be to enter a Description text and make that field available by clicking the Manage IFC Properties... button in the window settings. Then you export as an IFC file and that's it.

Option B: Create a new property in a PSet. (Watch the attached video)
1. Create a new property for Windows/ Doors in: Options> Property Manager...> New property (Building Material)
2. Make it available for windows and doors Classification.
3. Enter the new property in the window object.
4. Create a new translator for export: File> Interoperability> IFC> IFC Translator...
5. Create a new Property Mapping and Map IFC Properties for Export...
6. Create New IFC Property in the Pset_WindowCommon: BuildingMaterial, with Property type: Single value and Value type: IfcValue
7. Creat a new rule: Building Material
8. Add Content...Add Parameter & properties
9. Select the property of step 1. Clic OK.
10. Save as... IFC. Select the new IFC translator for export.
11. Check if it works in your prefered IFC viewer.

Re: Name of a window building material

marcocioeta — Fri, 11 Sep 2026 11:28:28 GMT

The current result is the first image attached;
the exact parameter I would, it is the building materal;
the exact IFC Property issuch as the second image, the name of the IFC Material