Which BIM File Formats Do Building Product Manufacturers Really Need?

Primary BIM Formats

Revit (.rfa)

Revit is the dominant BIM platform in most markets, particularly in commercial and large-scale projects. Revit families (.rfa files) are the native format used in Autodesk Revit and provide parametric functionality, allowing designers to customise dimensions, configurations, and materials while maintaining manufacturing constraints.

Key benefits:

• Industry-standard format used by the majority of architectural firms
• Supports parametric functionality for product customisation
• Enables data-rich modelling for quantity take-offs, cost estimation, and documentation
• Essential for specification in commercial and larger-scale projects

Archicad (.gsm)

Archicad is the second most popular BIM platform globally and has significant market share in certain regions. GSM files are Archicad’s native format for library parts.

Key benefits:

• Popular in residential and mid-sized architectural practices
• Strong presence in European markets and growing in Australia/New Zealand
• Together with Revit, covers 90-95% of the BIM user base

Important Secondary Formats

AutoCAD (.dwg)

AutoCAD remains widely used, particularly in smaller firms and for specific disciplines like civil engineering. DWG files are 2D or 3D drawings used in AutoCAD and many other CAD programs.

Key benefits:

• Universal compatibility with most CAD systems
• Still widely used for detail drawings and by smaller firms
• Often required for coordination with consultants who don’t use BIM

SketchUp (.skp)

SketchUp is popular for conceptual design and visualisation due to its ease of use. It’s frequently used in interior design, landscape architecture, and early-stage design.

Key benefits:

• Intuitive 3D modelling tool used for conceptual design
• Popular among interior designers and landscape architects
• Excellent for quick visualisations and concept development

Other File Formats

Industry Foundation Classes (.ifc)

.ifc is an open, neutral file format designed for data exchange between different BIM platforms. It’s not typically used as a primary content format for manufacturer components but serves as an exchange mechanism.

When to use IFC:

• For interoperability between different BIM software
• When required for open BIM workflows
• For design reviews when working with teams using different BIM platforms

While .ifc files are valuable for exchange purposes, they’re generally not parametric and don’t offer the same level of functionality as native formats like Revit or Archicad files.

3D Studio (.3ds)

3DS files are primarily used for visualisation and rendering. This format doesn’t contain the rich data associated with BIM models.

When to use 3DS:

• For high-quality rendering and visualisation
• When detailed visual representation is more important than accurate BIM data
• For marketing materials and presentations

Other formats you might encounter:

• OBJ (.obj): Another visualisation format, similar to 3DS
• FBX (.fbx): Used for exchanging 3D content between applications
• SAT (.sat): ACIS solid modelling format, sometimes used for complex geometry
• DXF (.dxf): Drawing exchange format, similar to DWG but more universal

Making Strategic Decisions About File Formats

When deciding which formats to invest in for your product library, consider:

1. Your target audience: Which software do your primary specifiers use?
2. Product complexity: More complex, customisable products benefit from parametric formats (Revit, Archicad)
3. Resource constraints: Focus on the formats that will provide the greatest ROI
4. Regional considerations: Different markets prefer different software

Our Recommendation

For most building product manufacturers, we recommend:

1. Revit (.rfa) – Essential for most commercial projects
2. Archicad (.gsm) – To capture the remainder of the BIM market
3. AutoCAD (.dwg) – For smaller firms
4. SketchUp (.skp) – If your products are frequently used in conceptual design or by interior designers

These four formats will cover the vast majority of design professionals’ needs. Other formats like IFC and 3DS can be added if specific requirements exist, but they typically offer diminishing returns on investment compared to the primary formats.

How Can IGS Group Help

At IGS Group (IGS BIM Solutions), we’ve developed efficient workflows to create high-quality content across multiple formats. Our expertise in BIM content creation allows us to:

• Develop native Revit and Archicad content that meets industry best practices
• Create AutoCAD and SketchUp files that maintain product accuracy
• Optimise file performance across all platforms
• Distribute your content through BIMcontent.com to reach over 75,000 specifiers

If you would like to learn more about our BIM content creation and digital strategy services, get in touch with the team here.