For the third BIM Fit Check, Štefan Jaud again led the technical design and execution. This time the focus lay on the BIM Collaboration Format (BCF): export, import and round trip exchanges. The event took place May 13, 2026 at the 23rd buildingSMART-Anwendertag in Berlin.
Images: buildingSMART Deutschland
What is BCF?
BIM Collaboration Format (BCF) is the open standard for issue management between BIM tools. Instead of sending a revised model every time something needs attention, you package the problem: a description, a viewpoint pointing to the right location in the model, comments, a due date, and who the issue is assigned to.
That’s the idea. Whether it works in practice, across software from different companies, is what the BIM Fit Check was there to find out.
Round trip
The test is not whether a tool can only write and read a BCF file. The test is whether a full round trip works. The complete criteria list is publicly available.
A tool exports a BCF issue with the right structure: valid schema, IFC file reference, viewpoints with correct component visibility, comments locked after export, due date set, and user assigned. Then another tool imports it, adds a response, and exports again. The original tool reimports. The issue GUID remains stable throughout and the status reflects what happened.
Participants
Six companies presented their BCF implementation at the event. The participants received a digital badge, commemorating their success.
| Company | Software |
|---|---|
| AKG Software Consulting GmbH | VESTRA INFRAVISION |
| albert.ing GmbH | squirrel |
| ComputerWorks GmbH | Vectorworks |
| DICAD Systeme GmbH | STRAKON |
| PMG Projektraum Management GmbH | PAVE |
| WPM Ingenieure GmbH | ZIS Ing-Bau |
Jury: Georg Dangl (DanglIT GmbH), Marcus Nill (IngenieurGRUPPE BAUEN) and Pasi Paasiala (Solibri Inc.)