4.1.9.9 Project Units

The project context includes the definition of the default units within the IFC data set. They are declared once for the context of the whole data set. Default units are those units that apply:

to all geometric representation items within the geometric representation contexts;
to all attributes with a defined datatype indicating a measure datatype;
to all properties and quantities with a defined datatype indicating a measure datatype and with no local unit definitions provided.

Default units are defined as either:

SI Units with SI unit name and prefix
Conversion based units with a conversion factor to its SI unit
Derived units, consisting of one-to-many unit elements, being SI units or conversion based units
Monetary unit as a special case of a unit to hold the currency name

Meter is an SI unit without prefix, milli meter is an SI unit with prefix, inch and foot are conversion based units to be declared with a conversion factor to the SI unit (here meter), heat flux density (W/m2) is a derived unit with the unit elements Power (W) and Area (m2), and Euro is a monetary unit.

The following diagram shows the generic classes and relationships used when applying this concept. In addition, concepts may have particular importance to common or standardised industry practices and scenarios. For these specific usage scenarios, the table below shows a recommended list of general usage patterns that users may adopt.

Figure 4.1.9.9.A

General Usage

ApplicableEntity
IfcProject

Table 4.1.9.9.B