IFC EL-1 Project

International Alliance for Interoperability

Electrical Installations in Buildings (EL-1)

The IFC EL-1 project in summary

In new buildings, mechanical, electrical and HVAC installations can account for around 40% of the total cost. In retrofit and refurbishment projects this figure can go even higher.

Engineers responsible for these installations need to communicate extensively with other design and construction roles on a project. They need to obtain information to carry out analysis and design from upstream activities including outline architectural and structural design and then communicate the results of their work downstream to enable design to be finalized, the project cost determined and installation to occur.

Within the IFC model, there are already significant capability for handling mechanical and HVAC installations. Presently however, there is little provision in the model for the electrical installations that provide the power and lighting. This has been identified by the key technical committee of the IAI as a significant gap and a priority for development. They have now commissioned the new EL1 project, Electrical Installations in Buildings, to fill the gap.

EL1 is a fast track project that aims to produce the data model requirements for electrical installation, and so enable the sharing of electrical installation information, within the IFC 2x Edition 2 model that is scheduled for release in March 2003.

EL1 will capture information concerning switches, power-outlets, alarms, sensors, light fixtures, phone connections and other ‘mounted equipment’ equipment typically within the scope of the electrical engineer.

It will also capture details of switchgear, distribution equipment and the logical connections between equipment.

It will provide the focus for addition of operational data to electrical equipment for use in facilities management.

The resulting electrical model will also be designed to facilitate further expansion in later IFC releases according to the IFC Extension Model Guidelines.
Business Needs

The EL1 ‘Electrical Installations in Buildings’ project is aimed at meeting a number of shared data situations that the electrical engineer meets including:

Provision of space and material information by the architect to enable lighting and glare calculations

Positioning of lighting fixtures to enable, or be part of, a reflected ceiling plan

Locating switch and socket outlet positions, distribution board locations and associated hazards

Provision of equipment information by mechanical/HVAC engineers to enable the connecting of electrical power supplies

Logical connection of electrical components to enable tracking of conductors and circuits

Identification of operational and maintenance information for electrical components
Later

The EL1 ‘Electrical Installations in Buildings’ project is targeted at meeting the immediate needs of the AEC/FM industry for electrical installation information. The fast track nature of the project and the demanding time scale means that some concepts have been omitted from the current scope of work including physical routing of cables, cable routers (conduit, ladder, tray, trunking etc.), electrical appliances.

The IFC EL-1 project in summary
In new buildings, mechanical, electrical and HVAC installations can account for around 40% of the total cost. In retrofit and refurbishment projects this figure can go even higher. Engineers responsible for these installations need to communicate extensively with other design and construction roles on a project. They need to obtain information to carry out analysis and design from upstream activities including outline architectural and structural design and then communicate the results of their work downstream to enable design to be finalized, the project cost determined and installation to occur. Within the IFC model, there are already significant capability for handling mechanical and HVAC installations. Presently however, there is little provision in the model for the electrical installations that provide the power and lighting. This has been identified by the key technical committee of the IAI as a significant gap and a priority for development. They have now commissioned the new EL1 project, Electrical Installations in Buildings, to fill the gap. EL1 is a fast track project that aims to produce the data model requirements for electrical installation, and so enable the sharing of electrical installation information, within the IFC 2x Edition 2 model that is scheduled for release in March 2003. EL1 will capture information concerning switches, power-outlets, alarms, sensors, light fixtures, phone connections and other ‘mounted equipment’ equipment typically within the scope of the electrical engineer. It will also capture details of switchgear, distribution equipment and the logical connections between equipment. It will provide the focus for addition of operational data to electrical equipment for use in facilities management. The resulting electrical model will also be designed to facilitate further expansion in later IFC releases according to the IFC Extension Model Guidelines. Business Needs The EL1 ‘Electrical Installations in Buildings’ project is aimed at meeting a number of shared data situations that the electrical engineer meets including: Provision of space and material information by the architect to enable lighting and glare calculations Positioning of lighting fixtures to enable, or be part of, a reflected ceiling plan Locating switch and socket outlet positions, distribution board locations and associated hazards Provision of equipment information by mechanical/HVAC engineers to enable the connecting of electrical power supplies Logical connection of electrical components to enable tracking of conductors and circuits Identification of operational and maintenance information for electrical components Later The EL1 ‘Electrical Installations in Buildings’ project is targeted at meeting the immediate needs of the AEC/FM industry for electrical installation information. The fast track nature of the project and the demanding time scale means that some concepts have been omitted from the current scope of work including physical routing of cables, cable routers (conduit, ladder, tray, trunking etc.), electrical appliances.