Parameter mapping takes longer than geometry translation because finding IFC-SG properties in spreadsheets is hard. Here's how to cut search time effectively.
You're preparing a CORENET X submission. The geometry is ready, the model is coordinated, and you're down to the final bottleneck, parameter mapping. You need the exact IFC-SG property name for fire ratings on curtain wall panels. Is it Pset_WallCommon.FireRating? Or does Singapore use a custom property set?
You open the BCA Industry Mapping Excel file. Seventeen columns. Hundreds of rows. Element types, property sets, IFC entities, software implementations all blurred together. You scroll, filter, scroll again. Ten minutes later, you find walls. Doors are somewhere else. Curtain panels might be under cladding, or curtain walls, or facade elements.
Twenty parameters to map. Forty minutes each. Eight hours lost to spreadsheet archaeology.
Try the CORENET X Parameter Lookup Tool →
CORENET X requires IFC-SG properties, Singapore's localized implementation of IFC4. Each building element needs regulatory metadata like fire ratings, thermal properties, material specifications. The mappings exist in official BCA documentation, but finding them is manual work.
The challenge compounds when you're working in a specific BIM platform. Revit uses shared parameters. ArchiCAD uses property sets. Tekla has its own structure. The official mapping document shows what properties are required, but translating that to your software's implementation takes additional research.
Here's what slows teams down and how to fix it.
The Problem: The BCA Industry Mapping spreadsheet contains every IFC-SG property, but it's organized for reference, not for finding things quickly. You scroll through hundreds of rows hunting for specific parameters. Element types aren't always named the way your BIM software names them. Curtain panels might be under cladding, facade elements, or wall systems.
The Fix: Use a searchable database instead of Excel. We built a free lookup tool that extracts all mappings from the official BCA speadsheet and makes them searchable by element type, parameter name, or IFC entity. Filter by your BIM software to see only relevant results.
Why This Works: Search engines are built for finding needles in haystacks. Excel isn't. A proper search interface cuts lookup time from 15 minutes per parameter to 15 seconds.
When to Use: Every CORENET X submission. Bookmark the tool and use it as your first reference before opening the BCA Excel file.
The Problem: You find the required property name, but you don't know if it's a shared parameter in Revit, a built-in property, or something you need to create manually. The BCA mapping shows IFC requirements but doesn't explain how each BIM platform implements them.
The Fix: Filter results by your software platform. The lookup tool shows implementation details alongside IFC specs. For Revit users, it indicates whether a property is shared, project, or built-in. For ArchiCAD, it shows property set structure. For Tekla, it displays user-defined attribute names.
Why This Works: You're not just looking up what to map. You're looking up how to map it in your specific software. Combining both pieces of information in one view eliminates the second research step.
When to Use: When setting up parameter templates for your firm's CORENET X workflow. Build reusable shared parameter files based on filtered results.
The Problem: Your model fails validation. The error says IfcWall is missing Pset_WallCommon.FireRating, but you have a parameter called "Fire Rating" in Revit. The validator doesn't accept it because the property name needs exact IFC formatting.
The Fix: Search the exact error message in the lookup tool. It shows you the correct property name format, allowed values, and which IFC entity it applies to. Copy the formatted name directly to your clipboard.
Why This Works: Validation errors reference IFC entity names and property sets. The lookup tool uses the same naming convention, so searches match immediately. No translation needed between error messages and documentation.
When to Use: Every time you encounter a validation error. Search the property name from the error message before manually checking the Excel file.
The Problem: Your architecture team uses Revit. The structural team uses Tekla. The MEP team uses OpenBuildings Designer. Each software has different parameter naming conventions. When you federate models, properties don't align because everyone mapped them differently.
The Fix: Use the lookup tool to establish firm-wide naming conventions. Filter results to show all software implementations side-by-side. Choose consistent property names that work across platforms or create a translation table.
Why This Works: Federated coordination depends on consistent metadata. If three teams map fire ratings using three different property names, clash detection can't compare them. Seeing all implementations together lets you coordinate before modeling starts.
When to Use: During project setup for multi-disciplinary CORENET X submissions. Define naming conventions in your project execution plan before families get created.
The Problem: BCA updates the Industry Mapping spreadsheet. You're working from version 1.2, but the validator now expects version 1.3 properties. Your entire model needs remapping because property names changed.
The Fix: The lookup tool updates automatically when BCA publishes new mapping versions. Check the tool's "Last Updated" timestamp against your project files. If the mapping is newer, review changes before validation.
Why This Works: Manual Excel downloads get out of sync. Automated updates ensure you're always referencing current requirements. Version control happens centrally instead of across multiple downloaded files.
When to Use: At the start of every CORENET X submission cycle. Verify you're mapping against current BCA requirements, not outdated documentation.
❓ Can this tool map parameters automatically into my Revit model?
✅ No. The tool tells you what properties to map and how they're implemented in your software. You still need to add shared parameters to Revit families or configure property sets in ArchiCAD manually. It cuts research time, not execution time.
❓ Does this replace BCA's official validator?
✅ No. Use Solibri, Simplebim, or BCA's validator for model validation. The lookup tool helps you get mappings right before validation, reducing errors you'll encounter during checking.
❓ What if my element type isn't in the database?
✅ The tool contains all mappings from BCA's official Industry Mapping document. If an element isn't listed there, it's not required for CORENET X or uses a generic property set. Check the IFC entity type in the validator output.
❓ How do I know which software filter to use for federated models?
✅ Filter by the discipline lead's software. If architecture drives the model in Revit, use Revit filters. For multi-software coordination, don't filter. View all implementations to establish consistent naming conventions.
Parameter mapping is two bottlenecks, not one. First, finding the right IFC-SG properties. Second, mapping them into your model and validating before submission.
The lookup tool solves the first. Search instead of scroll. Seconds instead of hours.
Try the CORENET X Parameter Lookup Tool →
The second bottleneck is harder. Some teams use external IFC validators, and the workflow sounds reasonable on paper. Export the model, run validation, fix errors, re-export. But IFC export isn't fast, and for complex projects four hours per cycle isn't unusual. The validator works fine. The export dependency is the problem.
We're building Senibina-Gateway to handle mapping and validation inside Revit, before you export. No round-trip. No waiting. Coming soon.