IFC Export — Round-tripping into Tekla
Download an IFC 4.0 CoordinationView 2.0 file from FrameAI and import it into Tekla Structures 2024 — geometry, profiles, materials, and EN 1993 design results all transfer in a single click.
IFC Export — Round-tripping into Tekla Structures
FrameAI outputs **IFC 4.0 (CoordinationView 2.0)** files that import cleanly into Tekla Structures 2024 with zero manual work. Every steel member, profile, grade, and Eurocode utilisation ratio arrives intact — giving you a design-validated starting point inside your existing BIM environment.
What transfers in the IFC file
| FrameAI element | Tekla element | Notes |
|---|---|---|
IfcBeam (rafter/beam) | Beam | Section name used for Tekla profile lookup |
IfcColumn | Column | Grade maps to Tekla material |
IfcMember (brace) | Brace | Pin-ended by default |
IfcPlate (end plate) | Plate component | Base plate or end plate |
IfcMechanicalFastener (bolt) | Bolt component | Grade + diameter |
PsetFrameAIMemberDesign | User-defined attributes | UtilisationRatio, GoverningCheck |
PsetFrameAIConnection | User-defined attributes | BoltGrade, EndplateThicknessmm |
Step 1. Complete your project in FrameAI
Wait for the revision to reach **done** status — this takes 1–3 minutes depending on frame complexity.
Step 2. Download the IFC 4.0 file
Go to your **Project page** (/projects/{id}). In the **Fabrication Package** panel at the top of the page:
1. Click **🏗️ IFC 4.0** (Pro/Studio required; Free users see an upgrade prompt).
2. The file downloads as {project-name}-model.ifc.
You can also download directly from the API:
GET /api/projects/{projectid}/export/model.ifc
Authorization: Bearer {apitoken}Or use the per-revision button in the revision table: **IFC 4.3** next to each completed revision row.
Step 3. Import into Tekla Structures 2024
1. Open **Tekla Structures 2024** (or newer).
2. Go to **File → Import → IFC**.
3. Click **Browse** and select {project-name}-model.ifc.
4. In the Import dialog:
- Set **Import as reference model** if you want to keep FrameAI geometry as-is.
- Set **Convert to native** to turn members into fully editable Tekla objects.
5. Under **Profile mapping**, Tekla will auto-match standard EN profiles (IPE, HEA, HEB, HEM, UB, UC). Accept the defaults.
6. Click **Import**.
**Tip:** Tekla uses theIfcIShapeProfileDefname field for profile matching. FrameAI populates this with the exact EN 10365 profile name (e.g.IPE 300) so lookup is lossless.
Step 4. Verify the import
After import completes:
1. Select any beam and press **Ctrl+E** (Element properties).
2. Check the **User-defined attributes** tab — you should see:
- FrameAIUtilisationRatio — e.g. 0.8743
- FrameAIGoverningCheck — e.g. LTB
- FrameAICodeReference — e.g. EN 1993-1-1
3. Open the **Profile** field — should match the FrameAI section (e.g. IPE300).
4. Open the **Material** field — should show the steel grade (e.g. S355).
If member count in the imported model matches the count on the FrameAI project page, the round-trip is complete.
Step 5. Checking imported geometry
Run a quick sanity check:
1. In Tekla, go to **Analysis & Design → Check**.
2. Confirm the member lengths match your FrameAI revision summary.
3. For portal frames: confirm column heights and rafter spans match the project dimensions.
Step 6. Using FrameAI results in Tekla reports
Tekla's **Report** tool can pull user-defined attributes. To include FrameAI utilisation in a Tekla mark or report:
1. Open **Drawing Properties**.
2. Add a **User-defined attribute** field: FrameAIUtilisationRatio.
3. This can be used to colour-code members by utilisation level in the 3D view.
Step 7. Handling connections
Bolted connections are exported as IfcMechanicalFastener entities. In Tekla these import as reference objects (not native bolt arrays). To convert:
1. Note the bolt spec from the FrameAI Connection report (/api/projects/{id}/export/connections if available per-revision).
2. In Tekla, add the native bolt component using the FrameAI-specified grade (e.g. 8.8, M20) and pattern from the calc report.
End plate geometry is exported as IfcPlate with correct dimensions — usable directly as a reference for modeling the native Tekla component.
Step 8. Handling free-tier watermarks
Free-tier IFC files include a STEP comment watermark: /* FRAMEAI FREE-TIER MODEL — WATERMARKED — NOT FOR CONSTRUCTION USE */.
Upgrade to Pro for full-resolution output.
Step 9. Exporting back from Tekla
If you modify the model in Tekla and need to re-validate against Eurocode:
1. Export from Tekla: **File → Export → IFC → IFC 4**.
IFC Audit tool can open this file and run a fresh Eurocode check report.
3. Or use the FrameAI v1 API: POST /api/v1/jobs to re-submit.
Step 10. Allplan and Revit import (summary)
The same .ifc file works with:
- **Allplan 2024+** — Reinforcement → Import IFC. Select **CoordinationView 2.0** mapping preset.
- **Revit 2024+** — File → Open → IFC. Profiles appear under Structural Framing category.
- **ArchiCAD 27+** — Interoperability → IFC → Import. Members mapped to structural elements.
Troubleshooting
**Profiles show as "Unknown" in Tekla.**
Your Tekla environment may lack the EN 10365 profile catalog. Install the **European profiles** catalog from the Tekla Warehouse: search "European Structural Sections". After install, re-import the IFC.
**Member count is lower than expected.**
FrameAI exports one entity per unique member mark. If your drawing has qty: 2 for a section, FrameAI creates 2 entities offset in X. Check the revision's member count on the Project page.
**Utilisation attributes missing in Tekla.**
Confirm you are using Tekla 2022 or newer. Earlier versions ignore IFC 4 custom Psets during native conversion. Use **Import as reference model** mode to preserve Pset data.
**IFC file is very large.**
Projects with many composite beam studs generate one IfcMechanicalFastener per stud position. For projects with 50+ composite beams, expect 10–50 MB files. Tekla handles these without issue.