If your project submits through CORENET X, you will meet IFC-SG. It is the data format Singapore’s regulatory agencies use to read your BIM model — and the most common reason submissions stumble is a model that looks right but exports wrong. Here is what IFC-SG actually is, how to prepare models for CORENET X submission, how it relates to the international IFC standard, and what it demands from your model.
What Is IFC-SG?
IFC-SG (also written IFC+SG) is Singapore’s localisation of the Industry Foundation Classes (IFC) — the vendor-neutral openBIM data standard maintained by buildingSMART. Plain IFC describes a building’s elements and information in a format any compliant software can read. IFC-SG extends that with the Singapore-specific regulatory attributes and classifications that agencies such as BCA, URA, SCDF and PUB need to review a submission — so the model itself carries the information a checker previously hunted for across drawings.
Why IFC-SG Exists: CORENET X
Under CORENET 2.0, agencies reviewed 2D drawings and PDFs. CORENET X replaces that with coordinated BIM submissions reviewed on a multi-agency basis — and for that to work, every consultant’s model must speak the same regulatory language. IFC-SG is that language. When you submit through the CORENET X portal, your federated model is exported to IFC-SG (CORENET-X validation tools check the file) and routed through the submission gateways. (New to the transition? Start with our CORENET X vs CORENET 2.0 comparison.)
What IFC-SG Requires from Your Model
- Correct element classification — objects mapped to the right IFC entities, not modelled-as-something-else workarounds.
- Regulatory attributes filled — the Singapore-specific properties agencies check, populated in the model rather than annotated on drawings.
- Spaces and zones defined properly — much of the regulatory review reads spatial data, not just geometry.
- Clean export mapping — authoring tools like Revit need the right export configuration so information survives the trip into IFC-SG.
- Validation before submission — checking the exported file against every IFC-SG requirement before an agency does; BCA publishes IFC-SG resources and mapping guides that make a good starting tool for each discipline. See our guide to common IFC-SG validation errors for what typically fails.
Common IFC-SG Problems We See
The pattern is consistent: the native model looks complete, but the IFC-SG export drops or mangles information — wrong entity mapping, unfilled regulatory properties, spaces that exist visually but not as data. Because validation happens at submission, these surface at the worst possible moment. The fix is upstream: model structure and export discipline built in from the start, which is exactly the readiness work our CORENET X e-submission support covers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is IFC-SG the same as IFC?
IFC-SG is built on IFC. The geometry and core data model are standard IFC; the -SG layer adds Singapore’s regulatory attributes and classifications for agency review.
Do I need special software for IFC-SG?
No — mainstream BIM tools export IFC. What you need is the correct IFC-SG export configuration and a model structured so the export carries the required information.
Who is responsible for the IFC-SG export?
Each discipline exports its own model, but the Qualified Person submits the coordinated package — so submission readiness is a team discipline, not a last-step file conversion.
Preparing a CORENET X submission and unsure your model will validate? Beyond+ reviews model readiness and IFC-SG structure before the gateway does — talk to us.
IFC+SG is mandatory for projects at or above the 5,000m² threshold — see what changes on 1 October 2026 — and the CORENET X Code of Practice explains where in the gateway sequence your model is required.
Need help with a CORENET X submission?
Beyond+ prepares IFC+SG models and coordinates multi-discipline submissions for Singapore projects. Tell us your project size, stage and gateway, and we will tell you what is actually required.
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