IFC open BIM for noise emission evaluation of the HVAC systems

The European Community has introduced several directives and initiatives to promote the digitalization of buildings, aiming to improve enviromental efficiency and reduce carbon emissions. The obligation of BIM (Building Information Modeling) in Europe is regulated by Directive 2014/24/EU on public procurement, which promotes the use of BIM to improve efficiency and transparency in public projects. In several European countries the law require the use of open and interoperable formats, such as IFC (Industry Foundation Classes), to ensure of read the data for many years. The evaluation of noise emitted by HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning) systems using BIM models in open IFC format represents an innovative and precise approach. BIM models allow the integration of acoustic data directly into the project, facilitating noise analysis at different stages. The use of the IFC format ensures interoperability between different software, enhancing collaboration among professionals. This approach helps identify and mitigate noise sources, optimizing the acoustic comfort of buildings and complying with current regulations. In summary, the integration of IFC-BIM in HVAC noise evaluation offers an efficient and collaborative solution. This work analyzes all the information managed by the IFC format on HVAC system noise emission, highlighting deficiencies and proposing improvements.