Convert IFC to RFA in your application
3D InterOp is a CAD interoperability SDK that lets your software read IFC files and write RFA, writing a Revit family (.rfa) as mesh geometry.
Spatial does not offer an online converter or a desktop conversion app. 3D InterOp is a component that software vendors embed in their own products.
- Reads IFC · Writes Revit family
- Mixed geometry → triangle mesh
- C++ / C# APIs
IFC to RFA at a glance
IFC can mix exact solids and facets; Revit family stores triangles only, so the whole model is tessellated when it is written.
| IFC (source) | Revit family (target) | |
|---|---|---|
| Full name | Industry Foundation Classes | Revit family |
| Standard / owner | buildingSMART, ISO 16739 | Autodesk |
| File extensions | .ifc, .ifczip | .rfa |
| Geometry | Exact B-Rep and tessellated geometry | B-Rep and mesh (read); mesh (written by 3D InterOp) |
| Assemblies / structure | Yes: spatial and element hierarchy | Nested families; assembly structure written by 3D InterOp |
| 3D InterOp support | Read and write | Read and write |
What's preserved, what changes
Here is what your application can expect to carry across from IFC to Revit family.
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Preserved
Product structureThe IFC product structure is written to RFA.
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Changes
Geometry written as meshThe Revit writer writes mesh only: exact B-Rep from IFC isn’t exported to the family.
Why software vendors add IFC to RFA conversion
Bring product content into Revit
Manufacturers publish their products as Revit families so architects can place them in building models. Writing RFA files lets your users produce that content from CAD data.
Coordinate with Revit-based teams
Many building projects are modeled in Revit. A Revit family gives those teams the geometry in a form they can load into their project.
Fewer manual remodeling steps
Without a direct export, CAD parts are often remodeled by hand in Revit. Writing the family directly saves your users that step.
Things to check before you ship
- Written RFA versions: Revit 2026 families (.rfa).
- Revit families are written in millimeters, without Revit parameters.
- Supported IFC input: IFC2x3 to IFC4x3 ADD2, from .ifc and .ifczip files.
- Validate a sample of translated files in the target system your users actually work with.
Working with Spatial was a real milestone for us: Thanks to the powerful 3DInterOp library, we were able to successfully bring our complex CAD-based solutions to the cloud while remaining flexible to meet individual customer requirements. For us, Spatial is not just a technology partner, but a true enabler of our product strategy.
Dr. Arno Michelis, Founder, Simus Systems
Read the Case StudyAbout the formats
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Source format
What is an IFC (.ifc) file?
IFC is the open, vendor-neutral standard for exchanging building information models, maintained by buildingSMART and published as ISO 16739. It carries building elements with their geometry, properties and relationships.
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Target format
What is an RFA (.rfa) file?
An RFA file is a Revit family: a reusable component such as a door, a window or a piece of equipment, with its geometry, types and parameters, loaded into Revit projects.
Frequently asked questions
No. The Revit writer writes mesh geometry only, without B-Rep or Revit parameters, for the latest Revit version (Revit 2026 in 3D InterOp 2026 1.0.1).
Yes. 3D InterOp reads the IFC product structure and writes it to RFA.
No. The Revit writer writes the geometry as mesh, in millimeters, without Revit parameters.
3D InterOp reads IFC2x3 to IFC4x3 ADD2, from .ifc and .ifczip files.
3D InterOp writes Revit 2026 families (.rfa).
Yes. 3D InterOp reads and writes both formats, so RFA to IFC is supported too.
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Building software that needs to convert IFC to RFA?
3D InterOp is an SDK that lets your application read IFC and write Revit family alongside 30+ CAD and BIM formats.