IFC 5 Core Consultation

Report: Link

Outcome report: Link

The Standards Committee Executive (SCE) has reviewed the results of the IFC 5 Core Draft Project Plan consultation.

A total of 60 responses were received from the Standards Committee, the highest return to date. After applying weighting (full Chapters and strategic members counting as two votes), the outcome was 44 in favour and 22 against (46 in favour and 22 against, including late responses). This equates to approximately 67% support, exceeding the 65% threshold typically required for progression. While this was a consultation rather than a formal vote, the result provides a clear indication of support.

Key feedback included:

• Some respondents were strongly supportive, calling for rapid progression.
• Others supported the proposal but requested a more cautious approach, with refinements suggested.
• A minority opposed the plan, questioning its alignment with the current buildingSMART portfolio.

In addition, a joint letter was submitted by nine national Chapters (Germany, Denmark, Norway, UK & Ireland, Switzerland, Italy, Sweden, France, and Japan). While some of these Chapters had voted “Yes,” the letter highlighted concerns around finance, governance, technical clarity, and process transparency.

The consultation was considered successful in surfacing key issues, misunderstandings, and governance questions early in the process.

SCE conclusions:
The SCE agreed that the consultation provided a sufficient mandate for the IFC5 Core Working Group to proceed with preparing a Final Project Plan that:

• Incorporates the requested clarifications.
• Explicitly addresses governance, ISO collaboration, openness, funding, and resource commitments.
• Responds directly to both the Chapters letter and the full set of consultation comments.

The SCE required that the issues raised shall be addressed transparently. It also authorised sharing the consultation results, including the Chapters’ letter, on which the SCE remains neutral.