The Complete IFC to VRML Conversion Guide.

August 01, 2025

General Information

This guide is part of the RapidPipeline 3D Formats Knowledge Database. It shows how to convert IFC to VRML, if you'd like to know more about the formats, please check out the following links:

Converting and Optimizing IFC Files to VRML

There are various ways to convert between IFC and VRML. With RapidPipeline, you can easily convert and and optimize IFC files, at scale. It supports VRML, as well as many other file formats (examples: FBX, glTF, OBJ, PLY, STL, USD, USDZ, VRM), at high quality.

Below you can find a video explaining how to convert your files:

What are IFC and VRML files commonly used for?

The IFC file is a format mostly used for building information modeling data exchange.
The VRML file is a format mostly used for web-based 3D content and virtual reality.

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Comparison of Features Supported by IFC and VRML

FeatureSupported by IFCSupported by VRML
Morph TargetsNoPartial0
Rigid AnimationsNoYes
Skinned AnimationsNoNo
AnimationsNoYes
Free-Form SurfacesYesPartial1
Geometry CompressionPartial2No
Quad MeshesYesPartial3
Basic 3D GeometryYesYes
PBR MaterialsNoNo
Transparent MaterialsPartial4Yes
Vertex ColorsNoYes
MaterialsYesYes
Scene CompositionYesYes
Hierarchical Scene GraphYesYes
Scene NodesYesYes
Standardized FormatYesYes
Embedded TexturesNoNo
Multiple UV ChannelsNoPartial5
Normal MappingNoNo
Procedural TexturesNoPartial6
Texture CompressionNoNo
Texture TransformsNoYes
TexturingPartial7Yes

0 - Basic shape interpolation through coordinate interpolation
1 - Limited NURBS support in VRML 2.0
2 - IFC-ZIP provides compression for large models
3 - Primarily triangle-based with some quad support
4 - Transparency supported through material properties
5 - Basic multi-texturing capabilities
6 - Simple procedural texture generation
7 - Basic texture support through material definitions

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Limitations of IFC Files to VRML Conversion Workflow

The following limitations should be taken into account when converting IFC files to VRML format:

IFC Feature (not supported by VRML)Limitation Details
Free-Form Surfaces

Free-Form Surfaces Support:

IFC: Full support | VRML: Partial support

Free-Form Surfaces illustratedlack of support for Free-Form Surfaces illustrated

VRML Notes:

Limited NURBS support in VRML 2.0

Impact:

Free-form surfaces allow a CAD user to design surfaces with advanced controls over curvature and continuitiy. While these surfaces are common for CAD models (in the form of so-called boundary representations or "B-reps"), they need to be converted to polygonal triangle or quad data to work with most 3D rendering engines - a process called tessellation. In this example, a surface patch is used to describe a part of a curved surface of a product. Without support for this feature, the free-form surface has to be tessellated into quads or triangles.

Geometry Compression

Geometry Compression Support:

IFC: Partial support | VRML: No support

Geometry Compression illustratedlack of support for Geometry Compression illustrated

IFC Notes:

IFC-ZIP provides compression for large models

Impact:

Geometry compression describes the process of compressing the representations of a 3D model's geometry, usually a triangle mesh. 3D geometry compression does not change the topology of a 3D model, but just changes the way that a 3D model and its 3D positions and related vertex data is stored. Geometry compression can be lossy (just like JPEG compression in image processing can be lossy, for example), in which case one might notice slight artifacts like variations in 3D vertex positions (compared to the uncompressed 3D model). However, such differences are often not noticeable. There are only very few standards for geometry compression, like glTF's support of Draco compression and similar extensions.

Quad Meshes

Quad Meshes Support:

IFC: Full support | VRML: Partial support

Quad Meshes illustratedlack of support for Quad Meshes illustrated

VRML Notes:

Primarily triangle-based with some quad support

Impact:

Quad meshes are a common way to hand-model and edit 3D models. 3D artists get intuitive control and such meshes are also easy to refine, as well as well-suited for creation of skinned animations. However, real-time rendering pipelines and hardware are usually all based on triangles, so if a 3D model should not be edited any more, it is safe to convert quads to triangles (and engines will do this automatically before sending data to the rendering hardware). In this example, a part of a mesh is modeled with quads. Without support for this feature, quads will have to be triangulated, producing a pure triangle mesh.

What's the best way to get IFC files into my 3D applications, and are there alternatives to using VRML?

Doing 3D conversion right, especially at scale, can be tricky, as 3D data is in general a rather complex (yet very powerful!) medium. This also applies to IFC and VRML files - the conversion guide above provides a rough first idea about that. Once you know what you would like to do, tools like RapidPipeline can help you perform the necessary steps, and to even automate the process for thousands or even millions of files.

Especially when introducing pipelines and workflows at scale in an enterprise context, it is usually good to rely on dedicated tools and expertise, making sure you do not introduce any steps into your 3D workflow that are detrimental to the final output's quality, or that take your team too much time (and money).

If you're interested to hire dedicated expertise from the best in the field to help your company reach your goals fast and reliably, please do not hestitate to contact DGG. Being the creators of RapidPipeline, and ambassadors for open 3D standards for more than a decade, we have been building some of the world's most advanced 3D pipelines, having processed many millions of 3D assets.

Therefore, our expertise will help you to reach your goals faster, at scale, and with the least possible friction, since we are focused on maximum interoperability.

To get started with 3D data conversion and optimization today, sign up for a free account!

If you have any questions, feel free to chat with our human team.

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3D Knowledge Team

3D Technical Artists

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