Type Classification Strategies: Choosing the Right Approach for Your BIM Data

When it comes to organizing and classifying building elements in your BIM models, you have two main approaches, each with distinct benefits and trade-offs. Understanding these strategies helps you make informed decisions about how to structure your BIM data for maximum efficiency and consistency.

The Two Main Classification Strategies

Strategy 1: Multiple Distinct Parameters

This approach uses separate parameters to hold different pieces of classification information.

Benefits:

Flexibility: Easy to add new classification criteria without changing existing data
Granular Control: Each parameter can have its own validation rules and constraints
Query Power: Can filter and analyze data across multiple dimensions simultaneously
Future-Proof: New requirements can be accommodated by adding parameters

Drawbacks:

Management Overhead: More parameters mean more data entry and maintenance
Error Potential: Higher chance of inconsistent or missing parameter values
Complexity: Requires more training and documentation for team members
Performance: More parameters can slow down model performance

Example: A wall might have separate parameters for:

Material Type (Concrete, Steel, Wood)
Fire Rating (30min, 60min, 90min)
Structural Function (Load-bearing, Partition, Curtain)
Location (Exterior, Interior, Core)

Strategy 2: Comprehensive Type Names

This approach encodes all classification information directly in the type name using a structured naming convention.

Benefits:

Simplicity: All classification info is visible at a glance
Consistency: Naming convention enforces standardization
Efficiency: Less data entry and parameter management
Clarity: Type names are self-documenting

Drawbacks:

Type Proliferation: May result in many similar types for fine-grained classification
Rigidity: Hard to modify naming convention once established
Length: Type names can become very long and unwieldy
Maintenance: Changes to classification system require renaming existing types

Example: A wall type might be named:

"EXT-CONC-60-LB-200" (Exterior-Concrete-60min-LoadBearing-200mm)
"INT-GYP-30-PT-100" (Interior-Gypsum-30min-Partition-100mm)

The Hybrid Approach: Best of Both Worlds

Most successful BIM implementations use a combination of both strategies:

High-Level Grouping by Type Name: Use type names for major classifications (material, basic function, location)

Exception Handling with Parameters: Use instance parameters for project-specific variations, special requirements, or detailed specifications

Example Implementation:

Type Name: "EXT-CONC-60-LB" (covers 80% of cases)
Instance Parameters: Fire Rating Override, Special Coating, Acoustic Rating (for the 20% of exceptions)

Country-Specific Classification Systems

For organizations working in specific regions, established building element classification systems can provide a solid foundation for type naming conventions.

Germany: Kostengruppen DIN 277

The German DIN 277 standard provides a hierarchical classification system for building costs and elements:

Structure:

300: Building Construction (Hochbau)
310: Load-bearing Structure (Tragwerk)
320: Exterior Walls (Außenwände)
330: Interior Walls (Innenwände)
340: Floors (Decken)
350: Roofs (Dächer)

Example Type Names:

"320_Exterior Concrete Wall"
"330_Interior Gypsum Wall"

Switzerland: EBKPH (Elementbaukosten nach Positionen und Hierarchie)

The Swiss EBKPH system provides detailed classification for building elements:

Structure:

C: Building Construction (Konstruktion Gebäude)
C02: Wall Construction (Wandkonstruktion)
C02.01: Exterior Wall Construction (Aussenwandkonstruktion)
C02.02: Interior Wall Construction (Innenwandkonstruktion)
G: Building Fit-out (Ausbau Gebäude)
G01: Partition Walls, Interior Doors (Trennwand, Innentür, Innentor)

Example Type Names:

"C02.01_Exterior Concrete Wall"
"C02.02_Interior Gypsum Wall"

Implementing Regex Validation for Type Names

Rule Charts in Vyssuals can validate type names using regex patterns to ensure compliance with your chosen classification system. However, Vyssuals uses DuckDB's RE2 engine, which has specific constraints that differ from standard regex engines.

Getting Help with Regex Patterns

Creating complex regex patterns can be challenging. Vyssuals provides a helpful feature: when you use regex filters, you'll see a "Copy ChatGPT Instructions" button that gives you a specialized prompt to generate RE2-compatible patterns.

Pro tip: Use the ChatGPT instructions feature in Vyssuals to generate complex regex patterns. The instructions are specifically tailored for DuckDB's RE2 engine and will save you time and frustration.

Basic Regex Patterns

Germany (DIN 277) Format:

^[0-9]{3}_.*$  # 3 digits underscore free text

Switzerland (EBKPH) Format:

^[A-Z][0-9]{2}.[0-9]{2}_.*$  # Letter + 2 digits dot 2 digits underscore free text

Practical Examples

German Classification Examples:

320_Exterior Concrete Wall
330_Interior Gypsum Wall
340_Concrete Floor

Swiss Classification Examples:

C02.01_Exterior Wall Construction
C02.02_Interior Wall Construction
G01.01_Partition Wall

Setting Up Regex Validation in Rule Charts

Create a Rule Chart for type name validation
Filter by Category (e.g., Walls, Doors, Windows)
Add Advanced Filter for Type Name parameter
Set Rule to Test using regex pattern
Configure Pass/Fail Logic based on pattern matching

Example Rule Setup:

Category: Walls
Filter: All walls
Rule: Type Name matches pattern ^C02.[0-9]{2}_.*$
Result: Shows which walls follow the EBKPH wall construction classification

Best Practices for Type Name Classification

1. Start Simple, Evolve Gradually

Begin with basic classification and add complexity as your team becomes comfortable with the system.

2. Document Your Convention

Create clear documentation explaining your naming convention, including examples and exceptions.

3. Train Your Team

Ensure all team members understand the classification system and can apply it consistently.

4. Use Validation Rules

Implement Rule Charts to automatically check compliance with your naming conventions.

5. Plan for Exceptions

Design your system to handle exceptions gracefully, either through additional parameters or special naming conventions.

6. Regular Review

Periodically review your classification system to ensure it still meets your project needs.

Making Your Decision

The choice between classification strategies depends on several factors:

Choose Multiple Parameters When:

You need maximum flexibility for future changes
Your team has strong BIM management capabilities
You're working on complex projects with many variables
You have dedicated BIM coordinators to manage the system

Choose Comprehensive Type Names When:

You want simplicity and ease of use
Your team prefers visual, self-documenting systems
You're working on standardized project types
You want to minimize training requirements

Choose the Hybrid Approach When:

You want the benefits of both strategies
You have mixed project types and requirements
You're transitioning from one system to another
You want to balance simplicity with flexibility

Conclusion

The right classification strategy depends on your team's capabilities, project complexity, and organizational needs. Start with the approach that feels most natural to your team, then evolve as your needs change. Remember that the best system is one that your team will actually use consistently.

For more information on implementing validation rules for your classification system, check out our Rule Charts Guide which covers how to use Vyssuals' Rule Charts for automated quality control.

This feature is available in Vyssuals Revit Connector 0.5.0 and later. For more information about the recent updates, check out our Major Update August 2025 blog post.