Hello, guys
Indeed. The IfcSpatialZone, added in IFC4, but not implemented in Software so far, is since July 2021 an official project within the bSI framework. Switzerland, Japan, Germany and Spain are the current chapters involved. It has been presented in the last bSI virtual Summits.
The current project roadmap will provide, probably at the last 2022 quarter, some outcomes enabling SW industry to start implementing IfcSpatialZone.
In case there is someone interested in participating in providing expertise or consulting, get in contact with your chapter and address your request.
Regarding the discussed topic here, and considering what is covered by IfcSpatialZone, it seems that the “place of installation” might be perfectly covered by one of the planned use cases of Spatial Zones. They are particularly aimed to be non-hierarchical and to have its independent placement and shape representation.
Here you can find a short summary of Spatial Zone use cases:
Zone types: construction, security, fire-safety, lighting, etc…
Zone volume: 2D, 2.5D, 3D
Simulation volumes (energy, evacuation…)
MEP reservations (holders, shafts, intermediate rooms, etc…)
Operation and management (with shape representation requirements)
GIS connection
Urban/Infra domain management (decoupling from Project Models to urban or landscape level).
…
The next IFC Schema version might include already an initial list of PredefinedTypes and, in the future, also include their own Pset structures, etc.
In the meantime, i.m.o. a custom property at an instance level is necessary for the “place of installation” and probably you should use an IfcSpace, assuming the story dependency constraint.
Greetings,
David