BIM model to compliance report in minutes
Kestrel Labs reads your BIM file, checks it against IBC, ADA, NFPA, and local amendments, then gives you a structured report before the permit set begins.
Step-by-step workflow
See what occurs from model upload through results review.
Upload the model
Upload your BIM file. Supports IFC 2x3, IFC4, Revit RVT via the Kestrel Labs Revit add-in, ArchiCAD BIMx, and IFC exports from other tools. Commercial floor plans upload in under a minute.
Free and Studio plans accept files up to 500 MB; Firm and Enterprise accept up to 2 GB. For larger models, export one building as IFC and upload it.
Parse the model data
The BIM parser extracts spatial geometry, room classifications, element types, dimensions, and adjacency relationships. It processes structured model data rather than rendered images or other visual output.
Extracted data includes floor area and egress widths by occupancy zone, door and corridor dimensions, ramp grades, accessible-route continuity, compartmentation boundaries, and structural element classifications.
Run the rule checks
The rule engine compares model data with applicable requirements for the occupancy type and jurisdiction. Checks are grouped under IBC, ADA, NFPA 101, and applicable local amendments.
Each rule applies its code formula or dimensional requirement to a model measurement. A failed requirement records the violation alongside the measured and required values.
Organize results by severity
Results are marked Fail or Warning. Fail indicates a clear violation requiring correction by the plan reviewer. Warning identifies a condition that may need review based on jurisdictional interpretation or design intent.
Pass results show the section reference and confirmed measurement, identifying the checks performed and their outcomes.
Supported BIM formats
Kestrel Labs accepts standard formats exported by your existing BIM tools.
IFC 2x3 and IFC4
IFC is the open format supported by major BIM tools. Export IFC from Revit, ArchiCAD, Vectorworks, or another compatible application. IFC4 is preferred when richer semantic data is available.
File limit: 2 GB on Firm and Enterprise.
Revit RVT via plugin
Install the Kestrel Labs Revit add-in to send the active model directly to your project. It exports IFC and uploads the file in one action. Requires Revit 2021 or later.
Available on Studio, Firm, and Enterprise plans.
ArchiCAD BIMx and IFC
Upload BIMx files directly, or export IFC from ArchiCAD first. IFC export is recommended when checks depend on precise room-boundary data.
All ArchiCAD versions support IFC export.
Basis for the checks
Kestrel Labs conducted a private beta across 30 early-access projects at architecture firms designing commercial, residential, and mixed-use buildings. Analysis of this data informed the check library and its accuracy baseline.
Egress checks performed best in beta: 94% of egress-width and travel-distance items matched later plan-review findings on the same projects. Accessibility-route checks reached 89%, while fire-compartmentation checks reached 87%.
These figures come from internal beta data, not an independent benchmark. They indicate where the library performs well and where known gaps remain.
Common questions
Uploaded models are encrypted in your project and used only for compliance checks. Delete the project and its files from the dashboard at any time. Files are not shared with other accounts, used to train models, or retained after project deletion.
Base frameworks include IBC 2021, ADA Standards, NFPA 101, and Fair Housing Act. Colorado amendments are included as a jurisdiction layer. Additional state and municipal amendments are available on Firm and Enterprise plans. Before starting a project outside Colorado, contact us to confirm support for the applicable local amendments.
No. Kestrel Labs is a preflight tool for finding issues before submission. It is not a plan review, does not state a jurisdiction's position, and does not authorize construction. The report supports design-team analysis; it is not an approval.
Fail items appear first, followed by Warnings. Each group is ordered by framework: IBC, ADA, NFPA, local. Every item shows its section reference, measured value, required value, and needed correction. Pass items follow with confirmed measurements.
Firm and Enterprise plans provide API access for programmatic checks and result delivery to project-management or document-control tools. The API returns structured JSON containing the dashboard report data. Contact us to discuss workflow requirements for enterprise teams.
Each project run counts as one check; rerunning after model changes counts separately. Free allows 1 project, Studio allows 5 projects per month, Firm allows 20 projects per month, and Enterprise is uncapped. Unused credits do not carry into the next billing month.