Question 1

What is ApexBIM?

Accepted Answer

ApexBIM is a cloud-native BIM (Building Information Modeling) platform built for the entire project team — architects, engineers, contractors, and project managers. It combines 3D viewing, clash detection, structural analysis, MEP calculations, quantity takeoff, and project management into one browser-based platform.

Question 2

Do I need to install any software?

Accepted Answer

No. ApexBIM runs entirely in your browser. There is nothing to install, update, or maintain. You can access your projects from any device with a modern browser — desktop, laptop, tablet, or even a phone.

Question 3

How do I get started?

Accepted Answer

Sign up with your email — no credit card required. The Free plan gives you 1 project with up to 500 BIM elements to explore the platform. Upload an IFC file, try the 3D viewer, run clash detection, and generate a 2D sheet. When you are ready for more, upgrade to Pro or Enterprise.

Question 4

Can I try ApexBIM before buying?

Accepted Answer

Yes. The Free plan is free forever — no time limit, no credit card. It includes the 3D viewer, IFC parsing, basic clash detection, and watermarked 2D export. When you are ready, start a 14-day Pro trial with full access to all features.

Question 5

What file formats does ApexBIM support?

Accepted Answer

ApexBIM supports IFC (Industry Foundation Classes) — the open BIM standard. We support IFC2x3, IFC4, and IFC4.3. You can upload .ifc, .ifcxml, and .ifczip files up to 50 MB. For larger files, our Python IfcOpenShell microservice can handle files up to 5 GB via streaming.

Question 6

Can I import files from Revit, ArchiCAD, or other BIM tools?

Accepted Answer

Yes — as long as your BIM tool can export to IFC (which all major BIM tools can). Export your model as IFC from Revit, ArchiCAD, Tekla, or any other tool, then upload it to ApexBIM. All element properties, storeys, and systems are preserved.

Question 7

Does ApexBIM modify my IFC files?

Accepted Answer

No. ApexBIM reads your IFC file and creates a cloud-hosted copy. Your original file is never modified. You can export your model back to IFC at any time, and the exported file will be valid IFC that any BIM tool can open.

Question 8

What about BCF and COBie?

Accepted Answer

ApexBIM fully supports BCF (BIM Collaboration Format) for issue tracking — you can import and export BCF issues to exchange with any BIM tool. We also support COBie 2.0+ export for facility management handover.

Question 9

Does ApexBIM support real-time collaboration?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Multiple users can view and edit the same model simultaneously. You will see other users' cursors in real time, and changes are synced instantly. The Pro plan supports 10 concurrent collaborators; Enterprise supports unlimited.

Question 10

Can I run structural analysis on my BIM elements?

Accepted Answer

Yes. ApexBIM includes a built-in structural analysis engine. Select any beam or column, define load cases (dead, live, wind, seismic, snow), run ASCE 7 LRFD or ASD load combinations, and generate result envelopes. Export the full report as Markdown, CSV, or JSON.

Question 11

Does ApexBIM do MEP calculations?

Accepted Answer

Yes. ApexBIM includes MEP engineering tools: 3-phase panel circuit balancing (with NEC 125% continuous load factors), WSFU/DFU fixture unit calculation per UPC/IPC, Hunter's curve water demand, pipe sizing (Hazen-Williams), duct sizing (ASHRAE), and NFPA 13 fire sprinkler hydraulic calculations.

Question 12

Can I generate 2D drawings from my 3D model?

Accepted Answer

Yes. ApexBIM generates plan, section, elevation, and reflected ceiling plan views directly from your 3D model. Choose your dimension style (architectural, engineering, decimal, or fractional), apply hatching patterns, add annotations, and export as SVG — all automatically updated when the model changes.

Question 13

Is there a quantity takeoff tool?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Generate quantity takeoffs directly from the BIM model — count elements by type, calculate wall and floor areas, and summarize material quantities. Every quantity is linked to the 3D element it came from, so you can verify with one click. Export to CSV or Excel.

Question 14

How secure is my data?

Accepted Answer

ApexBIM is built with security-first principles. All data is encrypted in transit (TLS) and at rest. Every API endpoint has IDOR (Insecure Direct Object Reference) defenses — your data is tenant-isolated and cannot be accessed by other customers. All actions are recorded in a tamper-evident audit log (SHA-256 hash chain).

Question 15

Is ApexBIM SOC2 compliant?

Accepted Answer

ApexBIM's architecture is SOC2-ready. We implement all 5 SOC2 Trust Service Principles: Security, Availability, Processing Integrity, Confidentiality, and Privacy. Our audit trail is tamper-evident, our access controls are role-based, and our infrastructure is monitored 24/7. Contact us for a SOC2 readiness report.

Question 16

Can I deploy ApexBIM on my own servers?

Accepted Answer

Yes. The Enterprise plan includes an on-premise deployment option. ApexBIM ships as a Docker Compose stack that runs entirely on your infrastructure — no external cloud dependencies. Storage is handled by Garage (self-hosted S3-compatible storage), and the database can be MySQL or SQLite.

Question 17

Do you support SSO?

Accepted Answer

Yes. The Enterprise plan supports SSO via SAML 2.0 (Google Workspace, Microsoft Entra ID, Okta, etc.) and SCIM user provisioning for automated user management. Contact us to configure SSO for your organization.

Question 18

What is the audit trail?

Accepted Answer

Every action in ApexBIM — model edits, issue updates, schedule changes, file uploads — is automatically recorded in a tamper-evident audit log. Each event includes a SHA-256 hash of the previous event, so any modification or deletion is detectable. Export the audit log as CSV or JSON for compliance reviews.

Question 19

Are there per-seat charges?

Accepted Answer

No. ApexBIM charges per plan, not per user. The Pro plan includes 10 collaborators and the Enterprise plan includes unlimited collaborators. No surprise charges when your team grows.

Question 20

Can I change plans anytime?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Upgrade or downgrade at any time — we prorate the difference automatically. No lock-in contracts, cancel anytime.

Question 21

Do you offer educational discounts?

Accepted Answer

Yes — accredited educational institutions get 50% off all paid plans. Contact us with your institution details and we will set it up.

Question 22

What payment methods do you accept?

Accepted Answer

All major credit cards via Flutterwave. Enterprise customers can pay by invoice with NET-30 terms.

Question 23

What happens to my data if I cancel?

Accepted Answer

You can export all your data (models, issues, schedules, audit logs) at any time. If you cancel, your data is retained for 90 days in case you change your mind. After 90 days, it is permanently deleted. No vendor lock-in — your data is yours.

Question 24

What browsers are supported?

Accepted Answer

ApexBIM supports all modern browsers: Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge (latest 2 versions). The 3D viewer uses WebGL2, which is supported by 98% of browsers worldwide. For the best experience, we recommend Chrome or Firefox with hardware acceleration enabled.

Question 25

Does ApexBIM work on mobile?

Accepted Answer

The marketing site and dashboard work on mobile browsers. The 3D viewer requires a desktop or tablet — the interaction model (orbit, pan, zoom, click-to-select) does not translate well to phone screens. We are working on a mobile-optimized viewer for site inspections.

Question 26

Is there an API?

Accepted Answer

Yes. ApexBIM has a full REST API with OpenAPI documentation. The Free plan includes read-only API access. The Pro plan includes full read/write API access. The Enterprise plan includes webhook support for real-time integrations. Visit /api/docs for the full API specification.

Question 27

What is the uptime guarantee?

Accepted Answer

Enterprise customers get a 99.9% uptime SLA. We monitor the platform 24/7 with automated health checks, and our status page at /api/health shows real-time system status. Scheduled maintenance is announced at least 72 hours in advance.

Question 28

Can I integrate ApexBIM with my existing tools?

Accepted Answer

Yes. ApexBIM supports webhooks (Enterprise plan) for real-time integrations with Slack, Microsoft Teams, Jira, Procore, and any other tool that accepts incoming webhooks. Our REST API enables custom integrations with any system.

Frequently asked questions

Getting Started

File Compatibility

Features

Security & Compliance

Pricing & Plans

Technical

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