#### 6.1.3.1 IfcDistributionControlElement

| Élément de circuit de distribution
| Komponente der Gebäudeautomation (allgemein)

The distribution element IfcDistributionControlElement defines occurrence elements of a building automation control system that are used to impart control over elements of a distribution system.

IfcDistributionControlElement defines elements of a building automation control system. These are typically used to control distribution system elements to maintain variables such as temperature, humidity, pressure, flow, power, or lighting levels, through the modulation, staging or sequencing of mechanical or electrical devices. The three general functional categories of control elements are as follows:

- Impart control over flow control elements (IfcFlowController) in a distribution system such as dampers, valves, or relays, typically through the use of actuation (IfcActuator).
- Sensing elements (IfcSensor) that measure changes in the controlled variable such as temperature, humidity, pressure, or flow.
- Controllers (IfcController) typically classified according to the control action they seek to perform and generally responsible for making decisions about the elements under control.

Since IfcDistributionControlElement and its subtypes typically relate to many different distribution flow elements (IfcDistributionFlowElement), the objectified relationship IfcRelFlowControlElements has been provided to relate control and flow elements as required.

The key distinction between IfcDistributionFlowElement and IfcDistributionControlElement is whether it is internal or external to the flow system, respectively. For example, the distinction between IfcFlowMeter (subtype of IfcDistributionFlowElement measuring a flow quantity) and IfcFlowInstrument (subtype of IfcDistributionControlElement measuring a flow quality), is based on this principal. A physical device that connects within the flow system in which it measures (having inlet/outlet pipes for the measured substance) follows the IfcDistributionFlowElement hierarchy (and therefore IfcFlowMeter which measures the flow internally). Otherwise, if it monitors/controls but does not connect inline within the flow system (it is external or is a component of another device), then it follows the IfcDistributionControlElement hierarchy (and therefore IfcFlowInstrument which may display various attributes through connected sensors).

> HISTORY New entity in IFC2.0.

> IFC4 CHANGE Attribute ControlElementId attribute deleted; replaced by classification usage. Ports are now primarily defined using IfcRelNests to enable definition of ports at type definitions (both forward and backward compatible), provide a logical order, and reduce the number of relationship objects needed. The relationship IfcRelConnectsPortToElement is still supported, however is now specific to dynamically connected ports.

XSD Specification:

<xs:element name="IfcDistributionControlElement" type="ifc:IfcDistributionControlElement" substitutionGroup="ifc:IfcDistributionElement" nillable="true"/>
<xs:complexType name="IfcDistributionControlElement">
<xs:complexContent>
<xs:extension base="ifc:IfcDistributionElement"/>
</xs:complexContent>
</xs:complexType>

EXPRESS Specification:

ENTITY IfcDistributionControlElement

| SUPERTYPE OF(ONEOF(IfcActuator, IfcAlarm, IfcController, IfcFlowInstrument, IfcSensor, IfcUnitaryControlElement))

| SUBTYPE OF IfcDistributionElement;

| INVERSE

AssignedToFlowElement | : | SET [0:1] OF IfcRelFlowControlElements FOR RelatedControlElements;

END_ENTITY;

EXPRESS-G diagram

Attribute Definitions:

AssignedToFlowElement | : | Reference through the relationship object to related distribution flow elements.

Inheritance Graph:

ENTITY IfcDistributionControlElement

| ENTITY IfcRoot

GlobalId | : | IfcGloballyUniqueId;
OwnerHistory | : | OPTIONAL IfcOwnerHistory;
Name | : | OPTIONAL IfcLabel;
Description | : | OPTIONAL IfcText;

| ENTITY IfcObjectDefinition

| INVERSE

HasAssignments | : | SET OF IfcRelAssigns FOR RelatedObjects;
Nests | : | SET [0:1] OF IfcRelNests FOR RelatedObjects;
IsNestedBy | : | SET OF IfcRelNests FOR RelatingObject;
HasContext | : | SET [0:1] OF IfcRelDeclares FOR RelatedDefinitions;
IsDecomposedBy | : | SET OF IfcRelAggregates FOR RelatingObject;
Decomposes | : | SET [0:1] OF IfcRelAggregates FOR RelatedObjects;
HasAssociations | : | SET OF IfcRelAssociates FOR RelatedObjects;

| ENTITY IfcObject

ObjectType | : | OPTIONAL IfcLabel;

| INVERSE

IsDeclaredBy | : | SET [0:1] OF IfcRelDefinesByObject FOR RelatedObjects;
Declares | : | SET OF IfcRelDefinesByObject FOR RelatingObject;
IsTypedBy | : | SET [0:1] OF IfcRelDefinesByType FOR RelatedObjects;
IsDefinedBy | : | SET OF IfcRelDefinesByProperties FOR RelatedObjects;

| ENTITY IfcProduct

ObjectPlacement | : | OPTIONAL IfcObjectPlacement;
Representation | : | OPTIONAL IfcStrippedOptional;

| INVERSE

ReferencedBy | : | SET OF IfcRelAssignsToProduct FOR RelatingProduct;

| ENTITY IfcElement

Tag | : | OPTIONAL IfcIdentifier;

| INVERSE

ContainedInStructure | : | SET [0:1] OF IfcRelContainedInSpatialStructure FOR RelatedElements;

| ENTITY IfcDistributionElement

| INVERSE

| ENTITY IfcDistributionControlElement

| INVERSE

AssignedToFlowElement | : | SET [0:1] OF IfcRelFlowControlElements FOR RelatedControlElements;

END_ENTITY;

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