Import from Excel file

Make sure you have the things listed below before starting:

• An Excel file that contains information about building materials – material names and their quantities.
• One Click LCA account and license with Business features to be able to import data. 

How to set up Excel import?

Where can I download it?

On the bottom of this page, we have added four different excel templates which you can use for excel imports.

See the below table to see which excel form you should use.

Excel form name	Intended Project Use
OCL_import_form_Building_Metric_v1_8	Building Projects (EU/UK/RoW)
OCL_import_form_Building_Imperial_v1_2	Building Projects (US)
OCL_import_form_Building_Dutch_v1.0	Building Projects (Dutch, MPG)
OCL_import_form_Building_Metric_FRANCE_v1_4	Building Projects (France, E+C-)
OCL_importformulär_Byggnader_Metersystemet_Sverige_v1	Building Projects (Sweden, Klimatdeklaration)
OCL_import_form_Building_Japanese_v1	Building Projects (Japan)
OCL_import_form_EPD_v1.16	Product Projects (Ecoinvent EPD)
OCL_import_form_EPD_v2.2	Product Projects (Ecoinvent EPD, for EPD Hub v2 tool)
OCL_import_form_Infrastructure_Metric_v1_4	Infrastructure Projects (EU/UK/RoW)
OCL_import_form_GHG_reporting_Metric_v1.5	GHG Reporting Projects (Worldwide)

How do I install it?

You only need to have Microsoft Excel installed.

How to use Excel Import?

Step 1: Adding correct data heading labels when not using excel template

If the model is taken directly from the Building Information model using One Click LCA import it is automatically in the correct form. If you use some other source for Excel you will probably need to add correct data heading labels, units, and classification for the data.

If you are using one of the excel templates then you simply fill in the excel with available the building materials quantity takeoff.

Step 1A: Check the Excel formatting requirements

Please find the data templates in the attachments (can be found at the bottom of the page). Below are provided explanations for different classes and guidance on how to fill in the data.

CLASS: The class defines to which question in the query we map, the values have to be one of the listed ones in exactly the same format. Please find the list of accepted CLASS values for building projects and information on which question each of them is mapped to in the table below. Infrastructure and EPD projects have their own classification system. The classes can be found in the Excel templates which can be downloaded from the bottom of this article.

CLASS	Building element	Sub-Element
FOUNDATION	Foundations and substructure	Foundation, sub-surface, basement and retaining walls
WALL	Vertical structures and facade	External walls and facade
EXTERNAL WALL	Vertical structures and facade	External walls and facade
INTERNAL WALL	Vertical structures and facade	Internal walls and non-bearing structures
COLUMN	Vertical structures and facade	Columns and load-bearing vertical structures
SLAB	Horizontal structures: beams, floors and roofs	Floor slabs, ceilings, roofing decks, beams and roof
ROOF	Horizontal structures: beams, floors and roofs	Floor slabs, ceilings, roofing decks, beams and roof
BEAM	Horizontal structures: beams, floors and roofs	Floor slabs, ceilings, roofing decks, beams and roof
STAIRS	Other structures and materials	Other structures and materials
OTHER	Other structures and materials	Other structures and materials
DOOR	Other structures and materials	Windows and doors
WINDOW	Other structures and materials	Windows and doors
HORIZONTAL FINISH	Horizontal structures: beams, floors and roofs	Floor slabs, ceilings, roofing decks, beams and roof
VERTICAL FINISH	Vertical structures and facade	Internal walls and non-bearing structures
FINISH	Other structures and materials	Finishes and coverings
COVERINGS	Other structures and materials	Finishes and coverings
SYSTEM	Building technology	Building systems and installations
BUILDINGTECH	Building technology	Building systems and installations
FURNITURE	Building technology	Building systems and installations
SITE	External areas and site elements	Materials and constructions for external areas

IFCMATERIAL: The distinguishable material name that we use to map the material to the label in the tool. Mapping is based on CLASS & IFCMATERIAL combination. Many generic labels such as Concrete 40/50 are automatically mapped. For other materials choose a material label that you wish to use for that material. When you import it for the first time, you can teach it to the tool and it will be automatically recognized in the future.

QUANTITY: Number, use comma as decimal separator.

QTY_TYPE: Unit, accepted values are M3, KG, and M2. Please note that if you are using M2 you’ll also need to give THICKNESS in mm unit.

TRANSPORT_KM: Transport distance in km from manufacturer site to the building site (optional, can also be added later in the query).

Name: This field can contain any additional information you wish to take to the comment field in the tool. Please, note that if you combine several rows in the import process the comment is not shown in the query.

You can add any additional information you want to use to the excel template. This can be added by adding new columns. Please prioritize using existing unused columns (just change the column name) as there is a maximum amount of columns that can be present in the excel. In the additional settings during the import process, you will be able to change the grouping and combining based on any additionally exported columns. Any additionally provided information you will be able to see in the building material query as well by clicking the paper icon.

Step 2: Upload the filled-in Excel sheet.

When all the listed are available, you can simply open your project design where you wish to import the data and click 'Input data' and 'Import Excel or gbXML files'.

Watch our tutorial video of the tool basic functionalities and test the web interface so that you’ll know how it works before starting the import.  

You can also download the Excel from your existing BIM or IFC model and then add additional rows for it or make corrections. For instance, if some of the material specifications in the model are not distinguishable enough such as Wall 1, you can split those into several rows to represent the actual building materials in it.

How to use private classifications in Excel?

Please check the FAQ section of the following article which explains this functionality: Private Classifications

Attachments