If you work with construction estimates in Spain, sooner or later you will receive a BC3 file. It is the standard format for exchanging estimates, measurements and price databases between different programs. In this article we explain what it is, how it is structured and how to import and export it without losing information.

What a BC3 file is

A .bc3 file is a text file that follows the FIEBDC-3 format (Formato de Intercambio Estándar de Bases de Datos de Construcción, the Spanish standard exchange format for construction databases), promoted by the FIEBDC association. Its purpose is to let an estimate created in one program be opened in another.

With a BC3 you can exchange:

  • Complete estimates with sections, line items and unit cost breakdowns.
  • Detailed measurements.
  • Price databases.
  • Texts, specifications and technical information.
  • Progress certifications (depending on the program).

It is used by Presto, CYPE Arquímedes, Menfis, TCQi and construction ERPs such as BIM 2.0 for Odoo, among others.

How a BC3 is structured inside

If you open a BC3 in a text editor you will see lines that start with the ~ character followed by a letter. Each line is a record; its fields are separated by | and its subfields by \.

The most important records are:

  • ~V – Property and version: who generated the file, the format version and the character set.
  • ~K – Coefficients: decimals and percentages (overheads, contractor's profit, etc.).
  • ~C – Concept: each section, line item or resource with its code, unit, summary, price and type.
  • ~D – Breakdown: which child concepts make up a parent concept and in what quantity.
  • ~T – Text: the long description of a concept.
  • ~M – Measurements: the measurement lines of each line item.

There are more records (specifications, graphic information, entities, technical information, waste…), but these six are the ones that define an estimate.

Simplified example

A BC3 fragment might look like this:

~V|MI EMPRESA|FIEBDC-3/2016|BIM 2.0||ANSI|
~C|OBRA##||Presupuesto vivienda unifamiliar|30500.35|251026|0|
~C|03#||CIMENTACIÓN|3920.35|251026|0|
~C|03HZ010|m3|Hormigón HA-25 en zapatas|97.20|251026|0|
~C|MO001|h|Oficial 1ª|22.50|251026|1|
~C|MO002|h|Peón|19.00|251026|1|
~C|MT001|m3|Hormigón HA-25/B/20/IIa|85.00|251026|3|
~D|03HZ010|MO001\1\0.10\MO002\1\0.30\MT001\1\1.05\|
~T|03HZ010|Hormigón HA-25/B/20/IIa en zapatas, vertido con bomba y vibrado.|

The price of line item 03HZ010 comes from its breakdown: 0.10 h × 22.50 + 0.30 h × 19.00 + 1.05 m³ × 85.00 = €97.20/m³. The root and section amounts are illustrative. Some useful conventions:

  • A code ending in ## is the root of the estimate.
  • Codes ending in # are sections.
  • The last field of the ~C record indicates the concept type (for example, 1 labor, 2 equipment, 3 materials).
  • In ~D, each child is followed by its factor and its output rate.

You do not need to edit a BC3 by hand, but understanding its structure helps you diagnose import errors.

How to open a BC3 file

To open a BC3 you need an estimating program or an ERP that supports it:

  • Presto: opens and imports BC3 natively.
  • CYPE Arquímedes: BC3 import and export.
  • Menfis, TCQi and other Spanish programs: support the format.
  • BIM 2.0 for Odoo: imports BC3 estimates directly into the ERP.

If you only want to view the content, some free tools or viewers can open it in read-only mode. See the free options for construction estimating.

How to export an estimate to BC3

The process is similar in all programs:

  1. Open the estimate and check that the codes are unique and contain no special characters.
  2. Look for the Export → FIEBDC-3 / BC3 option.
  3. Choose the format version (normally the most recent one supported by the target program).
  4. Select what to include: measurements, texts, specifications, certifications.
  5. Choose the character set (ANSI or whatever the target requires) to avoid problems with accents and special letters such as ñ.
  6. Save the file and, if possible, open it in the target program to check it.

How to import a BC3 into Odoo with BIM 2.0

With BIM 2.0 you can bring estimates created in Presto, Arquímedes or any other compatible program into the ERP:

  1. Export the estimate to BC3 from the source program.
  2. In Odoo, open the project and go to the estimate import.
  3. Select the BC3 file and start the import.
  4. BIM 2.0 creates the estimate's sections, line items, resources and measurements.
  5. From then on, the estimate is connected to purchasing, site reports, certifications and cost control.

This lets the estimating department keep working with its usual program while the project is managed in the ERP. We analyze it in Presto vs CYPE vs construction ERP.

Common BC3 import problems and how to solve them

  • Garbled accents and special letters: the file's character set does not match the expected one. Re-export in ANSI or UTF-8 depending on the target.
  • Line items without a price: ~D records are missing, or the price sits on the parent concept without a breakdown.
  • Measurements that do not add up: some exports do not include ~M records; check the export options.
  • Duplicate codes: two concepts with the same code overwrite each other. Rename them before exporting.
  • Incompatible format versions: export in an older version if the target program is old.

BC3 vs. Excel

Excel is flexible, but it has no standard structure: each company builds its sheet its own way. BC3, by contrast, preserves the section-line item-resource hierarchy, the breakdowns and the measurements. If you work in Excel, read how to create a construction estimate in Excel to prepare the sheet so that it can be imported later.

Frequently asked questions

Can I open a BC3 with Excel?

Technically it is plain text, but Excel does not interpret its hierarchical structure. The right approach is to open it with an estimating program and export to Excel from there.

Is BC3 used outside Spain?

It is mainly a Spanish standard, although some programs also use it in Latin America. In other markets Excel, proprietary XML or IFC with cost information are more common.

Does a BC3 include BIM information?

BC3 is an estimating format; IFC is used for the model. In 5D BIM workflows the two are combined. See 5D BIM estimates from Revit and IFC.

Conclusion

BC3 is the common language of construction estimates in Spain. Understanding its structure and knowing how to export it properly lets you switch tools without redoing work and connect your estimate to the company ERP.

👉 Try importing your BC3 in the BIM 2.0 demo.