If you work in construction in Spain, sooner or later you'll come across the BC3 file. The public administration will ask for it in a tender. The architect will send it with the project, or you'll need it to move a budget from one program to another without losing a single line item.
The BC3 is the standard format for exchanging budgets in Spain. In this article you'll find everything you need to know: what it is exactly, how it's structured, what it's used for at each stage of a project, which programs are compatible and how to work with it in TrowelApp.
What is a BC3 file?
The BC3 file, also known as the FIEBDC format (Standard Exchange File for Construction Databases, from its Spanish acronym), is a standardised text file used in the construction sector in Spain to exchange budgets, quantity take-offs and progress certificates between different software programs.
It was developed by the Higher Council of the Colleges of Architects of Spain (CSCAE) to solve a very specific problem: before it existed, each estimating program stored data in its own proprietary format. Moving a budget from one piece of software to another meant entering all the data manually, with the time cost and risk of error that involves.
The BC3 establishes a common language that every program in the sector can read and write. As a result, today you can create a budget in Presto, export it as BC3 and import it into TrowelApp or any other compatible software in a matter of seconds, without losing a single line item or piece of data.
It's also known as:
- FIEBDC or FIEBDC-3 format
- Standard construction exchange file
- Construction database (BC3)
- Budget in BC3 format
Difference between BC3 and FIEBDC: are they the same?
Yes, they are exactly the same thing. BC3 and FIEBDC are two names for the same format.
The official technical name is FIEBDC (Standard Exchange File for Construction Databases). The number 3 in BC3 refers to the most widely used version of the format. In practice, professionals in the sector use "BC3 file", "FIEBDC format" or "BC3 document" interchangeably to refer to the same standard.
The official website for the format is fiebdc.es, where the full technical specification and current versions are published.
Structure of a BC3 file
Although the BC3 file is a plain text file (readable with any text editor), it has a structure organised into blocks that the sector's programs interpret automatically.
It is made up of four main blocks:
Header
Contains the general details of the project: name, client, company, date of preparation and the version of the BC3 format used.
Body
This is the main block. It contains the entire structure of the budget organised hierarchically:
- Chapters: the main divisions of the budget
- Subchapters: secondary divisions within each chapter
- Line items: individual units of work with description, measurement and price
- Cost breakdowns: the breakdown of each line item into materials, labour and machinery
- Measurements: quantities linked to each line item
Totals
Shows the accumulated amounts per chapter and the total cost of the project, with or without VAT depending on the file's configuration.
Notes and remarks
An optional space for particular conditions, technical notes or any additional information relevant to the recipient.
Versions of the BC3 format
The FIEBDC format has evolved since its creation to adapt to the needs of the sector:
- BC3 v1: the original version, basic but functional for simple budgets
- BC3 v2: improves the structure and extends compatibility between systems
- BC3 v3 (FIEBDC-3): the current and most widely used version, compatible with most software in the sector in Spain. It supports complex budgets with cost breakdowns, price databases and progress certificates
The most widely used version in Spain today is BC3 v3 (FIEBDC-3). It's the one accepted by TrowelApp, Presto, CYPE, Billdin and most official price databases such as ITeC, CYPE or BDC IVE.
What the BC3 file is used for in construction management
The BC3 is used at different stages in the life cycle of a construction project. These are its most common uses:
1. Exchanging budgets between professionals
The most everyday use. The architect or quantity surveyor prepares the budget in their program and exports it as BC3. The contractor imports it into their management software without typing anything manually. Everything arrives in seconds, with no transcription errors.
2. Public works tenders
In Spain, the BC3 format is the standard required in most public administration tenders. The tender documents include the project budget in BC3 so that bidding companies can import it directly into their systems and prepare their financial offer.
Without BC3 compatibility, taking part in public tenders in Spain is practically unworkable.
3. Importing into construction management software
Once the project is awarded, the BC3 budget is imported into a management platform such as TrowelApp to become the starting point for cost control. From that moment on, every purchase, every progress certificate and every deviation is automatically linked to the line items of the imported budget.
See the step by step: How to import a budget with BC3 files in TrowelApp: step-by-step guide →
4. Progress certificates
During execution, the BC3 is also used to generate and export progress certificates: the actual progress of each line item expressed in the same units and structure as the original budget. This makes invoicing and the financial control of the project easier.
5. Integration with price databases
The main price databases in Spain CYPE, ITeC/BEDEC, BDC IVE, Generador de Precios distribute their data in BC3 format. This allows any compatible program to import up-to-date prices for materials, labour and machinery without entering them manually.
Advantages of the BC3 format in construction management
Using the BC3 file brings concrete benefits to project management:
Real interoperability. It works with virtually every program in the sector in Spain. A BC3 file created in Presto can be imported into TrowelApp, Billdin, CYPE or any other compatible software without intermediate conversions.
Elimination of manual errors. By transferring budgets automatically, you eliminate the transcription errors that inevitably appear when data is entered by hand. A mistyped line item can cost thousands of euros on a project.
Time savings. Importing a 500-line-item budget from a BC3 file takes seconds. Entering it manually can take days.
Full traceability. The BC3 keeps the hierarchical structure of the budget from its creation through to the final progress certificate, which makes audits, claims and the financial control of the project easier.
Recognised official standard. As the format required by the Spanish public administration, using it guarantees compatibility with any public tender or procurement process.
Programs compatible with BC3 in Spain
These are the main programs on the Spanish market that work with the BC3 format:
TrowelApp end-to-end construction management with BC3
TrowelApp lets you import and export budgets in BC3 format directly from its budgeting module. Once imported, the budget automatically becomes the starting point for cost control, purchasing and invoicing without any need to re-enter data.
It's the only platform on the Spanish market that combines native BC3 compatibility, VeriFactu compliance and end-to-end project management (purchasing, quality, planning, time tracking) in a single cloud environment.
Presto (RIB Software)
The reference software in Spain for technical estimating. It generates high-quality BC3 files, especially on complex civil engineering and building projects. Its weak point is that it's desktop software (on premise) and doesn't manage the project during execution.
CYPE / Arquímedes
CYPE's tools work with BC3 natively, both to export budgets and to import price databases. Widely used in architecture and engineering firms.
CYPE Generador de Precios / ITeC / BDC IVE
Construction price databases that distribute their information in BC3 format, allowing any compatible software to import up-to-date prices for materials, labour and machinery.
How to import a BC3 file into TrowelApp
Importing a BC3 budget into TrowelApp takes less than a minute:
- Log in to your TrowelApp account
- Go to the Budgets section
- Click Import
- Select the BC3 file from your device (.bc3 extension)
- TrowelApp automatically processes the structure of the budget: chapters, line items, measurements and prices
- Check that the data has been imported correctly
- Save the budget and start working: assign purchases, control costs and generate progress certificates directly from the imported line items
Once imported, the BC3 budget isn't a static document: it's the engine behind the entire management of the project in TrowelApp. Purchases are linked to their corresponding line items, cost control automatically compares budgeted vs actual, and progress certificates are generated from the same structure.
See the detailed guide: How to import a budget with BC3 files in TrowelApp: step-by-step guide →
BC3 in public tenders in Spain
The Spanish public administration requires the BC3 format in most public works tenders. The technical specifications document usually includes the project budget in BC3 format so that bidding companies can:
- Import it into their management software without re-entering data
- Prepare their financial offer on the same project structure
- Ensure that the comparison of offers is consistent
Without BC3 compatibility, a contractor can't take part efficiently in public tenders. The administration expects to receive offers in the same format in which it distributed the project.
Common mistakes when working with BC3 files
Using an incompatible version of the format. Not every program supports every version of BC3. If the file was generated with a very old or very new version, the receiving program may have import problems. Always use FIEBDC-3 as the export version.
Exporting from Presto without checking the configuration. Presto saves the project in its native .PHZ format and then exports it to BC3. If the export parameters (FIEBDC version, character encoding) aren't set correctly, the file can arrive incomplete or with incorrect characters. See: How to convert a Presto file to BC3: step-by-step guide →
Losing the cost breakdowns. Some programs export BC3 without including the cost breakdowns of the line items. If the recipient needs the detail of materials and labour, you have to make sure the export includes them.
Confusing .BC3 with .PHZ. The .PHZ file is Presto's native format, it's not a BC3. To use it in another program, you first have to export it from Presto in FIEBDC format.
Editing the BC3 file with a text editor. The BC3 is plain text but has a strict structure. Editing it manually without knowing the format can corrupt the file and make it impossible for programs to import.
How Trowel helps you with the BC3 format
| Problem | How Trowel solves it |
|---|---|
| Re-entering budgets by hand when switching programs | Direct import of budgets in BC3 format, in seconds |
| An imported budget that stays a static document | The BC3 budget becomes the engine behind cost control, purchasing and invoicing |
| Incompatibility with Spanish invoicing regulations | VeriFactu-approved invoicing, integrated with the same budget |
Frequently asked questions
What exactly is a BC3 file?
It's the standard format for exchanging construction budgets in Spain. It lets you move budgets, quantity take-offs and progress certificates between different programs in the sector without entering data manually. It's also called FIEBDC or FIEBDC-3.
Which programs use the BC3 file in Spain?
TrowelApp, Presto, CYPE/Arquímedes and most price databases (ITeC, CYPE, BDC IVE). It's the most widely used standard in the sector in Spain.
Can you open a BC3 file in Excel?
Not directly. The BC3 is a construction-specific format that can't be usefully opened or edited with Excel. To work with its data you have to import it into a program compatible with BC3, such as TrowelApp.
Are BC3 and FIEBDC the same?
Yes. BC3 and FIEBDC are two names for the same format. The official technical name is FIEBDC (Standard Exchange File for Construction Databases). BC3 refers to the third version of the format, which is the most widely used.
Is it mandatory to use BC3 in public tenders in Spain?
In most public works tenders in Spain, the administration delivers the project in BC3 format and expects offers to be prepared on that same basis. In practice, it's the essential standard for competing effectively in public works.
How do I export a budget from Presto to BC3?
From Presto: File → Export → FIEBDC, choosing the format version and which data to include (cost breakdowns, measurements, notes). You can see the full step-by-step guide in How to convert a Presto file to BC3.
Can TrowelApp import any BC3 file?
Yes. TrowelApp imports BC3 files in FIEBDC-3 format, which is the current standard in the sector in Spain.
What's the difference between importing a BC3 and exporting a BC3?
Importing means receiving a budget in BC3 format from another program and loading it into TrowelApp. Exporting means generating a BC3 file from TrowelApp to send it to another program or to the administration. TrowelApp lets you do both.
Conclusion
The BC3 file is the standard that makes it possible for the construction industry in Spain to share information accurately and efficiently. Without it, every budget would have to be re-entered manually in each program, with the time cost and risk of error that involves.
Mastering the use of BC3 is a practical advantage day to day: it speeds up the preparation of offers, makes it easier to take part in public tenders and lets the budget become the engine behind the financial control of the project. Request a free demo of Trowel and manage your BC3 budgets from day one.
You may also like
- How to import a budget with BC3 files in TrowelApp: step-by-step guide →
- How to convert a Presto file to BC3: step-by-step guide →
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