The Property Sets for Objects concept applies to this entity as shown in Table 217.

The Port Nesting concept applies to this entity.

Distribution ports are indicated on products and product types using the IfcRelNests relationship where RelatingObject refers to the enclosing IfcDistributionElement or IfcDistributionElementType respectively. The order of ports indicates logical ordering such within outlets, junction boxes, or communications equipment.

Ports may be further nested into sub-ports, for indicating specific connections on components or pins.

The Product Assignment concept applies to this entity as shown in Table 218.

The IfcDistributionPort may be assigned to the following entities using relationships as indicated:

• IfcDistributionSystem (IfcRelAssignsToGroup): Indicates a system containing interconnected devices.
• IfcPerformanceHistory (IfcRelAssignsToControl): Indicates realtime or historical infomation captured for the device.

The Port Connectivity concept applies to this entity.

IfcDistributionPort may be connected to other objects as follows using the indicated relationship:

• IfcDistributionPort (IfcRelConnectsPorts) : Indicates a connection to another port having the same type and opposite flow direction. For port connections between elements, the RelatingPort is set to a port having FlowDirection=SOURCE and the RelatedPort is set to a port having FlowDirection=SINK. For aggregation scenarios, ports on a device may be mapped to aggregated devices within, in which case ports on the outer device indicate a single FlowDirection but have an additional connection internally to a port on an aggregated inner device. Refer to IfcUnitaryEquipment for an example.
• IfcDistributionElement (IfcRelConnectsPortToElement): For dynamic ports, indicates the containing element.

Figure 261 illustrates distribution port connectivity.

Figure 261 — Distribution port connectivity

The Product Local Placement concept applies to this entity.

The placement of a port indicates the position and orientation of how it may connect to a compatible port on another product. The placement shall be relative to the nesting IfcDistributionElement, IfcDistributionElementType, or enclosing IfcDistributionPort.

The Location is the midpoint of the physical connection, unless otherwise indicated by cardinal point on a material profile.

The Axis points in the direction of the physical connection away from the product if FlowDirection equals SOURCE (or SOURCEANDSINK or NOTDEFINED), or points opposite direction (to the product) if the FlowDirection equals SINK.

NOTE  The rationale for positioning the Axis in the direction of flow is to allow for the same geometry to be used, such as for connectors with polarized cross-section.

The RefDirection points in the direction of the local X axis of the material profile, where the local Y axis points up if looking towards the Axis where the local X axis points right.

Upon connecting elements through ports with rigid connections, each object shall be aligned such that the effective Location, Axis, and RefDirection of each port is aligned to be equal (with exception for circular profiles where the RefDirection need not be equal).