If you work in the construction sector in Spain, sooner or later you will come across the BC3 file. The administration will request it in a public tender. The architect will send it with the project. Or you will need it to move an estimate from one program to another without losing a single line item.
BC3 is the standard format for exchanging estimates in Spain. In this article you will find everything you need to know: what it is exactly, how it is structured, what it is 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 File for the Interchange of Construction Databases, from its Spanish acronym), is a standardized text file used in the construction sector in Spain to exchange estimates, measurements and progress billing between different software programs.
It was developed by the Higher Council of Associations 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 an estimate from one software to another meant re-entering all the data manually, with the cost in time and the risk of error that this entails.
BC3 establishes a common language that all industry programs can read and write. As a result, it is now possible to create an estimate in Presto, export it in 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 is also known as:
- FIEBDC or FIEBDC-3 format
- Standard construction interchange file
- Construction database (BC3)
- Estimate in BC3 format
Difference between BC3 and FIEBDC: are they the same?
Yes, they are exactly the same. BC3 and FIEBDC are two names for the same format.
The official technical name is FIEBDC (Standard File for the Interchange of Construction Databases). The number 3 in BC3 refers to the most widely used version of the format. In practice, industry professionals use "BC3 file", "FIEBDC format" or "BC3 file" interchangeably to refer to the same standard.
The official website of 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 organized into blocks that industry programs interpret automatically.
It is made up of four main blocks:
Header
Includes the general project data: name, client, company, date of preparation and the version of the BC3 format used.
Body
This is the main block. It contains the entire estimate structure organized hierarchically:
- Chapters — main divisions of the estimate
- Subchapters — secondary divisions within each chapter
- Line items — individual units of work with description, measurement and price
- Cost breakdowns — breakdown of each line item into materials, labor and machinery
- Measurements — quantities linked to each line item
Totals
Shows the amounts accumulated by chapter and the total cost of the project, with or without VAT depending on the file configuration.
Notes and remarks
Optional space to include 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: original version, basic but functional for simple estimates
- BC3 v2: improves the structure and expands compatibility between systems
- BC3 v3 (FIEBDC-3): current and most widely used version, compatible with most industry software in Spain. It supports complex estimates with cost breakdowns, price databases and progress billing
The most widely used version in Spain today is BC3 v3 (FIEBDC-3). It is 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 project management
BC3 is used at different stages of the life cycle of a construction project. These are its most common uses:
1. Exchange of estimates between professionals
The most everyday use. The architect or quantity surveyor prepares the estimate in their program and exports it in BC3. The construction company imports it into its management software without typing anything manually. Everything arrives in seconds, without 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 estimate in BC3 so that the 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 unfeasible.
3. Importing into construction management software
Once the project is awarded, the BC3 estimate is imported into the management platform such as TrowelApp to become the starting point for cost control. From that moment, every purchase, every progress billing certificate and every deviation is automatically linked to the line items of the imported estimate.
See it step by step: How to import an estimate from a BC3 file in TrowelApp: step-by-step guide →
4. Progress billing
During execution, BC3 is also used to generate and export progress billing: the actual progress of each line item expressed in the same units and structure as the original estimate. 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, labor and machinery without entering them manually.
Advantages of the BC3 format in project management
Using the BC3 file brings concrete benefits to project management:
Real interoperability. It works with practically all industry programs 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 estimates in an automated way, you eliminate the transcription errors that inevitably appear when data is entered by hand. A wrongly copied line item can cost thousands of euros on a project.
Time savings. Importing a 500-line-item estimate from a BC3 file takes seconds. Entering it manually can take days.
Full traceability. BC3 keeps the hierarchical structure of the estimate from its creation to the final progress billing, which makes audits, claims and the financial control of the project easier.
Recognized official standard. As the format required by the Spanish public administration, its use guarantees compatibility with any public tender or contracting process.
Programs compatible with BC3 in Spain
These are the main programs on the Spanish market that work with the BC3 format:
TrowelApp — integrated project management with BC3
TrowelApp lets you import and export estimates in BC3 format directly from its estimating module. Once imported, the estimate automatically becomes the starting point for cost control, purchasing and invoicing, without re-entering data.
It is the only platform on the Spanish market that combines native BC3 compatibility, VeriFactu compliance and integrated 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 in complex civil works and building projects. Its weak point is that it is desktop (on premise) software and does not manage the project during execution.
CYPE / Arquímedes
CYPE's tools work with BC3 natively, both to export estimates 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, labor and machinery.
How to import a BC3 file into TrowelApp
Importing a BC3 estimate into TrowelApp is a process of less than a minute:
- Log in to your TrowelApp account
- Go to the Estimates section
- Click Import
- Select the BC3 file from your device (.bc3 extension)
- TrowelApp automatically processes the structure of the estimate: chapters, line items, measurements and prices
- Check that the data has been imported correctly
- Save the estimate and start working: assign purchases, control costs and generate progress billing directly from the imported line items
Once imported, the BC3 estimate is not a static document: it is the engine of all project management in TrowelApp. Purchases are linked to their corresponding line items, cost control automatically compares budgeted vs actual and progress billing is generated from the same structure.
See the detailed guide: How to import an estimate from a BC3 file 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 estimate in BC3 format so that the 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 construction company cannot 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 all programs support all versions 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 reviewing the configuration. Presto stores the project in its native .PHZ format and then exports it to BC3. If the export parameters (FIEBDC version, character encoding) are not configured correctly, the file may arrive incomplete or with incorrect characters.
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 labor, you have to make sure the export includes them.
Confusing .BC3 with .PHZ. The .PHZ file is Presto's native format, it is not a BC3. To use it in another program, you first have to export it from Presto in FIEBDC format. See: How to convert a Presto file to BC3: step-by-step guide →
Modifying the BC3 file with a text editor. BC3 is plain text but has a strict structure. Modifying it manually without knowing the format can corrupt the file and prevent programs from importing it.
Frequently asked questions
What exactly is a BC3 file?
It is the standard format for exchanging construction estimates in Spain. It lets you move estimates, measurements and progress billing between different industry programs without entering data manually. It is 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 is the most widely used standard in the sector in Spain.
Can a BC3 file be opened in Excel?
Not directly. BC3 is a construction-specific format that cannot be opened or edited usefully with Excel. To work with its data you have to import it into a BC3-compatible program, 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 File for the Interchange of 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 is the essential standard to compete effectively in public works.
How do I export an estimate from Presto to BC3?
From Presto: File → Export → FIEBDC. You can choose the format version and which data to include (cost breakdowns, measurements, notes). See the step-by-step guide: How to convert a Presto file to BC3: step-by-step guide →
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 is the difference between importing a BC3 and exporting a BC3?
Importing means receiving an estimate 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 estimate would have to be re-entered manually into each program, with the cost in time and the risk of error that this involves.
Mastering the use of BC3 is a practical advantage in day-to-day work: it speeds up the preparation of offers, makes it easier to take part in public tenders and lets the estimate become the engine of the project's financial control.
How Trowel helps you
TrowelApp is designed to get the most out of the BC3 format: it imports estimates in seconds, links them automatically to purchasing and cost control, and lets you work with all the project information from a single cloud environment.
Request a free demo and control your BC3 estimates from day one → Book a demo
