Buildref is a free, browser-based reference and toolkit for civil, structural and BIM engineers — file converters, calculators, a 3D viewer and practical guides, all in one fast place. No account, no installs, no paywalls.
What Buildref is
Buildref brings together the everyday tools engineers actually reach for: unit converters, engineering calculators, CAD/BIM and 3D file converters, an online 3D model viewer, and step-by-step technical guides. Everything runs in your browser and is free to use.
Why we built it
Most engineering tools are either locked behind expensive licences or buried in heavy desktop software. But the small everyday jobs — converting an STL to GLB, checking a beam formula, turning psi into MPa — shouldn’t require any of that. Buildref exists to make those tasks instant, so you can get back to the real work.
Privacy by design
Our file converters and the 3D viewer run entirely in your browser. Your models and drawings are processed on your own device and are never uploaded to a server. For NDA-bound or competitive work, that means your files never leave your computer — and we think that matters.
What you’ll find
- Converters — client-side CAD/BIM and 3D format conversion (STL, OBJ, GLB/glTF and more).
- Calculators — unit conversions and engineering helpers.
- 3D Viewer — open and inspect 3D models directly in the browser.
- Guides & References — practical articles on structural engineering, road design and software workflows.
Free and independent
Buildref is free to use and supported by unobtrusive advertising. That keeps the tools open to everyone — no subscriptions, no locked features.
Languages
Buildref is available in English and German (Deutsch), with more content added in both languages over time.
Contact
Questions, corrections or suggestions? Email us at contact@buildref.net — we read every message.