You can now get specific container types via util.element or util.selector. E.g. if you wanted to know what building an object is in or what storey an object is on.

src/ifcopenshell-python/ifcopenshell/util/element.py

@@ -625,7 +625,7 @@ def get_layers(ifc_file, element):
     return layers
 
 
-def get_container(element, should_get_direct=False):
+def get_container(element, should_get_direct=False, ifc_class=None):
     """
     Retrieves the spatial structure container of an element.
 
@@ -637,6 +637,9 @@ def get_container(element, should_get_direct=False):
         part of an aggregate, and then if that aggregate is contained in a
         spatial structure element.
     :type should_get_direct: bool
+    :param ifc_class: Optionally filter the type of container you're after. For
+        example, you may be after the storey, not a space.
+    :type ifc_class: str
     :return: The direct or indirect container of the element or None.
 
     Example:
@@ -648,13 +651,23 @@ def get_container(element, should_get_direct=False):
     """
     if should_get_direct:
         if hasattr(element, "ContainedInStructure") and element.ContainedInStructure:
-            return element.ContainedInStructure[0].RelatingStructure
+            container = element.ContainedInStructure[0].RelatingStructure
+            if not ifc_class:
+                return container
+            if container.is_a(ifc_class):
+                return container
     else:
         aggregate = get_aggregate(element)
         if aggregate:
             return get_container(aggregate, should_get_direct)
         if hasattr(element, "ContainedInStructure") and element.ContainedInStructure:
-            return element.ContainedInStructure[0].RelatingStructure
+            container = element.ContainedInStructure[0].RelatingStructure
+            if not ifc_class:
+                return container
+            while container:
+                if container.is_a(ifc_class):
+                    return container
+                container = get_aggregate(container)
 
 
 def get_referenced_structures(element):

src/ifcopenshell-python/ifcopenshell/util/selector.py

@@ -151,6 +151,14 @@ def set_element_value(ifc_file, element, query, value):
                 element = element.MaterialConstituents
         elif key == "container":
             element = ifcopenshell.util.element.get_container(element)
+        elif key == "space":
+            element = ifcopenshell.util.element.get_container(element, ifc_class="IfcSpace")
+        elif key == "storey":
+            element = ifcopenshell.util.element.get_container(element, ifc_class="IfcBuildingStorey")
+        elif key == "building":
+            element = ifcopenshell.util.element.get_container(element, ifc_class="IfcBuilding")
+        elif key == "site":
+            element = ifcopenshell.util.element.get_container(element, ifc_class="IfcSite")
         elif key == "class":
             if element.is_a() != value:
                 return ifcopenshell.util.schema.reassign_class(ifc_file, element, value)
@@ -637,6 +645,14 @@ class Selector:
                     value = value.MaterialConstituents
             elif key == "container":
                 value = ifcopenshell.util.element.get_container(value)
+            elif key == "space":
+                element = ifcopenshell.util.element.get_container(element, ifc_class="IfcSpace")
+            elif key == "storey":
+                element = ifcopenshell.util.element.get_container(element, ifc_class="IfcBuildingStorey")
+            elif key == "building":
+                element = ifcopenshell.util.element.get_container(element, ifc_class="IfcBuilding")
+            elif key == "site":
+                element = ifcopenshell.util.element.get_container(element, ifc_class="IfcSite")
             elif key == "class":
                 value = value.is_a()
             elif key == "id":