diff --git a/src/ifcopenshell-python/ifcopenshell/util/classification.py b/src/ifcopenshell-python/ifcopenshell/util/classification.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..0ad86a3dea
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/ifcopenshell-python/ifcopenshell/util/classification.py
@@ -0,0 +1,52 @@
+# IfcOpenShell - IFC toolkit and geometry engine
+# Copyright (C) 2022 Dion Moult <dion@thinkmoult.com>
+#
+# This file is part of IfcOpenShell.
+#
+# IfcOpenShell is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
+# it under the terms of the GNU Lesser General Public License as published by
+# the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the License, or
+# (at your option) any later version.
+#
+# IfcOpenShell is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+# but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+# MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+# GNU Lesser General Public License for more details.
+#
+# You should have received a copy of the GNU Lesser General Public License
+# along with IfcOpenShell.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+
+import ifcopenshell.util.element
+
+
+def get_references(element, should_inherit=True):
+    results = set()
+    if should_inherit:
+        element_type = ifcopenshell.util.element.get_type(element)
+        if element_type and element_type != element:
+            results.update(get_references(element_type))
+    results.update(
+        {
+            r.RelatingClassification
+            for r in getattr(element, "HasAssociations", [])
+            if r.is_a("IfcRelAssociatesClassification")
+        }
+    )
+    return results
+
+
+def get_classification(reference):
+    if reference.is_a("IfcClassification"):
+        return reference
+    return get_classification(reference.ReferencedSource)
+
+
+def get_inherited_references(reference):
+    results = []
+    while True:
+        if not reference or reference.is_a("IfcClassification"):
+            break
+        results.append(reference)
+        reference = reference.ReferencedSource
+    return results
+
diff --git a/src/ifcopenshell-python/test/util/test_classification.py b/src/ifcopenshell-python/test/util/test_classification.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..06c13a95e3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/ifcopenshell-python/test/util/test_classification.py
@@ -0,0 +1,128 @@
+# IfcOpenShell - IFC toolkit and geometry engine
+# Copyright (C) 2022 Dion Moult <dion@thinkmoult.com>
+#
+# This file is part of IfcOpenShell.
+#
+# IfcOpenShell is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
+# it under the terms of the GNU Lesser General Public License as published by
+# the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the License, or
+# (at your option) any later version.
+#
+# IfcOpenShell is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+# but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+# MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+# GNU Lesser General Public License for more details.
+#
+# You should have received a copy of the GNU Lesser General Public License
+# along with IfcOpenShell.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+
+import pytest
+import test.bootstrap
+import ifcopenshell.api
+import ifcopenshell.util.classification as subject
+
+
+class TestGetReferences(test.bootstrap.IFC4):
+    def test_get_references_of_an_element(self):
+        library = ifcopenshell.file()
+        classification = library.createIfcClassification(Name="Name")
+        reference1 = library.createIfcClassificationReference(Identification="1", ReferencedSource=classification)
+        reference2 = library.createIfcClassificationReference(Identification="2", ReferencedSource=classification)
+        project = ifcopenshell.api.run("root.create_entity", self.file, ifc_class="IfcProject")
+        element = ifcopenshell.api.run("root.create_entity", self.file, ifc_class="IfcWall")
+        ifcopenshell.api.run("classification.add_classification", self.file, classification=classification)
+        ifcopenshell.api.run(
+            "classification.add_reference",
+            self.file,
+            product=element,
+            reference=reference1,
+            classification=classification,
+        )
+        ifcopenshell.api.run(
+            "classification.add_reference",
+            self.file,
+            product=element,
+            reference=reference2,
+            classification=classification,
+        )
+        assert subject.get_references(element) == set(self.file.by_type("IfcClassificationReference"))
+
+    def test_get_inherited_classifications(self):
+        library = ifcopenshell.file()
+        classification = library.createIfcClassification(Name="Name")
+        reference1 = library.createIfcClassificationReference(Identification="1", ReferencedSource=classification)
+        reference2 = library.createIfcClassificationReference(Identification="2", ReferencedSource=classification)
+        project = ifcopenshell.api.run("root.create_entity", self.file, ifc_class="IfcProject")
+        element = ifcopenshell.api.run("root.create_entity", self.file, ifc_class="IfcWall")
+        element_type = ifcopenshell.api.run("root.create_entity", self.file, ifc_class="IfcWallType")
+        ifcopenshell.api.run("type.assign_type", self.file, related_object=element, relating_type=element_type)
+        ifcopenshell.api.run("classification.add_classification", self.file, classification=classification)
+        ifcopenshell.api.run(
+            "classification.add_reference",
+            self.file,
+            product=element,
+            reference=reference1,
+            classification=classification,
+        )
+        ifcopenshell.api.run(
+            "classification.add_reference",
+            self.file,
+            product=element_type,
+            reference=reference2,
+            classification=classification,
+        )
+        assert subject.get_references(element) == set(self.file.by_type("IfcClassificationReference"))
+
+    def test_getting_direct_classifications(self):
+        library = ifcopenshell.file()
+        classification = library.createIfcClassification(Name="Name")
+        reference1 = library.createIfcClassificationReference(Identification="1", ReferencedSource=classification)
+        reference2 = library.createIfcClassificationReference(Identification="2", ReferencedSource=classification)
+        project = ifcopenshell.api.run("root.create_entity", self.file, ifc_class="IfcProject")
+        element = ifcopenshell.api.run("root.create_entity", self.file, ifc_class="IfcWall")
+        element_type = ifcopenshell.api.run("root.create_entity", self.file, ifc_class="IfcWallType")
+        ifcopenshell.api.run("type.assign_type", self.file, related_object=element, relating_type=element_type)
+        ifcopenshell.api.run("classification.add_classification", self.file, classification=classification)
+        ifcopenshell.api.run(
+            "classification.add_reference",
+            self.file,
+            product=element,
+            reference=reference1,
+            classification=classification,
+        )
+        ifcopenshell.api.run(
+            "classification.add_reference",
+            self.file,
+            product=element_type,
+            reference=reference2,
+            classification=classification,
+        )
+        results = list(subject.get_references(element, should_inherit=False))
+        assert len(results) == 1
+        assert results[0].Identification == "1"
+
+
+class TestGetClassification(test.bootstrap.IFC4):
+    def test_get_lightweight_classification(self):
+        classification = self.file.createIfcClassification(Name="Name")
+        reference = self.file.createIfcClassificationReference(ReferencedSource=classification)
+        assert subject.get_classification(reference) == classification
+
+    def test_get_full_classification(self):
+        classification = self.file.createIfcClassification(Name="Name")
+        reference1 = self.file.createIfcClassificationReference(ReferencedSource=classification)
+        reference2 = self.file.createIfcClassificationReference(ReferencedSource=reference1)
+        assert subject.get_classification(reference2) == classification
+
+
+class TestGetInheritedReferences(test.bootstrap.IFC4):
+    def test_single_reference(self):
+        classification = self.file.createIfcClassification(Name="Name")
+        reference = self.file.createIfcClassificationReference(ReferencedSource=classification)
+        assert subject.get_inherited_references(reference) == [reference]
+
+    def test_multiple_references(self):
+        classification = self.file.createIfcClassification(Name="Name")
+        reference1 = self.file.createIfcClassificationReference(ReferencedSource=classification)
+        reference2 = self.file.createIfcClassificationReference(ReferencedSource=reference1)
+        assert subject.get_inherited_references(reference2) == [reference2, reference1]