diff --git a/src/ifcgeom/IfcGeomFaces.cpp b/src/ifcgeom/IfcGeomFaces.cpp
index a63c19e924..be7539229c 100644
--- a/src/ifcgeom/IfcGeomFaces.cpp
+++ b/src/ifcgeom/IfcGeomFaces.cpp
@@ -350,7 +350,14 @@ bool IfcGeom::Kernel::convert(const IfcSchema::IfcRectangleProfileDef* l, TopoDS
 	}
 
 	gp_Trsf2d trsf2d;
-	IfcGeom::Kernel::convert(l->Position(),trsf2d);
+	bool has_position = true;
+#ifdef USE_IFC4
+	has_position = l->hasPosition();
+#endif
+	if (has_position) {
+		IfcGeom::Kernel::convert(l->Position(), trsf2d);
+	}
+	
 	double coords[8] = {-x,-y,x,-y,x,y,-x,y};
 	return profile_helper(4,coords,0,0,0,trsf2d,face);
 }
@@ -366,7 +373,14 @@ bool IfcGeom::Kernel::convert(const IfcSchema::IfcRoundedRectangleProfileDef* l,
 	}
 
 	gp_Trsf2d trsf2d;
-	IfcGeom::Kernel::convert(l->Position(),trsf2d);
+	bool has_position = true;
+#ifdef USE_IFC4
+	has_position = l->hasPosition();
+#endif
+	if (has_position) {
+		IfcGeom::Kernel::convert(l->Position(), trsf2d);
+	}
+
 	double coords[8] = {-x,-y, x,-y, x,y, -x,y};
 	int fillets[4] = {0,1,2,3};
 	double radii[4] = {r,r,r,r};
@@ -393,7 +407,14 @@ bool IfcGeom::Kernel::convert(const IfcSchema::IfcRectangleHollowProfileDef* l,
 	TopoDS_Face f2;
 
 	gp_Trsf2d trsf2d;
-	IfcGeom::Kernel::convert(l->Position(),trsf2d);
+	bool has_position = true;
+#ifdef USE_IFC4
+	has_position = l->hasPosition();
+#endif
+	if (has_position) {
+		IfcGeom::Kernel::convert(l->Position(), trsf2d);
+	}
+
 	double coords1[8] = {-x  ,-y,   x  ,-y,   x,  y,   -x,  y  };
 	double coords2[8] = {-x+d,-y+d, x-d,-y+d, x-d,y-d, -x+d,y-d};
 	double radii1[4] = {r1,r1,r1,r1};
@@ -432,7 +453,14 @@ bool IfcGeom::Kernel::convert(const IfcSchema::IfcTrapeziumProfileDef* l, TopoDS
 	}
 
 	gp_Trsf2d trsf2d;
-	IfcGeom::Kernel::convert(l->Position(),trsf2d);
+	bool has_position = true;
+#ifdef USE_IFC4
+	has_position = l->hasPosition();
+#endif
+	if (has_position) {
+		IfcGeom::Kernel::convert(l->Position(), trsf2d);
+	}
+
 	double coords[8] = {-x1,-y, x1,-y, dx+w-x1,y, dx-x1,y};
 	return profile_helper(4,coords,0,0,0,trsf2d,face);
 }
@@ -470,7 +498,13 @@ bool IfcGeom::Kernel::convert(const IfcSchema::IfcIShapeProfileDef* l, TopoDS_Sh
 	}
 
 	gp_Trsf2d trsf2d;
-	convert(l->Position(),trsf2d);
+	bool has_position = true;
+#ifdef USE_IFC4
+	has_position = l->hasPosition();
+#endif
+	if (has_position) {
+		IfcGeom::Kernel::convert(l->Position(), trsf2d);
+	}
 
 	double coords[24] = {-x1,-y, x1,-y, x1,-y+dy1, d1,-y+dy1, d1,y-dy2, x2,y-dy2, x2,y, -x2,y, -x2,y-dy2, -d1,y-dy2, -d1,-y+dy1, -x1,-y+dy1};
 	int fillets[4] = {3,4,9,10};
@@ -503,7 +537,13 @@ bool IfcGeom::Kernel::convert(const IfcSchema::IfcZShapeProfileDef* l, TopoDS_Sh
 	}
 
 	gp_Trsf2d trsf2d;
-	IfcGeom::Kernel::convert(l->Position(),trsf2d);
+	bool has_position = true;
+#ifdef USE_IFC4
+	has_position = l->hasPosition();
+#endif
+	if (has_position) {
+		IfcGeom::Kernel::convert(l->Position(), trsf2d);
+	}
 
 	double coords[16] = {-dx,-y, x,-y, x,-y+dy, dx,-y+dy, dx,y, -x,y, -x,y-dy, -dx,y-dy};
 	int fillets[4] = {2,3,6,7};
@@ -530,7 +570,13 @@ bool IfcGeom::Kernel::convert(const IfcSchema::IfcCShapeProfileDef* l, TopoDS_Sh
 	}
 
 	gp_Trsf2d trsf2d;
-	IfcGeom::Kernel::convert(l->Position(),trsf2d);
+	bool has_position = true;
+#ifdef USE_IFC4
+	has_position = l->hasPosition();
+#endif
+	if (has_position) {
+		IfcGeom::Kernel::convert(l->Position(), trsf2d);
+	}
 
 	double coords[24] = {-x,-y,x,-y,x,-y+d2,x-d1,-y+d2,x-d1,-y+d1,-x+d1,-y+d1,-x+d1,y-d1,x-d1,y-d1,x-d1,y-d2,x,y-d2,x,y,-x,y};
 	int fillets[8] = {0,1,4,5,6,7,10,11};
@@ -599,7 +645,13 @@ bool IfcGeom::Kernel::convert(const IfcSchema::IfcLShapeProfileDef* l, TopoDS_Sh
 	}
 
 	gp_Trsf2d trsf2d;
-	convert(l->Position(),trsf2d);
+	bool has_position = true;
+#ifdef USE_IFC4
+	has_position = l->hasPosition();
+#endif
+	if (has_position) {
+		IfcGeom::Kernel::convert(l->Position(), trsf2d);
+	}
 
 	double coords[12] = {-x,-y, x,-y, x,-y+d-dy1, xx, xy, -x+d-dx1,y, -x,y};
 	int fillets[3] = {2,3,4};
@@ -641,7 +693,13 @@ bool IfcGeom::Kernel::convert(const IfcSchema::IfcUShapeProfileDef* l, TopoDS_Sh
 	}
 
 	gp_Trsf2d trsf2d;
-	convert(l->Position(),trsf2d);
+	bool has_position = true;
+#ifdef USE_IFC4
+	has_position = l->hasPosition();
+#endif
+	if (has_position) {
+		IfcGeom::Kernel::convert(l->Position(), trsf2d);
+	}
 
 	double coords[16] = {-x,-y, x,-y, x,-y+d2-dy2, -x+d1,-y+d2+dy1, -x+d1,y-d2-dy1, x,y-d2+dy2, x,y, -x,y};
 	int fillets[4] = {2,3,4,5};
@@ -724,7 +782,13 @@ bool IfcGeom::Kernel::convert(const IfcSchema::IfcTShapeProfileDef* l, TopoDS_Sh
 	}
 
 	gp_Trsf2d trsf2d;
-	convert(l->Position(),trsf2d);
+	bool has_position = true;
+#ifdef USE_IFC4
+	has_position = l->hasPosition();
+#endif
+	if (has_position) {
+		IfcGeom::Kernel::convert(l->Position(), trsf2d);
+	}
 
 	double coords[16] = {d1/2.-dx2,-y, xx,xy, x,y-d2+dy2, x,y, -x,y, -x,y-d2+dy2, -xx,xy, -d1/2.+dx2,-y};
 	int fillets[6] = {0,1,2,5,6,7};
@@ -739,13 +803,21 @@ bool IfcGeom::Kernel::convert(const IfcSchema::IfcCircleProfileDef* l, TopoDS_Sh
 		return false;
 	}
 	
-	gp_Trsf2d trsf;	
-	convert(l->Position(),trsf);
+	gp_Trsf2d trsf2d;
+	bool has_position = true;
+#ifdef USE_IFC4
+	has_position = l->hasPosition();
+#endif
+	if (has_position) {
+		IfcGeom::Kernel::convert(l->Position(), trsf2d);
+	}
+	gp_Ax2 ax = gp_Ax2().Transformed(trsf2d);
 
-	BRepBuilderAPI_MakeWire w;
-	gp_Ax2 ax = gp_Ax2().Transformed(trsf);
+	
 	Handle(Geom_Circle) circle = new Geom_Circle(ax, r);
 	TopoDS_Edge edge = BRepBuilderAPI_MakeEdge(circle);
+
+	BRepBuilderAPI_MakeWire w;
 	w.Add(edge);
 
 	TopoDS_Face f;
@@ -763,9 +835,16 @@ bool IfcGeom::Kernel::convert(const IfcSchema::IfcCircleHollowProfileDef* l, Top
 		return false;
 	}
 	
-	gp_Trsf2d trsf;	
-	convert(l->Position(),trsf);
-	gp_Ax2 ax = gp_Ax2().Transformed(trsf);
+	gp_Trsf2d trsf2d;
+	bool has_position = true;
+#ifdef USE_IFC4
+	has_position = l->hasPosition();
+#endif
+	if (has_position) {
+		IfcGeom::Kernel::convert(l->Position(), trsf2d);
+	}
+
+	gp_Ax2 ax = gp_Ax2().Transformed(trsf2d);
 
 	BRepBuilderAPI_MakeWire outer;	
 	Handle(Geom_Circle) outerCircle = new Geom_Circle(ax, r);
@@ -793,15 +872,22 @@ bool IfcGeom::Kernel::convert(const IfcSchema::IfcEllipseProfileDef* l, TopoDS_S
 	}
 
 	const bool rotated = ry > rx;
-	gp_Trsf2d trsf;	
-	convert(l->Position(),trsf);
+
+	gp_Trsf2d trsf2d;
+	bool has_position = true;
+#ifdef USE_IFC4
+	has_position = l->hasPosition();
+#endif
+	if (has_position) {
+		IfcGeom::Kernel::convert(l->Position(), trsf2d);
+	}
 
 	gp_Ax2 ax = gp_Ax2();
 	if (rotated) {
 		ax.Rotate(ax.Axis(), M_PI / 2.);
 		std::swap(rx, ry);
 	}
-	ax.Transform(trsf);
+	ax.Transform(trsf2d);
 
 	BRepBuilderAPI_MakeWire w;
 	Handle(Geom_Ellipse) ellipse = new Geom_Ellipse(ax, rx, ry);
diff --git a/src/ifcgeom/IfcGeomShapes.cpp b/src/ifcgeom/IfcGeomShapes.cpp
index 2df433d715..22751c56fa 100644
--- a/src/ifcgeom/IfcGeomShapes.cpp
+++ b/src/ifcgeom/IfcGeomShapes.cpp
@@ -67,6 +67,7 @@
 #include <TopoDS_Face.hxx>
 #include <TopoDS_CompSolid.hxx>
 
+#include <TopExp.hxx>
 #include <TopExp_Explorer.hxx>
 
 #include <BRepPrimAPI_MakePrism.hxx>
@@ -113,7 +114,13 @@ bool IfcGeom::Kernel::convert(const IfcSchema::IfcExtrudedAreaSolid* l, TopoDS_S
 	if ( !convert_face(l->SweptArea(),face) ) return false;
 
 	gp_Trsf trsf;
-	IfcGeom::Kernel::convert(l->Position(),trsf);
+	bool has_position = true;
+#ifdef USE_IFC4
+	has_position = l->hasPosition();
+#endif
+	if (has_position) {
+		IfcGeom::Kernel::convert(l->Position(), trsf);
+	}
 
 	gp_Dir dir;
 	convert(l->ExtrudedDirection(),dir);
@@ -146,11 +153,13 @@ bool IfcGeom::Kernel::convert(const IfcSchema::IfcExtrudedAreaSolid* l, TopoDS_S
 		shape = BRepPrimAPI_MakePrism(face, height*dir);
 	}
 
-	// IfcSweptAreaSolid.Position (trsf) is an IfcAxis2Placement3D
-	// and therefore has a unit scale factor
-	shape.Move(trsf);
+	if (has_position && !shape.IsNull()) {
+		// IfcSweptAreaSolid.Position (trsf) is an IfcAxis2Placement3D
+		// and therefore has a unit scale factor
+		shape.Move(trsf);
+	}
 
-	return ! shape.IsNull();
+	return !shape.IsNull();
 }
 
 bool IfcGeom::Kernel::convert(const IfcSchema::IfcSurfaceOfLinearExtrusion* l, TopoDS_Shape& shape) {
@@ -162,17 +171,26 @@ bool IfcGeom::Kernel::convert(const IfcSchema::IfcSurfaceOfLinearExtrusion* l, T
 		wire = TopoDS::Wire(exp.Current());
 	}
 	const double height = l->Depth() * getValue(GV_LENGTH_UNIT);
+	
 	gp_Trsf trsf;
-	IfcGeom::Kernel::convert(l->Position(),trsf);
+	bool has_position = true;
+#ifdef USE_IFC4
+	has_position = l->hasPosition();
+#endif
+	if (has_position) {
+		IfcGeom::Kernel::convert(l->Position(), trsf);
+	}
 
 	gp_Dir dir;
 	convert(l->ExtrudedDirection(),dir);
 
 	shape = BRepPrimAPI_MakePrism(wire, height*dir);
 	
-	// IfcSweptSurface.Position (trsf) is an IfcAxis2Placement3D
-	// and therefore has a unit scale factor
-	shape.Move(trsf);
+	if (has_position) {
+		// IfcSweptSurface.Position (trsf) is an IfcAxis2Placement3D
+		// and therefore has a unit scale factor
+		shape.Move(trsf);
+	}
 	
 	return !shape.IsNull();
 }
@@ -190,13 +208,21 @@ bool IfcGeom::Kernel::convert(const IfcSchema::IfcSurfaceOfRevolution* l, TopoDS
 	IfcGeom::Kernel::convert(l->AxisPosition(), ax1);
 
 	gp_Trsf trsf;
-	IfcGeom::Kernel::convert(l->Position(),trsf);
+	bool has_position = true;
+#ifdef USE_IFC4
+	has_position = l->hasPosition();
+#endif
+	if (has_position) {
+		IfcGeom::Kernel::convert(l->Position(), trsf);
+	}
 	
 	shape = BRepPrimAPI_MakeRevol(wire, ax1);
 
-	// IfcSweptSurface.Position (trsf) is an IfcAxis2Placement3D
-	// and therefore has a unit scale factor
-	shape.Move(trsf);
+	if (has_position) {
+		// IfcSweptSurface.Position (trsf) is an IfcAxis2Placement3D
+		// and therefore has a unit scale factor
+		shape.Move(trsf);
+	}
 
 	return !shape.IsNull();
 }
@@ -211,7 +237,13 @@ bool IfcGeom::Kernel::convert(const IfcSchema::IfcRevolvedAreaSolid* l, TopoDS_S
 	IfcGeom::Kernel::convert(l->Axis(), ax1);
 
 	gp_Trsf trsf;
-	IfcGeom::Kernel::convert(l->Position(),trsf);
+	bool has_position = true;
+#ifdef USE_IFC4
+	has_position = l->hasPosition();
+#endif
+	if (has_position) {
+		IfcGeom::Kernel::convert(l->Position(), trsf);
+	}
 
 	if (ang >= M_PI * 2. - ALMOST_ZERO) {
 		shape = BRepPrimAPI_MakeRevol(face, ax1);
@@ -219,9 +251,11 @@ bool IfcGeom::Kernel::convert(const IfcSchema::IfcRevolvedAreaSolid* l, TopoDS_S
 		shape = BRepPrimAPI_MakeRevol(face, ax1, ang);
 	}
 
-	// IfcSweptAreaSolid.Position (trsf) is an IfcAxis2Placement3D
-	// and therefore has a unit scale factor
-	shape.Move(trsf);
+	if (has_position) {
+		// IfcSweptAreaSolid.Position (trsf) is an IfcAxis2Placement3D
+		// and therefore has a unit scale factor
+		shape.Move(trsf);
+	}
 
 	return !shape.IsNull();
 }
@@ -756,8 +790,16 @@ bool IfcGeom::Kernel::convert(const IfcSchema::IfcSurfaceCurveSweptAreaSolid* l,
 		return false;
 	}
 	
-	if (!IfcGeom::Kernel::convert(l->Position(), position)   || 
-		!convert_face(l->SweptArea(), face) || 
+	gp_Trsf trsf;
+	bool has_position = true;
+#ifdef USE_IFC4
+	has_position = l->hasPosition();
+#endif
+	if (has_position) {
+		IfcGeom::Kernel::convert(l->Position(), trsf);
+	}
+
+	if (!convert_face(l->SweptArea(), face) || 
 		!convert_wire(l->Directrix(), wire)    ) {
 		return false;
 	}
@@ -815,9 +857,11 @@ bool IfcGeom::Kernel::convert(const IfcSchema::IfcSurfaceCurveSweptAreaSolid* l,
 	builder.MakeSolid();
 	shape = builder.Shape();
 
-	// IfcSweptAreaSolid.Position (trsf) is an IfcAxis2Placement3D
-	// and therefore has a unit scale factor
-	shape.Move(position);
+	if (has_position) {
+		// IfcSweptAreaSolid.Position (trsf) is an IfcAxis2Placement3D
+		// and therefore has a unit scale factor
+		shape.Move(position);
+	}
 
 	return true;
 }