diff --git a/src/ifcblenderexport/blenderbim/__init__.py b/src/ifcblenderexport/blenderbim/__init__.py
index b7f08498d8..0ac828c3a1 100644
--- a/src/ifcblenderexport/blenderbim/__init__.py
+++ b/src/ifcblenderexport/blenderbim/__init__.py
@@ -48,6 +48,7 @@ if bpy is not None:
         operator.SelectDataDir,
         operator.SelectSchemaDir,
         operator.SelectIfcFile,
+        operator.ValidateIfcFile,
         operator.ExportIFC,
         operator.ImportIFC,
         operator.ColourByClass,
diff --git a/src/ifcblenderexport/blenderbim/ifc.py b/src/ifcblenderexport/blenderbim/ifc.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..9893a0b398
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/ifcblenderexport/blenderbim/ifc.py
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+class IfcStore():
+    path = ''
+    file = None
diff --git a/src/ifcblenderexport/blenderbim/import_ifc.py b/src/ifcblenderexport/blenderbim/import_ifc.py
index ac23246b4d..01806df2a9 100644
--- a/src/ifcblenderexport/blenderbim/import_ifc.py
+++ b/src/ifcblenderexport/blenderbim/import_ifc.py
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ import mathutils
 import multiprocessing
 from .helper import SIUnitHelper
 from . import schema
+from . import ifc
 
 class MaterialCreator():
     def __init__(self, ifc_import_settings):
@@ -477,9 +478,11 @@ class IfcImporter():
     def load_file(self):
         self.ifc_import_settings.logger.info('loading file {}'.format(self.ifc_import_settings.input_file))
         self.file = ifcopenshell.open(self.ifc_import_settings.input_file)
+        ifc.IfcStore.file = self.file
 
     def set_ifc_file(self):
         bpy.context.scene.BIMProperties.ifc_file = self.ifc_import_settings.input_file
+        ifc.IfcStore.path = 'self.ifc_import_settings.input_file'
 
     def calculate_unit_scale(self):
         units = self.file.by_type('IfcUnitAssignment')[0]
diff --git a/src/ifcblenderexport/blenderbim/operator.py b/src/ifcblenderexport/blenderbim/operator.py
index 54eaf24ebe..4ebb1e0d9e 100644
--- a/src/ifcblenderexport/blenderbim/operator.py
+++ b/src/ifcblenderexport/blenderbim/operator.py
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ from . import cut_ifc
 from . import sheeter
 from . import schema
 from . import bcf
+from . import ifc
 from bpy_extras.io_utils import ImportHelper
 from itertools import cycle
 from mathutils import Vector, Matrix
@@ -993,6 +994,22 @@ class SelectIfcFile(bpy.types.Operator):
         return {'RUNNING_MODAL'}
 
 
+class ValidateIfcFile(bpy.types.Operator):
+    bl_idname = 'bim.validate_ifc_file'
+    bl_label = 'Validate IFC File'
+
+    def execute(self, context):
+        import ifcopenshell.validate
+        logger = logging.getLogger('validate')
+        logger.setLevel(logging.DEBUG)
+        if bpy.context.scene.BIMProperties.ifc_file \
+                and bpy.context.scene.BIMProperties.ifc_file != ifc.IfcStore.path:
+            ifc.IfcStore.file = ifcopenshell.open(bpy.context.scene.BIMProperties.ifc_file)
+            ifc.IfcStore.path = bpy.context.scene.BIMProperties.ifc_file
+        ifcopenshell.validate.validate(ifc.IfcStore.file, logger)
+        return {'FINISHED'}
+
+
 class SelectDataDir(bpy.types.Operator):
     bl_idname = "bim.select_data_dir"
     bl_label = "Select Data Directory"
diff --git a/src/ifcblenderexport/blenderbim/ui.py b/src/ifcblenderexport/blenderbim/ui.py
index a8bd089151..4a930f2a8e 100644
--- a/src/ifcblenderexport/blenderbim/ui.py
+++ b/src/ifcblenderexport/blenderbim/ui.py
@@ -441,8 +441,9 @@ class BIM_PT_bim(Panel):
         row.operator("bim.select_data_dir", icon="FILE_FOLDER", text="")
 
         row = layout.row(align=True)
-        row.prop(bim_properties, "ifc_file")
-        row.operator("bim.select_ifc_file", icon="FILE_FOLDER", text="")
+        row.prop(bim_properties, 'ifc_file')
+        row.operator('bim.validate_ifc_file', icon='CHECKMARK', text='')
+        row.operator('bim.select_ifc_file', icon='FILE_FOLDER', text='')
 
         layout.label(text="IFC Categorisation:")