diff --git a/src/blenderbim/blenderbim/bim/module/bcf/bcfstore.py b/src/blenderbim/blenderbim/bim/module/bcf/bcfstore.py
index 9e67c770b6..b9eeed333d 100644
--- a/src/blenderbim/blenderbim/bim/module/bcf/bcfstore.py
+++ b/src/blenderbim/blenderbim/bim/module/bcf/bcfstore.py
@@ -16,6 +16,8 @@
 # You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
 # along with BlenderBIM Add-on.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
 
+import os
+import bpy
 import bcf
 import bcf.v2.bcfxml
 
@@ -23,12 +25,31 @@ import bcf.v2.bcfxml
 class BcfStore:
     bcfxml = None
 
-    @staticmethod
-    def get_bcfxml():
-        if not BcfStore.bcfxml:
-            BcfStore.bcfxml = bcf.v2.bcfxml.BcfXml()
-        return BcfStore.bcfxml
+    @classmethod
+    def get_bcfxml(cls):
+        if not cls.bcfxml:
+            bcf_filepath = bpy.context.scene.BCFProperties.bcf_file
+            if not os.path.isabs(bcf_filepath):
+                bcf_filepath = os.path.abspath(os.path.join(bpy.path.abspath("//"), bcf_filepath))
+            if bcf_filepath:
+                try:
+                    cls.bcfxml = bcf.bcfxml.load(bcf_filepath)
+                except:
+                    # there will be a plenty of "Permission denied" errors
+                    # as many poll() methods will try to access the bcfxml simultaneously
+                    # the first time it's loaded
+                    pass
+        return cls.bcfxml
 
     @classmethod
-    def set(cls, bcfxml):
+    def set(cls, bcfxml, filepath):
         cls.bcfxml = bcfxml
+        bpy.context.scene.BCFProperties.bcf_file = filepath
+
+    @classmethod
+    def set_by_filepath(cls, filepath):
+        cls.set(None, filepath)
+
+    @classmethod
+    def unload_bcfxml(cls):
+        cls.set(None, "")
diff --git a/src/blenderbim/blenderbim/bim/module/bcf/operator.py b/src/blenderbim/blenderbim/bim/module/bcf/operator.py
index 44fd7d548b..990d756e39 100644
--- a/src/blenderbim/blenderbim/bim/module/bcf/operator.py
+++ b/src/blenderbim/blenderbim/bim/module/bcf/operator.py
@@ -42,11 +42,9 @@ class NewBcfProject(bpy.types.Operator):
     bl_options = {"REGISTER", "UNDO"}
 
     def execute(self, context):
-        context.scene.BCFProperties.is_loaded = False
         bcfxml = bcf.v2.bcfxml.BcfXml.create_new("New Project")
-        bcfstore.BcfStore.set(bcfxml)
+        bcfstore.BcfStore.set(bcfxml, "")
         bpy.ops.bim.load_bcf_project()
-        context.scene.BCFProperties.is_loaded = True
         return {"FINISHED"}
 
 
@@ -59,11 +57,10 @@ class LoadBcfProject(bpy.types.Operator):
 
     def execute(self, context):
         if self.filepath:
-            bcfstore.BcfStore.bcfxml = bcf.bcfxml.load(self.filepath)
+            bcfstore.BcfStore.set_by_filepath(self.filepath)
         bcfxml = bcfstore.BcfStore.get_bcfxml()
         context.scene.BCFProperties.name = bcfxml.project.name
         bpy.ops.bim.load_bcf_topics()
-        context.scene.BCFProperties.is_loaded = True
         return {"FINISHED"}
 
     def invoke(self, context, event):
@@ -77,8 +74,7 @@ class UnloadBcfProject(bpy.types.Operator):
     bl_options = {"REGISTER", "UNDO"}
 
     def execute(self, context):
-        bcfstore.BcfStore.set(None)
-        context.scene.BCFProperties.is_loaded = False
+        bcfstore.BcfStore.unload_bcfxml()
         return {"FINISHED"}
 
 
@@ -267,6 +263,7 @@ class SaveBcfProject(bpy.types.Operator):
     def execute(self, context):
         bcfxml = bcfstore.BcfStore.get_bcfxml()
         bcfxml.save(self.filepath)
+        bcfstore.BcfStore.set(bcfxml, self.filepath)
         return {"FINISHED"}
 
     def invoke(self, context, event):
diff --git a/src/blenderbim/blenderbim/bim/module/bcf/prop.py b/src/blenderbim/blenderbim/bim/module/bcf/prop.py
index a989fb7082..7dc6f29757 100644
--- a/src/blenderbim/blenderbim/bim/module/bcf/prop.py
+++ b/src/blenderbim/blenderbim/bim/module/bcf/prop.py
@@ -41,37 +41,37 @@ def purge():
 
 
 def updateBcfReferenceLink(self, context):
-    if context.scene.BCFProperties.is_loaded:
+    if bcfstore.BcfStore.get_bcfxml():
         bpy.ops.bim.edit_bcf_reference_links()
 
 
 def updateBcfLabel(self, context):
-    if context.scene.BCFProperties.is_loaded:
+    if bcfstore.BcfStore.get_bcfxml():
         bpy.ops.bim.edit_bcf_labels()
 
 
 def updateBcfProjectName(self, context):
-    if self.is_loaded:
+    if bcfstore.BcfStore.get_bcfxml():
         bpy.ops.bim.edit_bcf_project_name()
 
 
 def updateBcfAuthor(self, context):
-    if self.is_loaded:
+    if bcfstore.BcfStore.get_bcfxml():
         bpy.ops.bim.edit_bcf_author()
 
 
 def updateBcfTopicName(self, context):
-    if context.scene.BCFProperties.is_loaded:
+    if bcfstore.BcfStore.get_bcfxml():
         bpy.ops.bim.edit_bcf_topic_name()
 
 
 def updateBcfTopicIsEditable(self, context):
-    if context.scene.BCFProperties.is_loaded and not self.is_editable:
+    if bcfstore.BcfStore.get_bcfxml() and not self.is_editable:
         bpy.ops.bim.edit_bcf_topic()
 
 
 def updateBcfCommentIsEditable(self, context):
-    if context.scene.BCFProperties.is_loaded and not self.is_editable:
+    if bcfstore.BcfStore.get_bcfxml() and not self.is_editable:
         bpy.ops.bim.edit_bcf_comment(comment_guid=self.name)
 
 
@@ -151,7 +151,7 @@ class BcfTopic(PropertyGroup):
 
 
 class BCFProperties(PropertyGroup):
-    is_loaded: BoolProperty(name="Is Loaded", default=False)
+    bcf_file: StringProperty(name="BCF File")
     comment_text_width: IntProperty(name="Comment Text Width", default=40)
     name: StringProperty(default="", name="Project Name", update=updateBcfProjectName)
     author: StringProperty(default="john@doe.com", name="Author Email", update=updateBcfAuthor)
diff --git a/src/blenderbim/blenderbim/bim/module/bcf/ui.py b/src/blenderbim/blenderbim/bim/module/bcf/ui.py
index 58f3c0a858..9a96f7800d 100644
--- a/src/blenderbim/blenderbim/bim/module/bcf/ui.py
+++ b/src/blenderbim/blenderbim/bim/module/bcf/ui.py
@@ -39,8 +39,7 @@ class BIM_PT_bcf(Panel):
         scene = context.scene
         props = scene.BCFProperties
 
-
-        if not props.is_loaded:
+        if not bcfstore.BcfStore.get_bcfxml():
             row = layout.row(align=True)
             row.operator("bim.new_bcf_project", text="New Project")
             row.operator("bim.load_bcf_project", text="Load Project")