What BIM is & what it entails!

The 3 letters in the acronym BIM are subject to much confusion and debate within the construction industry. Depending on the context in which it is used, BIM can potentially mean:

• Building Information Model [thing]
• Building Information Modelling [process]
• Building an Information Model [activity]
• Building Information Management
• Building Information Modelling & Management
• Better Information Management
• All of the above!

BIM-Boozled? Amidst all the technical jargon and acronyms involved in BIM, it is important to bear in mind that BIM is a value creating process involving implementation of more efficient working practices – better work, not more work!

The basic underlying principle is that on construction and infrastructure projects, we should have access to the information we need, when we need it – irrespective of what you label this as! BIM is a way of working so our advice so ignore the subjective acronym BIM and instead focus on the objective processes that a Building Information Modelling [or whatever you want to call it] process entails!

In the UK [and accepted generally in Europe] the objective BIM process is laid out in a suite of 8 interlinked documents, standards & protocols [often referred to as the ‘8 Pillars of BIM’] – known as UK BIM Level 2 – which are in turn built on a foundation standard for collaborative working.

Beware of BIM-Wash!

BIM is the hot topic in the industry right now and is subject to a lot of misunderstanding and inflated [sometimes deceptive] claims – or BIM-Wash.

At PIM Smart we have realistic expectations about what we can actually deliver in-house and we don’t wish to put ourselves or our clients at risk by inflating our capabilities beyond same. At base level, we produce and manage all our information at PIM Smart in accordance with the principles of the BS & PAS 1192 standards and we work collaboratively with our clients/contractors and other partners in the industry to develop on this base, as required, to develop BIM Level 2 compliant workflows on projects we support.

BIM Levels Explained

As with BIM-Wash, there are lots of descriptive labels knocking around in the industry such as ‘BIM Ready’, ‘BIM Compliant’ and ‘BIM Specialists’ however what does this actually mean in practice? In reality, as mentioned above, there are lots of different things the acronym BIM can actually mean and there are 4 distinct levels of BIM maturity against which ‘Readiness’ can refer to:

• BIM Level 0 is the utilisation of 2D CAD information to develop drawings that are not managed or coordinated with other disciplines. Practitioners in the industry should now be beyond this level of working.
• BIM Level 1 is the utilisation of managed 2D and 3D CAD information across the project team using a Common Data Environment [shared workspace]. Whilst the information is managed at Level 1, there is no cross-discipline collaboration thus each discipline within the project independently produces and maintains their own data. The majority of the industry is [or should be] working at least at this level.
• BIM Level 2 is the utilisation of managed 2D and 3D CAD information along with attached & structured data which is produced in a collaborative Common Data Environment [CDE]. Marking this as an advancement beyond BIM Level 1, information across the project team is produced and exchanged using a common delivery plan [BIM Execution Plan (BEP)] and common file formats [e.g. IFC] which allow different disciplines to use each other’s information as reference whilst developing theirs. Facilitating collaboration across the team, BIM Level 2 [where implemented effectively] ensures individual designs are complimentary [clash-free] and enables enhanced analysis, management and efficiency throughout the activities involved in the design, construction and use of built assets.
  • When you hear an individual or organisation refer to themselves as BIM Ready or BIM Compliant, BIM Level 2 is generally accepted as the standard to be measured against to be determined as such. BIM Level 2 is the mandatory level of project collaboration required for public sector works in the UK from April 4^th 2016 and is also a steadily growing deliverable target within the private sector. As outlined above, there are a number of standards and protocols [often referred to as the ‘8 Pillars of BIM’] required to achieve a full BIM Level 2 workflow.

• BIM Level 3 is the holy grail for information management in the construction industry. Notionally this involves the use of a single all-inclusive model [shared simultaneously between all the project disciplines] to coordinate design and construction processes. BIM Level 3 is still very much a work in progress however the UK has put in place a Strategic Plan for development.

BIM Standards & Guides

BIM Foundation Standard

BS 1192:2007+A2:2016 – Collaborative production of architectural, engineering and construction information. Code of practice

• This standard establishes a common, collaborative approach for production, naming and management of construction information. This is the foundation standard upon which the BIM Level 2 workflow is developed and is integrated into our core way of working at PIM Smart.

UK BIM Level 2 ‘8 Pillars’

PAS 1192-2:2013 – Specification for information management for the capital/delivery phase of construction projects using building information modelling

• This standard establishes a common, collaborative approach for co-ordinating & managing design & construction information during the capital (CAPEX) phase of a built asset. PAS 1192-2 describes how information is developed, managed and delivered between project stakeholders and project team personnel during design and construction of the asset.

PAS 1192-3:2014 – Specification for information management for the operational phase of assets using building information modelling

• This standard establishes a common, collaborative approach for Management of Asset Information during the operational (OPEX) phase of a built asset. Whilst this standard covers management of the asset and information post-construction, this standard also acts as a precursor to design and construction activities under PAS 1192-2 ensuring that the information the client needs to operate the asset is requested and delivered during the design and construction phases.

BS 1192-4:2014 – Collaborative production of information. Fulfilling employer’s information exchange requirements using COBie. Code of practice

• This standard establishes a common structure for Construction Operations Building information exchange [COBie]. COBie is a structured set of data about the built asset in a non-graphical format which is essential for Facilities Management. COBie is often delivered along with an IFC model which is an open graphical exchange format – COBie is essentially a non-graphical descriptive sub-set of modelled data. COBie is an open exchange format independent of any proprietary software and is commonly accessed as a spreadsheet.

PAS 1192-5:2015 – Specification for security-minded building information modelling, digital built environments and smart asset management

• This standard establishes principles for the integrity and secure access, development, management and storage of built asset information. It also describes how information pertaining to projects involving sensitive data should be managed.

BIM Protocol

• This is a supplementary and addendum protocol to standard construction contracts which forms a legal agreement between parties on projects using BIM. Effectively, this protocol adds an obligation to the main contract for each party to supply information which allows for the production of Building Information Models and sets in place BIM deliverable requirements and dates.

Government Soft Landings [GSL]

• Government Soft Landings is a framework which ensures value is achieved in the operational phase of a built asset after construction. Soft Landings puts in place a smooth transition process from construction phase to use of a built asset to ensure the building performs to the standard it was designed and intended. This is particularly important process for handover and fine-tuning of MEP equipment and plant to ensure optimal performance of the building services. Essentially, Soft Landings facilitates an enhanced ‘after-sales service’ alongside traditional defects liability and warranty periods. Check out this article on NBS for a succinct overview of Government Soft Landings.

Classification

• Classification is a standardised system allowing construction information to be indexed & structured in a common format across sectors and disciplines within the industry. Standardised classification of items within built assets facilitates quick, consistent & accurate searching, referencing and auditing of information for activities such as costing, CAD layering and specifications.

BIM Toolkit [Digital Plan of Works]

• The NBS BIM Toolkit is a free resource which functions as a Digital Plan of Works management platform for public and private sector projects using BIM. It provides step-by-step help to define, manage and validate responsibility for information development and delivery at each stage of the asset lifecycle.

BIM Enablers

Alongside the UK BIM Level 2 standards, there are also a number of BIM enablers available which help to understand and implement BIM into working practices:

BIM Level 2 Websites

• From 4^th April 2016, a BIM Level 2 website will be available at www.level2bim.org providing guidance and documentation to support the industry.
• The BIM Task Group and BIM Regions websites are also invaluable resources for BIM advice and guidance.
• PIM Smart have also developed a community forum website for on and behalf of BIM Region NI. Join our community at BIMregNI.co.uk!

BIM Delivery Cube

The BIM Delivery cube is an innovative communication matrix that links Work Stages, Stakeholders and Delivery Components together to offer BIM guidance and understanding to project stakeholders throughout the various stages of a project.

CPIx Protocol

The CPIx Protocol is a suite of assessment forms along with a template BIM Execution Plan. The assessment forms are an invaluable basis for assessing BIM capabilities across the supply-chain when forming a team to tender for the supply of Building Information Modelling. The BIM Execution Plan describes how the chosen team intends to deliver Building Information Modelling as part of the tender documentation to the client.

CIC Best-Practice Guides

The Construction Industry Council have published a number of useful guides and reports to help assist implementation of BIM within the industry including:

• Best Practice Guide for Professional Indemnity Insurance when using BIM
• Outline Scope of Services for the role of Information Management