Building drawings used to be done with pen and paper, then we had computer printouts. Now it’s all about connected digital models for the leading companies in the built environment sector, bringing huge advantage not only to the industry but to the clients, owners, operators and users of construction projects. The UK was slow to organise itself ten years ago but with encouragement from government in 2011, new standards for Building Information Modelling (BIM) were developed by BSI which have been transformational for the sector. Now it is possible for everyone involved, from designers to client to specialist sub-contractor, to have access to the same set of up to date information on which to base their work.
Using the same digital data formats, a three dimensional digital model of the project can be developed, incorporating not only dimensional information but product specifications, project and asset information, documentation and all sorts of other data. BIM goes far beyond computer aided design (CAD). It is effectively a new language for construction that allows all aspects of the building project, from the earliest concept through commissioning to operation and maintenance to be shared by everyone involved.
Government committed to using BIM from 2016 for the procurement of large construction projects and immediately saw significant capital cost savings, contributing to their target of 25% - 30% savings on public projects. The larger contractors and designers were the first to embrace the new approach. Construction product companies developed libraries of information on their products to be incorporated into the models. Best in class companies have now implemented Level 2 BIM for all their private and public projects, where data including commercial information is fully integrated.
Of course, BIM is underpinned by standards. The original BS 1192 on the principles of BIM was followed by the PAS 1192 series, a pioneering suite of documents that were developed by the expert community with BSI. PAS 1192-2, published in 2013, addresses the capital expenditure (capex) stage. PAS 1192-3 covers the operational (in-use) stage. Part 4 describes how asset data should be transferred between parties. Part 5 on security aspects was published in 2015 and part 6 on health and safety, sponsored by Costain, was published in 2018.
All of the PAS series are free to download and there is a dedicated web portal where you can find much more information.
BIM has been a remarkable success story for the UK construction community. Having Government backing for BIM has significantly developed the UK’s capability in this area. In fact over 145,000 copies of the standards have been downloaded since 2013 (including around 20% downloaded from outside the UK). The 2016 Budget announced the development of the next generation of digital standards for the construction sector, under the ‘Digital Built Britain’ Programme. In 2017, the UK BIM capability was strengthened with the creation of the Centre for Digital Built Britain (CDBB), a partnership between the Department of Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy and the University of Cambridge.
CDBB’s focus is to deliver a smart digital economy for infrastructure and construction for the future and transform the UK construction industry’s approach to the way we plan, build, maintain and use our social and economic infrastructure. The Centre will continue the work of the Digital Built Britain Programme and the UK BIM Task Group to support delivery of the Government’s Digital Built Britain Strategy, taking the concept of the digital model a stage further, enabling individual buildings and assets to be connected into the smart economy.
BSI is working with CDBB and the UK BIM Alliance (Chaired by Dr Anne Kemp of Atkins) to take the UK standards to the international level through ISO.
The latest development took place on the 17 January, when BSI published the first significant ISO BIM standard, BS EN ISO 19650 Information management using Building Information Modelling (BIM). Part 1 and part 2 of the new ISO standard are founded on the original BS 1192 and PAS 1192-2. The step from British Standards to international standards paves the way for UK experts to participate in more global projects and to see their practices adopted around the world. The UK BIM standards are already being utilised in many countries, including China, UAE, Australia, Germany and South America. They are an integral part of the step towards the roll out of Smart Cities and communities.
The journey continues and the pace is accelerating. UK thought leadership in BIM standards is shaping best practice at national, European and international level, bringing competitive advantage and opportunity. If you want more information on the UK BIM standards programme, contact us here.
