Following the issuance of BIM Level 2 by 2016 mandate in 2011, the United Kingdom developed standards, procedures and protocols to address almost all aspects of BIM implementations. Key developments were popularly known as 7 pillars of BIM (or BIM wisdom). With the addition of information security standards, they are now called 8 pillars. These provide comprehensive guide for proper BIM adoption also for us. It is necessary we read all these primarily to understand what role each of us have to play in a BIM implementation. Further, it is necessary to clearly understand what role others play as BIM implementation is a highly collaborative effort.
This article is not to cover above. Instead, what I present here is a structured compilation of information about 8 pillars of BIM available online. This introduction video by The B1M was found to be an interesting one. The B1M has in fact produced a comprehensive video presentation on the subject. Find them in their Youtube Channel. I have listed some of them here for ease of access.
Pillar 1: PAS 1192-2:2013
“A PAS (Publicly Available Specification) is a document that standardizes elements of a product, service or process. PASs are usually commissioned by industry leaders – be they individual companies, SMEs, trade associations or government departments” (bsi). PAS 1192-2 is one of such PASs and was sponsored by Construction Industry Council. Many organizations got involved as members of steering committee through out its development.
You can dowlowad PAS 1192-2 from here.
PAS 1192-2 stipulates the requirements for achieving BIM Level 2 during the delivery phase or the capital expenditure phase of a project. The purpose of the PAS is to setting set out the framework for collaborative working on BIM enabled projects and providing specific guidance for the information management requirements associated with projects delivered using BIM.
It addresses key aspects of BIM based project delivery such as Information Delivery, Employers Information Requirement (EIR), and BIM Execution Plan.
EIR is to be created by the client with the help of consultants developed at the start of the project. This document is very important. Without it project team will not know what each got to do and why it is necessary in terms of use of BIM in the project. BIM Execution Plan defines how you are going to use BIM in the project.
Further the PAS provides for understanding each team member’s capabilities, including the experience and software platforms. It specifies how to setting up roles, responsobilities and authorities of project team members in terms of BIM. The volume cordination strategy it helps to set up will make each team member working within their own volume identified under responsibility matrix. This helps minimize clashes.
PAS 1192:2 provides a comprehensive framework with several other supplementary documents indentified therein to be adopted for BIM based project delivery.
For better understanding, view this video on Pillar 1: PAS 1192-2 (source the B1M).
Pillar 2: PAS 1192-3:2014
Pillar 2: PAS 1192-3 (source the B1M)
Pillar 3: BS 1192-4 (COBie)
Pillar 3: BS 1192-4 (COBie) (source the B1M)
Pillar 4: PAS 1192-5
Pillar 4: PAS 1192-5 (source the B1M)
Pillar 5: BIM Protocol
Building Information Modelling (BIM) Protocol is a contract document, or in better words, an amendment to contract which takes precedence over existing agreements. It is a standard protocol produced by Construction Industry Council (CIC) UK with the support from BIM Task Group for the use in projects implemented with BIM. Watch this video on Pillar 5: BIM Protocol (source the B1M) and then continue to read this complete article on CIC BIM Protocol.
Pillar 6: Government Soft Landings (GSL)
Pillar 6: Government Soft Landings (GSL) (source the B1M)
Pillar 7: Digital Plan of Work
Pillar 7: Digital Plan of Work (source the B1M)
RIBA Plan of Work has been the document we used to use when introducing the building design and construction process in our academic programme. It has been the definitve document for UK construction industry since 1960’s. The plan of work was updated in 2013, inter alia, addressing the needs of BIM based design and construction process.
The RIBA Plank of Work 2013 provides an online tool to customize the plan of work to address their specific needs, and to download it, for free. Find RIBA Plan of Work 2013 online tool here.
NBS Toolkit offers a convenient cloud service for BIM teams to define who is doing what and when on BIM projects. Importantly it is free to use. The toolkit has been developed to support BIM Level 2 projects. The toolkit covers both “Digital Plan of Work” and “Classification” (see below). It uses Uniclass 2015 classification system which is relevant to all sectors. It is a useful tool for collaboration among client and operators, designers, builders and manufacturers to ensure client requirements are met efficiently and effectively.
Watch this video on NBS BIM Toolkit and read this Introduction to NBS BIM Toolkit by Dr Stephen Hamil, the BIM toolkit project lead.
Pillar 8: Classification
Pillar 8: Classification (source the B1M)