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What Are BIM Standards and Their Importance?

Aditya Dhande
December 30, 2024

What Are BIM Standards and Their Importance?

building encircled by a blue circle, showcasing modern architectural design and innovative technology.

BIM is an important tool that is helping to make construction more efficient, improve project management, enhance collaboration, and even generally improve the industry as a whole. The specific standards that guide the implementation of BIM across the different stages of a construction project are one of the most critical aspects of BIM.

In this blog we will focus on what BIM standards are, why it's important, and its future for the construction sector.

What are BIM Standards?

An illustration depicting Building information modeling standards

BIM Standards is a collection of pre-established regulations, rules, and requisites that would ensure harmony, quality, and integrity in the practice of BIM within the construction market.The BIM standards manage data, processes, and workflows that are connected to BIM, thereby making all the stakeholders in a project - the architects, engineers, contractors, and project managers - be on the same page throughout the lifecycle of a project.

Adherence to BIM standards ensures the accurate and efficient sharing of information, collaboration, and reduced errors in the project's development. Standards of data exchange, system compatibility, and interoperability are the most critical factors for the success of any BIM-enabled project.

Why Are BIM Standards Important in Construction?

The value of following BIM standards cannot be undermined. Here are some reasons why they are very important:

Importance of BIM Standards

1. Uniformity and Preciseness: The BIM standards ensure that the data input and shared will be quite similar, lowering the possibilities of errors and miscommunication.

2. Greater cooperation: Process standardization facilitates cooperation among the stakeholders involved regardless of the distances between them or the machinery used.

3. Efficiency: Everyone in BIM will be using structured information and, hence, can make decisions more promptly.

4. Compliance with Legal Requirements: In most regions, compliance with regional laws and legal frameworks would mean meeting the BIM standards.

5. Cost Savings: With the minimization of errors and delay, BIM standards bring down the project cost as well as the timeframe in which it will be finished.

In other words, the entire BIM standards facilitate smooth working from the design phase until the completion of the construction to finally yield a successful outcome in the project.

Common BIM Standards Used Worldwide

An image depicting a key symbolizing that used BIM standards.

There are a number of well-established industry guidelines that have become popular worldwide. Among the most commonly used BIM standards are:

a. ISO 19650: ISO 19650 is an international standard in terms of information management, especially for a built asset that has an entire lifecycle. ISO 19650 emphasizes collaboration between stakeholders and the exchange of data.

b. BS 1192: A British standard that defines the process for collaborative working in BIM to ensure a common approach to information management.

c. Level of Development (LOD): This refers to the level of detail in a BIM model, detailing what information should be contained at various stages of the project.

d. IFC (Industry Foundation Classes): A neutral file format that facilitates data exchange and interoperability between different BIM software.

What is ISO 19650?

ISO 19650

ISO 19650 is a series of international standards for managing the information of built assets using BIM. It offers a framework for information management during the entire lifecycle of a project, from planning and design to construction and maintenance.

ISO 19650 is used to organize and structure the data of a project for efficient sharing and updating in real time. In addition, roles and responsibilities for stakeholders who are part of the project will be specified. This reduces the difficulty of managing the information flow in the project.With adherence to ISO 19650, organizations would find better collaborations, reduced risks, and improved quality of their projects.

Other International BIM Standards

Except the ISO 19650 standards, several other international, important BIM standards adopt to guide the use of BIM in construction project:

PAS 1192 (UK): A series of standards that offer detailed guidelines on BIM processes and information management.

DIN 276 (Germany): The standard is focused primarily on cost planning and cost control in BIM.

COBie (Construction Operations Building Information Exchange): It is a standard that describes the exchange of data in relation to building operations and maintenance.

BuildingSMART: It is an open standard for developing interoperable software in the development of BIM workflows.

All of these standards ensure compatibility and easy communication between various teams and software platforms, thereby allowing BIM to be adopted at a global level.

Challenges in Adopting BIM Standards

An illustration depicting various challenges faced in the adoption of BIM standards in construction and design industries.

Even though BIM standards offer many advantages, there are numerous challenges in adopting such standards:

There is a shortage of skilled personnel in most organizations as they lack proficient professionals to implement BIM standards.

Resistance to change: An organization may resist the change from convention methods to BIM, given that some organizations have relied on conventional construction processes over many years.

Implementation cost: To implement BIM tools may be costly, hence creating a problem for small scale firms to adopt BIM standards.

Interoperability Problems: Different software program rarely works well with each other and, therefore causes problems in exchanging information.

The industry is moving to be more digital and collaborative in terms of the process of work, despite all these challenges, making BIM standards more necessary to be adopted.

Future of BIM Standards

 An infographic showcasing the evolution and future trends of Building Information Modeling (BIM) standards.

The future promises much for BIM standards. As more industries follow the BIM technology, the set standards will continue to evolve further, becoming more refined as well as comprehensive. This is just a few:

Increased Standardization More regions and countries will create and implement consistent BIM standards, which will increase interoperability on a global scale.

Integration with Emerging Technologies: Integration of BIM with Artificial Intelligence, Internet of Things, and 3D printing would make it inevitable for the new standards to develop as such innovations begin to appear.

Focus on Sustainability: As the construction industry becomes more focused on sustainability, BIM standards will change to incorporate energy-efficient building practices, carbon footprint reduction, and environmental considerations.

In the years to come, BIM standards will definitely play a big role in determining the way forward for the construction sector.

Conclusion

In summary, BIM standards are important for consistency, collaboration, and efficiency in construction projects. With the implementation of international guidelines such as ISO 19650, construction teams can enhance data management, streamline workflows, and ultimately reduce costs. BIM standards will continue to change with the adoption of new technologies and methodologies in the industry, thus keeping the construction sector at the helm of innovation.

FAQs

What are the key BIM standards used globally?

The BIM standards in use across the globe include ISO 19650, PAS 1192, DIN 276, and IFC among others.

How can organizations implement BIM standards?

Organizations can implement BIM standards by following the guidelines that are appropriate for their business, first is investing in training, and second, using compatible software tools

Are BIM standards mandatory for all construction projects?

Although not mandatory in all geographies, BIM standards become increasingly required in public as well as large-scale projects due to the benefits to improve collaboration and efficiency in the project.

How do BIM standards reduce project costs?

BIM standards reduce the cost involved in a project by minimizing error, improving collaboration, workflows, and efficient use of resources throughout the project's lifecycle.

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