BIM FAQ

BIM means ‘Building Information Modelling’: a process geared towards launching a complete construction project that includes all relevant information. We take care of the drawings, calculations, estimates, materials lists and planning. BIM has since become an umbrella term to cover many aspects.

BIM is divided into ‘Little BIM’ and ‘Big BIM’:

Little BIM: the process used within a construction or installation company to optimize the design and building internally.
Big BIM: the process used between all partners involved in the construction to optimize the design and building externally.

An important final product of the BIM process is a construction model. It is a digital 3D model which integrates architecture, building and installations. Although the model is comprehensive, it does not automatically mean that all data can be found in a single database or file. A construction model enables effective coordination and there is software to detect faults. BIM ensures a reduction in fault-related costs, since we first use the support of ‘virtual construction’ before embarking on the actual construction.

BIM begins with building awareness: being aware of potential improvements to be made in the areas of communication and coordination (for those who are familiar with the ‘Lean Approach’: Continuous Improvement).

Is the correct information being exchanged in the calculation and work preparation stage?
Does the personnel responsible for installation have the correct drawings available and do they correspond to those of the contactor?
Does the construction material correspond to that set out by the planning team?
Who informs who about what?
How are design changes implemented?

Awareness building must not only take place within your organisation; it must be shared among all the partners involved in the construction project. This is the only way that effective communication and exchange of data can be achieved. We all know that starting the job properly is half of the work, and that it is essential to think before we act. This is why software is needed to record everything digitally. In BIM terms, we call that ‘modelling’.

There are four stages to implement BIM effectively:

1. Setting up the processes within your organisation on a BMI modus operandi.
2. Correctly updating the material and software.
3. Training engineers and designers.
4. Ensuring that ‘hands-on’ assistance is given on site from the very first projects.

1. Acquiring a project
The creation of a construction model requires a (considerable) investment of time in the initial stage of a project. From then on, it is essential to reach an agreement with your client/contractor and to avoid, after having committed to various costs during the preparation stage, it actually being a ‘traditional’ contract that is put in place.

2. Working arrangements
At the beginning of a project, it is important to decide upon the model to be created, site, working method and responsibilities taken on within the model. We shall most certainly be able to advise and assist you in your first projects.

3. Implementation
What working drawings are needed for an effective implementation of the project during the construction stage? To make detailed drawings, it is necessary to have a detailed model. This requires additional time and ‘increases the load’ of the model. It is therefore important to properly assess what is to be expected. If a model is very detailed, it should be integrated with a sound knowledge of the details.

4. Review
For large projects, one can often be requested to provide a model in the form of a review document. Given that technical installation data does not always concern the building manager, often a ‘management model’ is sufficient. This enables clients to test out the project at this stage and to await the results that emerge from the concordance system for the management models.

5. Software
The right software is not a goal for itself. Yet it is an important mean to reach your desired objective. This is why we remain at your disposal to advise you on the best choice for your situation: Stabicad for AutoCAD, Stabicad for Revit, Navisworks, etc.

6. Training
For a fast take-off with BIM, your collaborators must gain the appropriate knowledge. Our engineers assist your collaborators by way of on-site training and support.

Interest in BIM has produced several new concepts which often originate from the USA. The most frequently used include:

LOD: Level of Development
This describes the various developments levels of a project, from LOD100 to LOD500 (there is a link with the level of detail originally from the world of gaming). The higher the LOD, the more details there are. A comparison may be made with our PP (provisional project) and PD (final project plan), working plans and reviewed plans scale.
IPD: Integrated Project Delivery
A collection of documents, including contracts, which establish the collaboration between partners involved in construction. The aim is have complete documents for a project in which all participants draw upon their knowledge and experience in order to launch a successful project. It originates from the AIA - American Institute of Architects.

It is worth knowing that there are organisations that assess whether or not it would be appropriate, in our construction culture, to re-use this American terminology and these types of contract, adapting them where necessary.

Families are libraries of symbols and models of components for technical installations. By way of comparison: AutoCAD operates with symbols and elements, most often in the form of blocks. The base families are adapted to Dutch standards and requirements by Stabiplan into Stabicad for Revit. Families understand various levels of detail and have ties to commercial data such as that provided by 2BA. The materials lists produced by Revit models can therefore be used during the order process.

Many of the families provided by Stabiplan have been designed parametrically and integrated into Stabicad for Revit. The advantage is that it is easy to move from the ‘generic’ element to the ‘specific’ element. The update of these families is carried out by means of a content website, called mepcontent.eu, previously cadsymbols.eu. Stabiplan thereby makes the products available of most suppliers and manufacturers for Revit and AutoCAD. In Stabicad for Revit, it is possible, with the support of the ‘Element Sector’, to select components and to include them in the model.

The current Dutch Rijksgebouwendienst BIM standard (State’s building service), abbreviated as the Rgd BIM standard, specifies numerous points that address general requirements, predominantly concerning the following areas:

The material aspects and spatial dimensions referred to by the functions required in the production specifications must be provided in the construction model.
The functions required must be attached to the construction model for it to be made clear which components and spaces are relevant for assessing the performance requirements.
The Contracting Party is free to choose its own file formats and implementation. The information from the construction model must be provided in the form of usable drawings in CAD and in a jointly-used IFC file.

In other words, it is not at all matter of software certification. It is much more about conforming to certain aspects; all Stabicad for AutoCAD and Stabicad for Revit users may participate in a BIM process in compliance with the Rgd BIM standard.