BSRIA is delighted to be supporting a sector-wide BIM survey which has been launched by the Electrical Contractors’ Association (ECA), alongside the Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE) and Building, the UK’s leading magazine for construction professionals.
The new study will explore the readiness of the building services sector to engage with BIM within the next six to 12 months. The survey is also supported by other leading players in the sector, including the British Electrotechnical and Allied Manufacturers' Association (BEAMA).
The investigation is expected to reveal crucial information about how prepared the sector is to adopt 'BIM Level 2' practice, noting the government requirement for BIM Level 2 engagement with centrally procured contracts during 2016.
BSRIA's Principal Consultant and BIM specialist, John Sands, commented:
“With the implementation of the UK Government’s Level 2 BIM mandate just a few months away, the building services industry should be in a position to make the most of the opportunities it will present. This survey will help us all to identify where we are in the BIM journey, and to enable us to plan the way forward to BIM maturity.”
ECA Director of Business Services, Paul Reeve, said:
“This sector-wide survey will provide much needed and very timely information on how ready the building services sector is to engage with BIM as we approach the 2016 government deadline.
We urge all building services companies to take part in the new survey, and we will be sharing the data with the industry, the Government and other stakeholders when the results are in during September 2015.”
CIBSE Technical Director, Hywel Davies, added:
“Government is committed to using BIM to improve its management and operation of buildings and infrastructure. Mechanical, electrical and plumbing services are all critical to the effective operation of buildings. Our sector is involved in the operational life and performance of built assets, not just the design and delivery. This survey is important for our sector to understand how well prepared we are for BIM.”
The BIM study will run until September 15.
Notes to editors
More information about BIM (Building Information Modelling)
• 'Level 2 BIM' is the process of working with digital building information, including data-rich objects, which can be effectively shared between those who are building and/or maintaining the building and its services. This is 'collaborative 3D BIM' and it involves using tools such as COBie, BS/PAS 1192, 'Soft Landings' and various BIM Protocols.
• The Government aims to require collaborative 3D BIM on its centrally procured projects by spring 2016 (BIM Level 2), in order to unlock innovation and benefits throughout the building project life-cycle, including cost savings.
About the Electrical Contractors’ Association (ECA):
The Electrical Contractors’ Association (ECA) is the UK’s largest trade association representing electrical, electrotechnical and other engineering contractors, at regional, national and European level. ECA member-companies are rigorously assessed before membership is approved.
To visit the ECA website: www.eca.co.uk.
About CIBSE:
CIBSE publishes Guidance and Codes which provide best practice advice and are internationally recognised as authoritative design guidance for building services. The CIBSE Knowledge Portal, which makes Guidance available online to all CIBSE members, is the leading systematic engineering resource for the building services sector.
CIBSE’s 21,000 members design, install, operate, maintain and refurbish the installed energy using systems in buildings and make a significant contribution to the thermal design of building envelopes.
For more information about the institution please visit www.cibse.org