17 minute read
NBS standard
NBS sets thestandard
Will NBS’ newly-launched BIM Object Standard document help provide the confidence in downloadable content the AEC industry so desperately needs?
by Martyn Day
Downloadable Building Information Modelling (BIM) content is very welcome, especially when it reduces modelling time and comes loaded with useful information for downstream building and facilities management processes and supports industry standard formats like COBie. However, with so many people creating content, either for manufacturers or for in-house purposes, the quality and consistency of these objects varies hugely, making many experienced BIM users highly cautious of introducing externally created BIM content into managed models.
While there are many working groups developing standards to drive the UK Government’s BIM aims, the commercial BIM content market has to date escaped any policing. But the deliverables must ultimately comply with a number of industry standards including BS1192, PAS1192-2/3, RIBA’s Plan of Work, COBieUK and BS 8541.
It is high time that commercial developers started to ensure their BIM content assists users, instead of very possibly creating geometry and information formatting problems up and downstream. NBS has created a documented ‘standard’ for its object library, which it hopes other firms will adopt.
NBS BIM Object Standard is a free downloadable PDF from its website. The standard is not a format, like IFC or DWG, but a written list of definitions and criteria that NBS has identified as being a baseline for consistency, efficiency and interoperability.
The 44 page document breaks down the five key areas that the standard addresses: General, Information, Geometry, Functional and Metadata. Properties are defined as ‘Shall’ (essential), ‘Shall not’ or ‘May’ (supplemental) this provides a baseline of essential information with some flexibility to include additional useful user defined data. The General requirements cover categorisation, IFC object type and level of detail (LoD). For instance, BIM objects must be presented as ‘generic’ or manufacturer object, ‘component’ or ‘layered’ and assemblies of components must conform to BS 8541-3. The minimum will have a schematic LoD that must conform to BS 8541-3.
For object type identifiers, the standard invokes IFCtypeObject and IFC predefined type from buildingSmart IFC2x3. If objects do not have an appropriate IFC definition then user defined name convention guidelines are provided. Information requirements cover general conventions, values, property groups and usages, data formatting, property naming, IFC property sets and COBie type and component properties, as well as some supplementary ‘when applicable’ but not essential information.
This section seeks to drive compliance with COBie version 2 Release 4 and IFC2x3 and PAS 16739 2005. It also shows how Revit has a property grouping convention outside of IFC, ArchiCAD, Vectorworks and AECOsim. Geometry seeks to identify the minimum requirement to define the BIM component in shape, symbol, space, surface, material and connection, including dimensional and measurement basics. The first being: ‘The BIM object geometry and graphical detail shall not compromise the performance of the project model in which it is placed’.
This is great common sense, but how big is too big? Scales of 1:20. 1:50 and 1:100 are covered. The Functional section is short and deals with a number of statements on embedded relationships, behaviours, constraints and connections. Metadata addresses naming conventions for files, objects, properties, layers, materials and images within objects. Some obvious stuff here on no duplicate names, alphanumeric characters, spaces or punctuation.
The document is driven by common sense and is a good, broad guideline linking typical BIM Object structures to their relevant UK and International BIM standards. Some standard definitions areas are a bit vague, and act more as a guide and others, such as measurement units are only implied by the numbers (mm, cm, inches or mars bars!).
For a first attempt this is more comprehensive than I expected. Conclusion Defining BIM standards is tricky as it is the final deliverables that must conform. Here, NBS has worked with its major customers of downloadable BIM content, and launched with endorsements from an array of industry folk such as Autodesk, Bentley, buildingSMART, Graphisoft and Nemetschek.
The standard applies to its own NBS BIM library content but the competition, i.e. BIMobject, has not pledged to conform.
With NBS being part of RIBA and having a strong presence in the market, it perhaps could plausibly implement a de facto standard in the UK, but it would not be enforceable. One should not forget that the BIM object market is competitive and a ‘for profit’ business. Owning ‘the standard’ would undoubtedly be of commercial benefit.
That said, NBS has done a positive thing; it has taken action on a serious industry problem and has produced a BIM standard as a quality statement that means its BIM content will, in future, comply with key enforced industry deliverable standards. It is all about confidence in downloadable content. We will have to wait and see how far outside NBS’s circle of influence the standard is adopted.
While the UK, Netherlands, Denmark, Finland and Norway already require the use of BIM for publicly funded building projects, the EU will now adopt BIM by 2016. Suddenly, BIM software developers and building component manufacturers will have to contemplate supporting 27 more European BIM standards than just those that are developed in the UK.
Sustainable building design andHVAC
Phil Marris, managing director of Jaga Heating Products UK, discusses the benefits of product manufacturers embracing BIM and the long-term impact on sustainability in building design.
The accelerating take-up of Building Information Modelling (BIM) software as a means to improve construction efficiency and design quality is, without doubt, of enormous benefit to the industry’s future. This increasingly indispensable tool, however, is also creating an opportunity for sustainable product manufacturers to guide architects, contractors and building operators towards environmentallyfriendly building services solutions.
The potential of BIM is not lost on us here at Jaga — in fact we see it as a natural progression in promoting our values in sustainable HVAC solutions. The better we can demonstrate our products as viable alternatives to energy-thirsty solutions, the more likely it becomes that we can have a lasting impact on the contribution of the built environment to national energy targets.
The BIM Task Group has estimated that the successful implementation of BIM can help to strip out as much as 30% of project resources that are wasted, making it an increasingly attractive prospect to those planning new construction projects. From its time-saving potential to its sophisticated technical accuracy, BIM allows the building to be designed virtually as many times as necessary to ensure it can be built flawlessly just once when physical construction begins.
Looking beyond its use in combating construction concerns and avoiding double working, BIM can help provide detailed insights into the best ways of maintaining a building’s efficiency throughout its longterm operation — and this is where the initiative becomes particularly relevant to sustainable product manufacturers.
Heating and ventilation systems are an excellent example of how this can be put into practice.
About the author
Phil Marris, managing director of Jaga Heating Products, is a passionate advocate of energy efficiency, carbon cutting measures and green building techniques.
If a manufacturer’s BIM content for a radiator is accurate and the value of its specifications, output, cost and energy efficiency is proven, the chances of it being selected over more energy-thirsty solutions across numerous BIM-enhanced construction projects increase.
The challenge of achieving optimal sustainability in construction is often related to specifiers’ perception of cost — that is why precise product data is so important in influencing the change.
As more BIM content becomes available, there will be greater opportunity to provide comparative analysis with other buildings. As manufacturers, we would be able to show exactly how and why one building’s heating and ventilation is more efficient than another’s, and present the product that is best equipped to replicate this success.
The precise functionality of the files allows for specific fine-tuning too, for example by automatically calculating system flow rates and pressure drops to help the engineer design the most optimised system. Within the software, specifiers can switch various different product combinations in-and-out within seconds and see their suitability in-line with project targets. Different radiator sizes can be selected to see which best fits, and various fixing approaches — such as wall-mounted, freestanding or trench heating — can be experimented with to determine the ideal solution in terms of design, ergonomics, heat output and energy consumption.
On a business level, industry-standard BIM product content helps to promote a manufacturer and its products throughout the sector, with a view to showing their compatibility with modern, high-value construction projects.
Considering the UK government’s ambition to have all centrally procured construction contracts achieve Level 2 BIM status by 2016, as well as BIM’s increasing use in the private sector, it means manufacturers should start embracing the technology sooner rather than later.
With the increasing international focus on ‘future-proofing’ buildings against draining the planet’s natural resources, we can help guide architects and contractors to make the correct decisions in the building services products and systems they select by saving time, saving money, and hitting targets.
The better we can demonstrate sustainable products as viable alternatives to energy-thirsty solutions, the more likely it becomes that we can have a lasting impact on buildings’ contribution to energy targets in the future.
Failure to embrace BIM’s potential will eventually become counter-productive for manufacturers of building services products.
At the end of the day, when the highest value projects are begun to be planned and schematics produced, decision-makers will look beyond those who cannot provide them with the convenience and technical accuracy of detailed BIMcompatible product data.
Think Rail and Transit. See Bentley!
Fully integrated: BIM encourages cradle to grave thinking and information management.
Images Courtesy of Crossrail Ltd
Enabling BIM from Concept to Reality!
Crossrail, London’s new $22 billion railway and currently the largest construction project in Europe, is leveraging the value of BIM across all disciplines and its supply chain. From concept to reality, the Crossrail team uses a range of integrated software from Bentley for design, collaboration and asset information management, to increase productivity, reduce risk, save time and effort, on this world class railway of tomorrow.
Why not use proven BIM enabling software from Bentley on your next project? www.Bentley.com/OnlyBentley
Collaborative 3D information model helps identify and solve constructability issues early.
THE YEAR IN INFRASTRUCTURE 2014 CONFERENCE
NOVEMBER 4 - 6, 2014 HILTON LONDON METROPOLE LONDON, UK
Investing in people at David Miller
A strong focus on staff training and skills development keeps David Miller architects achead of the curve in BIM readiness.
In 2006 architect David Miller committed to grow his practice to service larger clients and to take on more challenging projects. With a long-term vision for growth and a well-developed ‘emotional intelligence’ (EQ), Mr Miller embarked upon his search to recruit likeminded architects. “Right from the start I looked for people with a certain temperament,” he explained. “The best practices hire great thinkers, great communicators, and team-players, but I wanted more.”
Mr Miller searched specifically for individuals with minds open for learning and an abundance of creative energy for problem solving in response to project requirements. “These people are the real transformers of projects because they build enduring and trusted client relationships,” he said.
According to author Daniel Goleman, this rare combination of abilities is common in architects with high EQ. Mr Miller believes it is the primary reason for the unusually high volume of repeat business enjoyed by his practice. Today the DMA team is 19-strong, having grown steadily to service its expanding portfolio of commercial, education and residential projects.
Throughout this growth period staff turnover has remained low. “I consider it my job to make everyone on our team feel supported by investing in technology and processes to enable them,” Mr Miller said.
DMA applied for ISO 9001 accreditation when there were only four people on the team. It quickly became apparent to Mr Miller that when supported by good processes his team would be free to make decisions without deferring to him for approval. This approach nurtured and insulated new recruits in a way that quickly enabled their self-confidence to grow; giving them a greater sense of autonomy and achievement.
“The whole practice found ISO 9001 to be very liberating and for the first time we were able to pitch for public sector projects that require ISO 9001 compliance from all consultants,” practice director Fiona Clark said.
There was also a human benefit. “Younger people found it easier to increase their contributions to the team leading to increased efficiency and more predictable operations across all projects,” Ms Clark said.
Such positive outcomes quickly led to DMA applying for and securing ‘Investors in People’ recognition; placing it among the top 0.5% of architectural practices in the UK.
Perhaps unsurprisingly then, with an office filled with emotionally intelligent architects and designers with minds open to learning, the adoption of Building Information Modelling (BIM) processes, technologies and collaborative behaviour has also been successful.
The result; DMA is now years ahead of the curve for complying with the UK government’s BIM initiative for all centrally procured projects to achieve Level 2 BIM status by 2016.
As with other parts of the business, DMA approached the transition to BIM with an appetite for learning and a hunger to understand all aspects of the new collaborative workflows.
“Ordinarily across the practice we measure everything so we can continue to improve,” said Clark. “We therefore committed to measure the cost of our BIM investment and compare it to the value we realised at the practice and project level.”
As with ISO 9001 and Investors in People, DMA engaged external consultants to help measure its BIM performance. First it looked at DMA’s BIM adoption on a macro level using the American ‘National Institute of Building Sciences — Facilities Information Council National BIM Standards’ (at the time, UK standards were still under development).
Next the consultants looked at DMA‘s capabilities on a micro-level by assessing staff skills when using Revit, Autodesk’s BIM software.
To assess staff skills, DMA engaged the KnowledgeSmart team to identify individual Revit skills gaps and to plug those gaps using customised training programs.
Modular training was provided by White Frog, and prescribed in response to KnowledgeSmart skills-gap assessments.
“We hope to measure significant productivity and efficiency improvements…” explained Mr Miller, “…but that isn’t our primary goal. We first want to ensure that our BIM adoption is strong and the best way to raise the bar is to make sure our architects can achieve everything they need to achieve inside the BIM software environment.”
Indeed when each software license costs around £4,000 it makes little sense to use only a tiny fraction of the software.
Not all practice leaders believe in the value of training staff. Some even reject the notion of training on the grounds that the newly skilled employee will just up-sticks and leave for more money elsewhere.
Of course, people do not always change jobs for more money, many move in search of greater job satisfaction. But as American author, salesman, and motivational speaker Zig Ziglar once said “What’s worse than training your workers and losing them? Not training them and keeping them.”
It is common for employees to feel underappreciated and unsupported by employers when they are passed over for training or promotions. As new talent joins a firm, with new skills in hand, the current staff can start to feel a little overshadowed, causing them to seek out pastures new; this is highly disruptive to active projects as project-specific knowledge leaves the project along with the staff.
The longer the construction project the greater the chance of team members leaving. As many construction projects take a long time to complete, and as starting and finishing with the same team in place is a good way to provide the best client service levels, retaining staff that are well trained and highly knowledgeable is likely to contribute more than anything else towards improved client service levels and project quality.
DMA constantly reinvests for growth. For example, R&D Tax Credits realised from their investment in BIM have been reinvested in its staff to assess and improve their individual knowledge and productivity. And this investment in practice performance is amplified at the project level where DMA clients are also able to measure improved performance.
Mr Miller explained why this matters to DMA: “Our clients make no secret of their project and consultant performance measurement processes and we know that we score very well because they continue to give us larger projects.”
As UK projects move towards more process-driven workflows DMA is ideally suited to further expand its portfolio of projects.
Mr Miller concluded: “Our continued investment in the practice, our people, and our processes is paying off. Clients have come to know that they will always enjoy a consistent level of output from DMA, which greatly reduces their project risk. And I know that our achievement in that regard is a team achievement of which I am very proud.”
■ david-miller.co.uk
David Miller pre-empts email overload with Mail Manager
David Miller Architects has preempted the threat of email overload by installing Outlook plug-in Oasys Mail Manager. The software tool complements the collaborative work processes that have underpinned the practice’s creative and commercial success.
Email has always been seen as an integral part of the BIM collaborative process, and was shared within the practice using drag and drop Outlook project folders. However, as the number of concurrent live projects grew, the time taken to file and retrieve emails came onto the radar as a potential future problem. At that time, a new member of the team who had used Oasys Mail Manager before and missed it sorely introduced the concept.
Practice director Fiona Clark said: “It was a perfect fit, but seemed almost too good to be true. However, as it had been developed for Arup, a firm we know and trust, we had complete confidence in it.”
Mail Manager automates email filing into system file folders and, because it learns user behaviour, filing emails and their attachments quickly becomes a prompted oneclick operation. Emails are filed instantly in a place where they can be securely shared. “There is no time lag while people might get distracted by a phone call, meeting, or even wait until the end of the day,” said Ms Clark.
Filing errors are virtually eliminated, and will only occur if the user makes an error. However, even then, the faceted search capabilities will enable team members to find messages in seconds.
“Good storage and retrieval is the platform on which automation and collaboration is based,” said Ms Clark. “We have complete confidence in our mail storage and our ability to retrieve it.” ■oasys-software.com
ArchiCAD 18 offers a streamlined workflow solution, keeping architects in the creative design flow with as little disruption as possible.
The integration of CineRender, MAXON’s world-class CINEMA 4D rendering engine into ArchiCAD 18, brings high quality, photo-realistic renderings to a much wider range of designers.
ArchiCAD 18’s brand new Revision Management solution is integrated into the entire BIM workflow, providing solutions for 2D, 3D or any kind of hybrid workflows. Is also offers a smooth, PDF-based workflow and improved PDF-based data exchange by introducing BIM-related intelligence and data hierarchy into PDF files.
