Delivering the right data for BIMs

ICOM, BIM, space heating
The value of product data templates for BIM — Ross Anderson.

Making BIM product information available in a consistent format is vital to enable building-services specifiers to make full use of this technology. Ross Anderson of ICOM explains how this is being achieved for commercial and industrial heating products

As Building Information Modelling (BIM) becomes more integral to the design, construction and operation of built assets, the quality of the asset information BIM contains becomes critical. For example, products used in Level 2 BIM projects need to be described not only by their 3D geometry but also by key data relating to that product.

Currently very few building-services products are available as models that also contain data. This is partly because building-services products are often more complex than less ‘dynamic’ products used in construction and, in the past, has been exacerbated by a lack of consensus on the scope and content of product data files in BIM.

To address these issues the Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE) has initiated a programme to develop product data templates (PDTs) for all product sectors. However, ensuring that this product information from a plethora of different manufacturers is delivered in a consistent and specifier-friendly format is crucial to the success of the PDT project.

In the case of industrial and commercial heating products, ICOM has taken a pivotal co-ordination role, acting as both an interface and a moderator between CIBSE and the ICOM membership. This is proving to be a very effective way of harnessing the expertise and experience of a range of different manufacturers and collating that information into a set of consistently scoped and structured PDTs. These PDTs are most likely to be made available in the form of a 3D CAD blocks with PDT data embedded, ready to be incorporated into BIM.

The basis of this process has been the establishment of a BIM working group within ICOM that enables members to bring their specialist product knowledge to bear on each of the many types of heating product commonly used in commercial and industrial applications. Inevitably there is some variation in approach, resulting from differences between products from different manufacturers. This is where the moderating role of ICOM comes in — in terms of either finding common ground so a single PDT can be used across a range of the same type of product or, in some cases, identifying where developing different PDTs is the best option.

The latter tends to apply where there are significant differences, such as between gas/oil fired boilers and biomass boilers, where it has proved necessary to develop a PDT for each type. Similarly, there will be three PDTs to represent water heaters — storage, instantaneous and circulatory.

The process itself is quite straightforward, albeit requiring considerable collaboration between all parties. The principle is that the initial proposals come from manufacturers as they have both the key product data and the application expertise. This phase of the project has been met by considerable enthusiasm and investment of time by members of the ICOM working group

Following any necessary moderation by ICOM, these proposals are then submitted to a moderator at CIBSE who then provides feedback to form the basis of any subsequent fine tuning of each PDT. A final version is then once again submitted to CIBSE for professional approval.

ICOM, BIM, space heating
Out with paper and in with BIM product information.

Each PDT can be considered as a ‘questionnaire’ for each type of product. The scope of the data included needs to anticipate the information that may be required by every party throughout the life cycle of BIM — from initial design through to decommissioning and replacement. This is where the knowledge of the manufacturers in terms of the full life-cycle of the products has been critical in ensuring that the PDTs contain the required information.

ICOM members will also have a continuing role. Once the PDTs are approved, they are listed on the CIBSE website.(Second link below) Manufacturers then take the most appropriate PDT for a specific range of their products and produce a product data sheet (PDS) for each model in the range.

The PDS will be a valuable tool for users — whether they are designers, installers, facilities managers or maintenance engineers. The format of the PDS will enable any of these users to access and abstract the precise information they want for their particular purpose.

Just as importantly, these standardised templates and sheets ensure that specifiers are able to work with a consistent format, irrespective of which manufacturer has supplied the information. This will not only make it simpler to incorporate products into building-services systems, it will also make it quicker and easier to explore the implications of specifying products from different manufacturers.

The dynamic nature of building-services products and their importance to the smooth and efficient performance of a building means that the product data makes a critical contribution to the overall value of BIM. The exercise carried out by ICOM and its members clearly illustrates the importance of manufacturers playing an active role in the development of product data templates and product data sheets.

Ross Anderson is director of the Industrial & Commercial Energy Association (ICOM).

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