Ti m b e r In d u s t r y

Ye a r b o o k 2014
www.trada.co.uk

BIM its
all change!
Phil Lewis outlines the benefits for BIM
adopters, but the devil is in the detail
BIM has already acquired several meanings, such as:
Building Information Model
Building Information Modelling
Building Information Management.
No matter what it stands for BIM is an integrated process which is possible
only because building information technology has progressed to help us.
In the UK, the building industry is one of the last industries to embrace
this change. Many industries, especially the car manufacturers in the
80s, had to change their processes as imports were becoming better
and cheaper. No change meant no future business, therefore they
had to innovate to survive and, as a result, incorporated an integrated
process into their business.
The government is insisting on higher value-for-money buildings that
cost less to run and can be maintained far more efficiently. To achieve
this will require that by 2016 the information about the building will
need to be accessible at all times and in one place. Construction must
innovate to meet this challenge.
BIM changes the way that we work and the way that we think about our
business, but it requires a different mindset. Henry Ford stated at the
launch of the Model T: If Id asked people what they wanted, they would
have said a faster horse. Yes, BIM is a similar radical change!
The existing silo mentality within our industry is, gradually, disappearing
and we are increasingly able to access information when we want it and
use it to increase our own business performance.
Nevertheless, the barriers to BIM are holding back how we exploit this
change. For example, New Civil Engineer magazine reported a survey of
268 engineers in November 2013, citing:
lack of definition of what clients required
insufficient knowledge of BIM
a myriad of software tools.

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Planning and design

With BIM, design consultants build models that can be collected
together to spot possible clashes and errors in a virtual world before
even going out on site. Reduced costs and time are the result.
Construction planners use those models to create 3D programmes
that enable everyone to understand how and when the building will
be constructed. It is possible to interrogate the state of the building at
all stages of construction in order to predetermine hazards to health
and safety. Costs are extracted from the models with the facility of
automatically tracking design changes.
The sustainability of buildings can be calculated based upon the models
or, more importantly, based upon the data sitting in the background of
each building component (doors, windows, timber etc). This is where the
UK timber industry can support and be supported by the BIM process.
Models can be built by frame manufactures and inserted into the
original design models with the benefit of being able to check that
everything fits. The background data in those frame models can have
all the information relating to the timber components such as fire rating,
source, structural capability, thermal properties etc.
Suppliers of timber products should be able to provide data for their
customers for insertion into the components within the models. There are
many ways to achieve this, for example by either a simple exchange of
spreadsheets or providing the information on their web site for downloads.
There are many companies that provide an excellent service to build
BIM information on behalf of the industry, such as BIM. Technologies
(www.BIMtechnologies.co.uk).

Construction
BIM offers many advantages in the construction phase. The use of tablets
is becoming more commonplace and will gain momentum together with
other devices. Access to information provided during the preconstruction
stage becomes available at all times. Automation of many site tasks will
develop as BIM becomes the traditional and accepted way of working.

Operation (facility management)

Once the building has been completed and handed over to the client,
the completed BIM process enables the facilities manager to maintain
and predetermine costs for operation and maintenance. But only if the
model and data has been correctly located, the old adage of rubbish in
rubbish out is still applicable and always will be.
With BIM, the facilities manager is able to access and read all of the
information produced during the design and build of the project. This is
the most vital part of an integrated process; all of the software used by
all of the businesses involved needs to be able to talk to each other!

Ti mCase
b e r study:
In d u s3D,
t r y4D and 5D modelling with BIM
Ye aA rcomplex
b o o k elliptical
2014 glulam timber structure at Somerstown
www.trada.co.uk
Central, as part of the regeneration of Portsmouth.
This iconic structure, 90m in length, spans over a main traffic
route which leads into the heart of Portsmouth City Centre. The
project will include a health centre and Council offices to the
north side and youth and community centres to the south with
a glazed cafe and walkway linking the different functions at first
floor.
BIM process and design
Early concept model RIBA Stage D shared with timber
contractor to develop via FTP site for continual coordination.
Beam and purlin design and connections rationalized
alongside architectural design.
Early identification of design fit between services developed
in tandem with frame design (siphonic holes, notched
purlins for electrical conduit runs in frames)
Co-ordination of lighting suspension design with purlin set out.
Design opportunities identified early on to allow redesign of
elliptical overhang from steel to CLT.
Improved Team collaboration and data output.
Realistic visualizations to client and stakeholders for sign
off (furniture, fittings and electrical, and mechanical and
electrical 3D model library components developed for
coordinated room layouts).
Real-time co-ordination between timber, concrete frame
and glazing to allow 4D sequencing on site.
Utilization of timber frame model by services, subcontractors and access across all trades. (Interface
between, standing seam, glulam and faceted glazing).
5D output of accurate quantities from model to allow cost
modelling of building elements using costX estimating
software at tender stage.

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107

Software
Software from different providers can often read each other but this is
worth checking with what you use at present. A project BIM Execution
Plan covers this. Most software companies are moving towards being
BIM compatible. It is vital for the future success of your company, so
check with existing software suppliers before purchasing new software.
There is a common language that all software should be able to export
to and is an .IFC file (Industry Foundation Class). The government is
expecting .IFC to be the basic method of sharing common data when
reaching level 2 of BIM maturity in 2016.
Remember that BIM is an integrated process from which you can select
technology that best meets your business needs, not the reverse which
many have already made the mistake.

Leadership
It is vital that the introduction of BIM within your business is promoted
from the highest level and not passed down to the CAD person who
may flounder at the enormity of the task. Convincing your staff that BIM
will make life easier will not be an easy journey and must be considered
at all times during your transition to BIM.

Timber provides not only the best sustainable solution but was
also integral to the building and BIM allowed the design team to
explore its potential to great effect.
The Planner said: Utilizing the BIM model allowed me to
deconstruct the design and build it back up to provide the most
efficient building process on site.

Phil Lewis
BimHaus Partnership

Supporting services
Visit www.trada.co.uk for this related publication:
Construction Briefing: Building Information
Management, TRADA Technology, 2012

Case study and photo: BAM Design