BIM Level 2 ‘will gain momentum’, claims Bristan

Shower supplier Bristan has insisted that the Business Information Modelling (BIM) Level 2 legislation will “play an important role” in the future of the construction industry, despite scepticism among manufacturers.

In April 2016, the Government’s construction strategy required that all publicly funded construction work must be undertaken using BIM Level 2.

BIM describes the means by which everyone can understand a building through the use of a digital model, which draws on a range of data assembled collaboratively.

The aim is to drive out inefficiencies in construction by enabling all parties involved to work from one shared digital platform.

However, the future of the technology has been received with some cynicism, with some  reporting that they haven’t noticed any significant impact as yet.

“We must remember that the legislation is still in the very early stages with the actual specification figures unlikely to become clear until next year,” stated Bristan’s specification product manager Chris Tranter.

“Testament to this, this year’s NBS National BIM Survey found that 86 per cent of respondents expected to be using BIM Level 2 within a year of the April legislation, and 97% within the next five years, indicating that while BIM may currently be seen as just a ‘nice to have’, this attitude is set to change rapidly.

“Furthermore, while privately funded contracts may wait until the legislation extends to them, certain sectors – notably national house builders – are already working to ensure their supply chains are BIM Level 2 compliant in order to leverage the benefits of repeatability and overall cost reductions.

“Meanwhile, the industry is further supporting the widespread adoption of BIM, with the launch of the UK BIM Alliance at the end of this month. The Alliance aims to drive BIM Level 2 across the construction industry over the next four years, with a view to setting the foundations for BIM Level 3 by 2025.

He concluded: “Therefore, although the ramifications of BIM Level 2 may not yet be immediately obvious in the wider industry, there is ample evidence to suggest that its adoption will gain momentum, and thoroughly pervade the industry over the next four years.

“With this in mind it’s advisable for manufacturers to begin or continue producing BIM objects, in readiness for the changes that BIM Level 2, and eventually Level 3, will inevitably bring. At Bristan, we already have BIM objects available through NBS, Riba and shortly through our own website, and will be constantly adding to these over the coming months and years as we aim to support our specifier, architect and house-builder clients.”

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