Clearview North December 2013 - Issue 145 | Page 14

CLEARVIEW EXCLUSIVE INDUSTRYNEWS BIM IS THE WORD There’s a buzz word in the glass and fabrication industry. BIM, or Building Information Modelling, is nothing new. It’s been a hot topic for a few years but only recently have glaziers started to realise the opportunities it brings. But what does it actually mean? Severn Partnership explains it to Clearview… “We have been at the forefront of BIM for the last ten years, helping to develop the process for industries as varied as construction, rail and education. We have seen for ourselves the impact that BIM is starting to have on the glazing industry and how it is driving efficiencies, not only in terms of materials and resources, but in the design stage too. BIM is about collaboration and sharing information. The most common way of doing this is by creating a 3D digital representation of a building. This acts as a manageable database of all the characteristics of a building and its components, which can be accessed by many stakeholders. We use 3D laser scanning to capture data on existing buildings for conversion to 3D models used for BIM. Scanning is the rapid automated collection of large volumes of 3D data. We then reuse this data through our sister company, SEEABLE, to produce interactive 3D models, which access the information within the BIM. This provides an accurate visualisation of a building and can be viewed on a website, smartphone or dedicated app. While many are talking about it, very few glazing companies in the UK are actually using BIM, but this is set to change. According to construction information expert NBS, BIM adoption is growing. From 1,350 polled professionals, 71% said BIM represents the future of project information while 39% confirmed they were already using BIM. The report found that 66% of contractors are increasingly insisting on its use, and this includes those 14 DEC 2013 in the glazing industry. More than half said that they had improved productivity from BIM due to the easy retrieval of information and building specifications. Where do glazing contractors fit into BIM adoption? The fenestration and architecture industries need to work together to ensure all the performance characteristics of a building; energy, security, structural, are categorised and communicated in a standardised manner. How glass contractors gather and document this performance information is necessary to make BIM effective. The days of blueprints are behind us. Contractors no longer have time to undergo an extensive workflow process but need to complete projects much quicker than they have before. By creating products in 3D and making ‘as-built’ BIM model libraries for future application, glaziers benefit from a more simplified workflow. It also benefits building products companies, providing them with enhanced, more accurate architectural specifications. BIM acts as a go-between for glass contractors and architects in the design process. Instead of architects creating one set of models and fabricators creating another set from that, one set is being made to meet the needs of both. Imagine being able to provide your product range free to download via your website or through third parties such as BIMStore of Revit City. Available components are more likely to be used by architects in the design stage process and if information on type and manufacturer is clear within a BIM, Facilities Managers are more likely to replace them like for like. BIM brings environmental benefits. Glass fabricators can create virtual model catalogues, so products work as BIM sub-models that carry the manufacturer’s energy and carbon footprint data. If glass manufacturers can show the energy efficiency offset in the production of glass, it can help to meet environmental industry standards. BIM can also access greater visibility of data useful for glazing system suppliers and contract glaziers; material requirements, finishes, glass types, interlayer types, deflection standards and thermal information. There are many benefits to using BIM in the glass industry and replicating some of the advantages it is bringing to other sectors. We’ve produced BIMs for historic building like the RICS headquarters to aid safety briefings and Brighton Sussex University Hospital. The rail and construction industries are no longer just talking about BIM as we have helped them to embrace and adopt it. It’s time for the glass industry to do the same.” Mark King is 3D M ?FV???r&??V7@???vW"B6WfW&?'F?W'6???B'F?W ?B4TT$?R???F?&VB??&R?f?6?Bwwr?6?V'f?Wr?V??6???