HARDWARE & SECURITY
BIM : A digital revolution for architectural ironmongery
» AS PART OF A SERIES OF webinars for the IAI during 2020 , one of the topics I covered was Building Information Management or ‘ BIM ’. I had last presented a seminar on this to our membership in 2015 and I thought it worthwhile to look at what has changed in the hardware industry over the past five years . What I found surprised me : I noted that there has indeed been change , both in attitudes as well as what is available in respect of BIM in our industry …
Background and definition
Through BIM , the construction industry is undergoing its very own digital revolution . BIM is a way of working . BIM is information modelling and information management in a team environment , where all team members should be working to the same standards as each other .
Ingredients of BIM
In many respects , BIM is like a cake – where the finished article needs many different ingredients and can be made up from the following outputs and inputs :
OUTPUT
3D models – When most people think of BIM , they think of the graphical 3D model . But this is just the tip of the iceberg , as so much information and data is required below the surface within the BIM process .
Data output – such as CoBIE or IFC . This is a spreadsheet data format for the delivery of a subset of building model information , rather than geometric model information .
INPUT
BIM software - BIM software has intelligence that helps it understand the different elements of a building , and the inter-relationship between them . The completed model will also include information about the construction and finish of each element , and , in some instances , the resources required to build it .
Online product library - Specific products can have their details downloaded directly in 3D format into BIM software such as Revit , Vectorworks or Archicad . This involves the creation of a BIM object which is produced by online product libraries .
Data dictionaries – This is a library which allows users to identify objects in the built environment and their specific properties . It works as a semantic mapping tool that connects like-terms based upon their meaning . For example , whether we call a door a ‘ door ’ or a ‘ doorset ’ the tool understands that these words are both connected to the same core concept . An example of a data dictionary is LEXiCON , which is the CPA and UK Construction Innovation Hub initiative to create an online data dictionary to share product data consistently for construction products in UK . GAI is currently on a LEXiCON working party to further develop this concept .
Product Data Templates ( PDTs ) - A Product Data Template provides a method for a manufacturer to provide product data in a structured format . These serve as a common framework to manage construction product related data in a machine-readable format . It is a common data structure which defines the ‘ properties ’ such as fire rating and colour and describes the product in a way that can be traced to a credible source . Product Data Templates are especially useful for manufacturers who can populate them with the most up-to-date and accurate information about their products . Once complete , this populated template is called a Product Data Sheet ( PDS ).
Product Data Sheets ( PDSs ) - A Product Data Sheet summarises the performance and other technical characteristics of each construction product , material , or component according to the specific regulatory , market or client requirements . This PDS can then be hosted on the manufacturer ’ s website as a source of structured information on each product .
BIM and the Ironmongery industry
It would be fair to say that some elements of the ironmongery industry have embraced BIM , particularly amongst certain door and hardware manufacturers , whilst others have not yet seen the need to invest . The following are all areas within BIM which have had significant investment in terms of time or finance within our industry :
Product Data Templates ( PDTs )
GAI has produced 35 BIM Product Data Templates for our membership following a two-year project with a working party made up of several of our member companies . All are available to download free of charge in the members ’ section of the GAI website . These include products such as hinges , controlled and hold-open door closers , panic and emergency escape hardware , mechanical and electronic locks , acoustic and intumescent seals and many other key products besides .
GAI is also proactively working with other European hardware trade associations such as UNIQ ( L ’ Union Nationale des Industries de la Quincaillerie ), the French hardware trade association which is developing French language versions of PDTs or “ BIM objets génériques ”. GAI has been an active member in a number of separate working parties to develop these alongside their own product experts . GAI also chairs the UK BIM Fenestration Relevant Authority which was set up in 2017 . This is a group of 12 UK trade associations set up to create Product Data Templates across the door , window and fenestration industry and we are currently working on creating PDTs for fire doorsets which will be available to our members .
Glenn Carstens-Peters | Unsplash
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JAN / FEB 2021
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