In the near future project teams will be able to upload project BIM models to a portal that would automatically assess whether or not the design complies with Building Regulations, government BIM Task Group member Richard Saxon has told CM.
His prediction is based on a system that has operated in Singapore for 10 years, where software automatically checks whether BIM models meets the city-state’s design and safety criteria.
The process is entirely automated, with Singapore’s regulatory staff only becoming involved if an applicant is proposing to depart from the regulations in some away.
Saxon, a former chair of architect BDP and a BIM champion for the Construction Industry Council, said: “Building Regulations are based on rules, they’re prescriptive, so they lend themselves to being automated.
“We currently have 8,000 people checking Building Regulations, but that’s too few to deal with compliance problems. If we could get rid of the workload of pushing through applications, you could free up resources to deal with compliance.”
Saxon also added that information in the BIM model could also be used to satisfy the HSE’s notification procedures, or the local fire authority.
Asked about the likelihood of a similar system being adopted in the UK, Saxon said: “I’m currently working with BIS on the outputs of BIM – how the government could apply additional resources to get more out of what they’re already getting. So it’s moving on to the agenda, I expect it will be there in the New Year. ”
Kevin Dawson FCIOB, group manager for construction and compliance at Peterborough City Council, welcomed the idea of using BIM models for compliance checks. However, he stopped short of endorsing Saxon’s fully-automated system.
“There is potential for it, and there could be benefits of submitting BIM models – I know it’s an issue LABC has been looking at. The BIM model could certainly improve the quality of the information and details submitted, so that would help us deal with applications more quickly. But I don’t know about an automatic system.” He added that his team already accesses external portals to look at submitted drawings.
According to Saxon, the Singapore system highlights aspects of BIM that are often overlooked. “People tend to think of BIM as drawings, but actually it’s a nest of inter-connected information. The whole business of technical regulation – licensing, health and safety or building regulations – is rule-based, so BIM could re-shape the job of the regulator entirely, and allow people to deal with other issues.”
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Whilst Richard is correct that BIM lends itself to the checking of Building Regulations, Health and Safety in construction is not rule-based. It relies on human beings making informed, intelligent judgements leading to suitable risk management decisions. I feel that in this area, BIM taking over entirely from the HSE is still a very long way off.
I would agree with Richard’s comment that BIM would be suitable for the automated checking of prescriptive rules, however the building regulations technical requirements are in fact functional, goal based and not prescriptive. What I do agree with is that BIM could assess a design against the statements in the currrently approved guidance documents leaving building control professionals to deal with the many aspects of design that vary from the guidance and their on site compliance checking role. Crucially BIM’s role in the process must not be regarded as an opportunity to further reduce professional fees for a building control body’s checking service.
I think there are a number of factors here. Firstly BIM is only a tool that does some of the more mundane things , freeing us up to do the clever thinking and some fun stuff like having a walk on the beach.
So in this context, a BIM app or plug in could do all the basic rules based checking and compliance, leave a Case Officer or Manager to do the intelligent checking.
The value/fees discussion is a different subject. The value that BIM creates and makes possible is proving difficult to quantify as there isn’t a lot of hard independently assessed evidence out there.
However, from what I can see, BIM will create value for you whatever your role, and at whatever stage in the asset lifecycle.
In some cases this can be many times the original investment in terms of quantified value.
Indeed there are instances where businesses are achieving more with less and enhancing profit margins. No doubt this could be applied to LA Building Control depts and Safety Managers. Whether this is an argument for reducing fees I’m doubtful.
But if you can enhance your margins with less resource, BIM can provide a competitive edge, and we’re going to see this in action before too long. Do the math.