It is getting to the point, that if you can’t claim you are able to work on a BIM Level 2 project, you will be excluded from the these projects tender list.

So of course many companies are declaring their BIM Level 2 capabilities. But what does it mean to be working on a BIM Level 2 project? How do we know if a project is truly BIM Level 2? As a company, or as an individual, what do you need to know about BIM Level 2?

BIM Ireland asked Ralph Montague, managing partner of ArcDox, a specialist BIM consultancy practice based in Dublin, to outline what companies need to know, and do, to comply with BIM Level 2.

A BIM Level 2 project requires a number of key things to take place. Here is a short checklist that we use at ArcDox, to review projects on a regular basis, to make sure the projects aim to complies with the BIM Level 2 process. While we have yet to come across a project that fully meets all these criteria, we find the checklist useful, as a reminder of what should happen, and when it should happen. One of the main problems we see, is that these items are not being considered early enough in the process, and by the time BIM is being considered, it is often too late to implement some of these items. It is important to note that these things should apply to Design Stage, Construction Stage, and I would suggest Operations & FM Stage.

BIM Level 2 Compliance Checklist

1. Agreement on Process & Standards to be used (eg PAS1192-2)
2. BIM Protocol included in all Appointments, Contracts, Sub-Contracts (Including Appendix 1 & 2 – Model Production Delivery Table & Project Details)
3. Participants Pre-Qualified on BIM Capability (PAS91 Table 8 Questions) with supporting documents.
4. Employers Information Requirements (EIR) provided.
   Standards to be used (BS1192 / PAS1192 / BS8541)
   Classification (Uniclass)
   Asset Information Model (AIM) requirements (PAS1192-3)
   Non-graphical data requirements (BS1192-4)
   Data security requirements (PAS1192-5)
   Handover Procedure & Post Occupancy Evaluations (“soft landings” – BS8536)
5. Appoint Project Information Manager (scope of service incorporated into appointment/contract)
   Design Stage (Lead Designer)
   Construction Stage (Main Contractor)
   Operations Stage
6. Professional Indemnity Insurance (insurers advised on participation in BIM project / Integrated Project Insurance)
7. BIM Execution Plan (BEP)
   Pre-Appointment / Pre-Contract
   Post-Appointment / Post-Contract
8. BIM Capability Assessments for all participants & Project Implementation Plan (PIP)
9. Common Data Environment (CDE) in place (compliant with BS1192)
10. Digital Plan of Work (list of Participants. Roles, Stages, Tasks, Deliverables, Level of Detail, Level of Information)
11. Task Information Delivery Plans (TIDP) & Master Information Delivery Plan (MIDP)
12. All drawing & schedule outputs derived from BIM (no “pseudo-BIM”)
13. Are regular Model Review & Model Checking procedures being followed and reported?
14. Federated Model being used for 3D coordination & clash detection
15. Federated Model being used for sequencing, programming & planning (4D BIM)
16. Federated Model being used for quantity take-off and cost control (5D BIM)
17. Models being used for performance analysis (6D BIM)
    Structural Analysis
    Energy Analysis
    Lifecycle Cost Analysis
    Other
18. Operational Asset Information Models for Facilities Management (7D BIM)

Prepared by Ralph Montague, Managing Partner of ArcDox, a leading BIM consultancy practice based in Dublin.