BIM across the board: How the industry can make it happen

Building Information Modelling (BIM) has moved quickly from the cutting edge to the mainstream in recent years, but it has yet to be embraced across the board. Here, Adam Salt, Design Engineer & BIM Co-ordinator at global drainage manufacturer Wavin, explains the role manufacturers have in helping the industry embrace the technology more broadly.

Increased uptake of BIM is a move driven in no small part by legislation mandating BIM workflows be used on government-commissioned projects from 2016.1 Recognising the technology’s benefits in reducing costs, saving time and minimising errors, many construction industry leaders quickly followed suit, but parts of the sector are still yet to embrace BIM to its full extent.

Construction is a sector notoriously slow to adopt technology – businesses are navigating a market squeezed by staff shortages, supply chain issues and tight margins, leaving little room for investment into new tech. There’s also a very traditional attitude across a large portion of the industry of ‘if it ain’t broke, why fix it?’. However, even against this backdrop, BIM has made more progress than most, which is testament to the scale of its potential impact.

BIM is a game-changer for the entire industry, and the benefits grow exponentially as more of the sector embraces it. The technology is there. Our role as manufacturers and suppliers is to make projects as accessible in this environment as they are on site.

By consolidating project plans from a variety of stakeholders into one ‘digital twin’, BIM eliminates the complications that come from a different plan being used for each stage of the construction process. If everyone is working from the same model, differences and potential problems can be flagged before they have consequences for the cost and timescale of the build. It’s a key step towards the truly collaborative workflows that have, in the past, proved difficult to achieve.

The technology also has a major role to play in the industry’s journey towards a more sustainable built environment. Architects, often tasked with designing environmentally conscious buildings, can use BIM to optimise material usage and reduce waste. Having oversight of the whole project means exact amounts can be specified for specific phases of work, necessitating fewer deliveries to sites, resulting in fewer carbon emissions. Importantly, BIM also promotes collaboration on sustainability by providing visibility on how partners are working alongside accountability, ensuring that everyone is working towards the same sustainability goals.

Drainage systems are a prime example of the complex design work where BIM can maximise efficiency and productivity. In comparison to other elements of a build, drainage systems feature a significant number and variation of parts per square foot, which can make the design process somewhat lengthy and complicated, and it can all be for nothing if installers encounter unexpected challenges on site. Effective and intuitive BIM software does the heavy lifting in the design process, allowing architects to focus on performance, while the collaborative workflow means installers are prepared for what they will encounter on-site.

Despite the objectives behind BIM being a simple and shared desire to work more effectively, digital twins are complex, as is the technology used to model them. Detailed BIM models of Wavin’s entire above-ground portfolio is available in Revit Autodesk, allowing architects to work with these products exactly as they would in the physical world. Complete compatibility is imperative here, when every element of the project is included in the BIM model, architects can avoid the pitfalls of having to plan elements separately. If certain products or systems are excluded, and separate plans must be made, the advantages of BIM begin to diminish.

Moreover, BIM enables architects to collaborate with manufacturers from the start of a project, receiving technical advice and product insights early in the design phase. To really embrace BIM, manufacturers are now going further than simply providing basic product families: intelligent and AI systems are now built in to help architects use these systems more efficiently. Crucially, this allows architects to focus on design rather than becoming product experts, speeding up the journey to optimal solutions.

BIM’s value doesn’t end with project completion. The digital twin remains active as an up-to-date representation as alterations and maintenance are carried. For architects, this ongoing access to up-to-date product information simplifies future renovations and retrofits, ensuring that changes are aligned with the original design intent. As buildings change hands and contractors, maintenance teams and engineers come and go, the BIM model serves as a comprehensive guide, ensuring that everyone is equipped with the information needed to perform their tasks correctly.

As time goes on, demolition and disposal are other areas where the benefits of working with BIM emerges. Updated product data can include options for sustainable disposal or re-use, allowing engineers to choose environmentally responsible methods without extensive research. This feature ensures that architects can specify the most sustainable materials from the outset and even include Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) in the digital models. As a result, BIM not only aids in building sustainably, but also in maintaining this throughout the lifecycle of the building.

BIM represents the future of the construction industry. While many companies are already moving in this direction, broader adoption will follow as the technology proves its value. The advantages BIM offers, from improved collaboration to increased sustainability, are transformational for architects and the industry as a whole.  Manufacturers can help drive this change. By ensuring their products work seamlessly within digital twins, they can help streamline the design and build process for all stakeholders.

With greater adoption, the industry stands to see a revolution in efficiency, creativity and environmental responsibility. By embracing BIM, manufacturers can support architects as they strive to design smarter, build better and shape a more sustainable future.