What you should know about the latest international BIM standard
The first two international Building Information Modelling (BIM) standards were published in 2018, with two more being published in 2020. This blog looks at what we can expect from the fourth of these standards, covering the operational phase of built assets.
The first two UK BIM specifications were converted into international standards and published in 2018. They are: BS EN ISO 19650–1:2018 Organization of information about construction works — Information management using building information modelling — Part 1: Concepts; and BS EN ISO 19650-2:2018 Organization of information about construction — Information management using building information modelling — Part 2: Delivery phase of the assets.
These two standards superseded BS 1192:2007+A2:2016 on principles, and PAS 1192-2:2013 on the capital delivery phrase.
ISO then published BS EN ISO 19650-5:2020 Organization and digitization of information about buildings and civil engineering works, including building information modelling (BIM) -- Information management using building information modelling -- Part 5: security-minded approach to information management. In fact this was the third UK PAS to be “internationalized” but because it was based on, and replaces, PAS 1192-5.
Fourth on the list – but numbered Part 3 –BS EN ISO 19650-3:2020 Organization and digitization of information about buildings and civil engineering works, including building information modelling (BIM) -- Information management using building information modelling -- Part 3: Operational phase of assets which will replace PAS 1192-3.
What does the standard do?
BS EN ISO 19650-3:2020 gives users a common information management process so that an appointing party (e.g. an asset owner, operator or outsourced asset management provider) can establish information requirements during the operational phase of an asset, and provide a collaborative environment for information sharing.
This means that multiple appointed parties can produce information efficiently, so it encourages more effective collaboration. And now that it’s an international standard the hope is that this collaboration can now be on a global basis. It will allow designers and contractors working on all kinds of building works to benefit from clearer and more efficient information management. Consequently BS EN ISO 19650-3:2020 will help asset owners and operators achieve their business objectives through effective and efficient production, use, and management of information throughout the operational and end-of-life phases of their assets.
Sustainable development goals
It’s worth mentioning that BS EN ISO 19650-3:2020 can also help users achieve UN Sustainable Development Goals. It contributes to the achievement of Goal 9 by promoting the construction of more resilient infrastructure and by fostering BIM, an innovation that raises productivity. It contributes to Goal 11 by enabling more efficient urban planning and management, which will result in more resilient and sustainable cities. It contributes to Goal 12 by encouraging collaboration along the supply chain, leading to greater resource efficiency and more sustainable procurement.
All told BS EN ISO 19650-3:2020 is set to be a highly useful document, and an important addition to the international BIM portfolio.
