Finishes and Interiors Sector, the trade association representing specialist fit-out contractors, has launched a BIM “toolbox” to encourage greater understanding and uptake of BIM among specialists in the sector.
Partially funded by the CITB, the document provides clear instructions about the processes required under PAS1192:2, as well as how to implement them. It is available online here.
Joe Cilia, FIS technical manager, told BIM+: “The main focus on the education front has been on the architects, developers, contractors and manufacturers, but there hasn’t been much attention paid to the micros and SMEs that are doing the work on site. These guys don’t necessarily need to buy new software, but they do need to understand where they sit in the BIM supply chain and what they are required to do.
“We designed the toolbox to enable specialist contractors to get involved with BIM by developing and delivering their own BIM implementation plan to BIM Level 2 maturity, which is one of the key requirements from Tier 1 contractors when assessing BIM capability,” Cilia continued.
The toolbox document is broken down into two sections. The first provides an introduction to BIM and considers the business case for BIM adoption; the second part concentrates on developing BIM capability and creating a BIM deployment or implementation plan.
Andrew Foy, technical author of the toolbox and owner of Foy Certification, added: “A lot of contractors will have implemented procedures for quality and health and safety and have environmental processes. Some will have been assessed under British Standards.
“The processes to work in a BIM environment are very similar, so a lot of contractors will be surprised at just how capable they already are. This toolbox will take them through it stage by stage, from looking at the market and preparing a business case, to working on their first live project.”
Commenting on the launch, Andy Thompson, director at specialist contractor Fast Track Interiors, said: “The new BIM toolbox is a guide which is concise in its introduction to BIM for the specialist contractor. It demonstrates the interface within the fit-out sector and gives good guidance to develop and deliver in a BIM environment.”
Since it became available last week, the toolbox has been downloaded more than 60 times.
Earlier this year, the FIS won Innovate UK funding to develop the BID4Free software tool with 3D Repo, which will allow specialist subcontractors to download main contractors’ BIM models for free to design and price their bids. It is set to launch next year.
We designed the toolbox to enable specialist contractors to get involved with BIM by developing and delivering their own BIM implementation plan to BIM Level 2 maturity, which is one of the key requirements from Tier 1 contractors when assessing BIM capability.– Joe Cilia, FIS technical manager
