Fit-out trade body the Finishes and Interior Sector (FIS) has launched an updated BIM Toolbox designed to enable a specialist contractor to develop and deliver a BIM implementation plan.
It also provide an understanding of the key process documents that relate directly to the activities of the fit-out sector.
Originally produced in 2016, the BIM toolbox was updated in July 2020 to reflect the realignment of BIM to BS EN ISO 19650, which supersedes some of the existing British Standards and publicly-available specifications relating to building information modelling.
The toolbox provides an explanation of what is required and how to deliver it. Section A provides an introduction to BIM and considers the business case for its adoption. Section B looks at the development of BIM capability, implementation of a BIM deployment plan and delivering on a BIM project.
The toolbox was developed by the FIS digital construction working group (originally known as BIM4FitOut), which was formed by FIS to address the impact of BIM on the fit-out and finishes sector. The working group is a Government BIM Task Group partner, and its remit has expanded to support the sector’s supply chain in assessing and adopting digital innovation.
Mark Norton, chair of the FIS digital construction working group, stated: “While much attention has been on how digital solutions have transformed the way we communicate and collaborate during the Covid-19 crisis, the truth is that the digital revolution has already been driving profound change in the construction sector in the past couple of years.
"BIM… provides a better framework for collaboration, ensuring that essential details are not lost and that we do design and then build, pre-empting and designing out problems, not design a bit, then build a bit and waste time fighting a rear guard action, trying to make the best of it.”
FIS CEO Iain McIlwee added: “I think at times we are in danger of a bit of BIM fatigue – when I think back to 2011 and the first discussions about BIM, it was the answer to everything, but nearly 10 years on we are still not seeing the full realisation of these aspirations.
"But we are getting closer. Reading through this guide refreshed my hope that we are still on the right path: when you strip out all the jargon, we are talking about collaboration, early engagement, clearer standards to exchange information and all of the principles intrinsic to the FIS Product Process People Quality Framework.”
FIS members can download the Toolbox here: https://www.thefis.org/knowledge-hub/bim-toolbox/.
