Asbestos and risk management specialist Lucion Environmental is on its way to achieve BIM Level 2 certification by chalking up the first two stages in a four-stage certification process from the fourth provider in the BIM market – QA International Certification.
Darlington-based QA International says that it launched the BIM Staged Certification Scheme in June 2014, following the release of PAS 1192-2 in 2013. The scheme certifies compliance with PAS 1192-2, providing exemption to the BIM pre-qualification process in PAS 91.
The scheme is delivered in a four-stage process, which it says offers businesses manageable “bite-sized” chunks, and step-by-step capacity building.
Stage 1 involves a capability assessment, the creation of policies, a management manual and training plans; Stage 2 covers BIM in operational procedures and records; Stage 3 is about applied BIM on a project and evidence of what was achieved; Stage 4 involves a final assessment.
QA International is itself accredited by the UK Accreditation Service (UKAS), but the BIM Staged Certification Scheme is technically a non-accredited certification, as there is no UKAS-accredited standard for BIM.
QA International says that eight or nine businesses are currently registered with its BIM Staged Certification Scheme, including architects, civil, structural and MEP engineers, contractors and specialists.
A press release from Lucion says that it aims to achieve all four stages of certification by April 2016, while its BIM strategy includes developing new technology to link buildings plans and drawings with data from asbestos surveys and analysis.
Building plans can be enhanced with icons to locate hazards and safety equipment, which are then linked to web-based asbestos records.
Charles Pickles, finance director at Lucion, said: “The race is on to be fully prepared for the mandate coming into force, and we’re well on our way to achieving BIM Level 2 certification. This means that we’re set up to receive and repurpose BIM data, allowing us to create bespoke visualisations and communicate sites or facilities in a simple, visual and intuitive way.”
Building information models contain the design of a building and all of the data concerning the properties of its components, its construction and ongoing maintenance. At Lucion, we have a duty to ensure that clear asbestos information is provided to every person liable to disturb asbestos and BIM provides a quick and efficient way of doing that.
We’re well on our way to achieving BIM Level 2 certification. This means that we’re set up to receive and repurpose BIM data, allowing us to create bespoke visualisations and communicate sites or facilities in a simple, visual and intuitive way.– Charles Pickles, Lucion
