Are you working for, or intending to work for, a public sector client in the UK? Or perhaps one of your private sector clients has stated an aspiration for their future projects to be BIM Level 2 compliant? If the answer to either of these questions is yes, then you’ll need a BIM Execution Plan – and getting it right from the beginning can help your project succeed!
BIM Execution Plan in a nutshell
But what is a BIM Execution Plan (BEP) exactly? Firstly, it’s a key document within any project that claims or aims to be delivered to BIM Level 2. Secondly, the BEP describes how the project will meet the requirements outlined in PAS1192 and BS EN ISO 19650.
By now you may be thinking, ‘okay that sounds good, but why is it so important for me?’ The simple answer is because the BIM Execution Plan provides a single source for all (or most) for BIM-related questions pertaining to the project. It will help your team understand how the information is created and managed throughout the project. Producing a good BEP from the BIM initialisation stage of your project can help you minimise errors and reduce costs. Setting out the BIM expectations from the beginning will enable all team members to work in alignment to common goals.
Wait a minute, there are 2 of them!
So, when should you develop the BIM Execution Plan? Actually, to be fully BIM Level 2 compliant, you’ll need to produce two of them, at different stages of the project. The first one will be the Pre-Contract BEP. This is a simplified version of the document, which is developed at the project’s tender stage. Its main objective is to briefly outline to the client how you will ensure compliance with the latest BIM Standards, should you win the tender.
A potential list of contents for the Pre-Contract BEP might look as follows:
- Project information
- Information required by the Exchange Information Requirements (EIR) document
- Project Implementation Plan
- Project goals for collaboration and information modelling
- Major project milestones
- Project Information Model (PIM) delivery strategy
Within the contents above should be included important information such as software versions, information exchange formats and the proposed Common Data Environment (CDE).
Post-Contract BIM Execution Plan
Once you are awarded the contract, the second document you will need will be the Post-Contract BEP. But don’t panic, you can use most of your Pre-Contract BEP to develop your Post-Contract BEP, the latter of which goes into more detail. Generally, you should have circa one month after the contract is signed to deliver the Post-Contract BEP, which will become the BIM Execution Plan for the project going forward.
The contents of the Post-Contract BEP may well comprise the following:
- Project information
- Information required by the Exchange Information Requirements (EIR) document
- Management (roles, milestones, delivery strategy, legacy data use, etc.)
- Planning and documentation (Project Implementation Plan, processes for collaboration, Master Information Delivery Plan, etc.)
- Standard Methods and Procedure (volume strategy, file and layer naming conventions, templates, CAD standards, etc.)
- IT solutions (software versions, exchange formats, etc.)
Both documents should be developed to meet the Exchange Information Requirements (EIR) – previously known as Employer’s Information Requirements. This document outlines the client’s requirements with regards to BIM, and you must address all aspects, particularly in your Post-Contract BEP. The Construction Project Information Committee (CPIx) has produced templates for the Pre and Post-Contract BEP that you can use as reference in your projects.
I’ve done the BEP, now what?
As soon as you’ve finished your Post-Contract BEP, it should be rolled out to all teams and stakeholders. It’s good practice to set up several briefing sessions. The Project Information Manager, otherwise known as the BIM Manager, is typically best placed to deliver them. They should cover all project BIM aspects within the BEP, and its good practice to keep a signature record of attendance.
The BIM Execution Plan will describe how engineers and technicians should be preparing information and modelling data. It will tell them what software to use, what file format(s) should be issued to the client, through which platform and how to coordinate with other teams.
The main aim of BIM is to make architecture, engineering and construction more efficient, by minimising error and abortive work. To that end, coordination and collaboration are fundamental principles. Even the best BEP in the world won’t ensure that people talk to each other and don’t work in silos. However, you can be certain that a well-structured BEP will aid project team workflow and help foster collaboration.
At GlobalCAD we specialise in BIM and CAD and can help ensure your BIM documentation has the pre-requisites for success. Get in touch to find out more. Also, stay tuned to our blog as we dive deeper into the contents of a BEP and explore what it means to be BIM Level 2 compliant. If you need more help, reach us through the contact form or call us, our BIM consultant will guide you with the best solution.
