The latest findings from NBS tracking key insights into the Construction Industry

Driven by a comprehensive survey of hundreds of construction professionals, highlights a concerning lack of consensus and clarity among industry leaders.

Brand new for 2024, this report offers valuable insight for all construction professionals, painting a picture of sustainability in the construction industry

Our 12th report on digital construction and BIM - find out the latest technology trends among construction professionals.

Helpful tools, and downloads to help you make the most of NBS

Download sample specifications and see what's possible with NBS Chorus

Download a sample financial summary and see what's possible with NBS Chorus.

A five-part sustainable specification guide serving as a living, sustainability-focused document.

Thinking about moving NBS Chorus? Discover the benefits of moving to a digital specification platform.

We’re connecting construction information, working towards a better and more sustainable industry

Meet our talented industry experts working together to cultivate a great culture

Follow our journey through five decades with our dedicated timeline

Helping our customers design and build a more sustainable built environment whilst setting our own sustainability targets to contribute to a greener future for all.

We’re looking for people with a wide range of skills and experiences to work right across our business.

NBS work with reseller partners across the globe to deliver NBS products and services locally

All the latest NBS and industry news and stories

PlatformResourcesSupportEventsAboutNews NBS for SpecifiersNBS for ManufacturersNBS ChorusNBS SourceNBS SchumannUniclass 0345 456 9594 Sign in / Register

Platform

NBS Chorus Plans and features Scope and Contents Book a demo Sign in to NBS Chorus NBS Source Browse by category Browse by manufacturer For manufacturers Go to NBS Source Uniclass Articles and updates Specifying with Uniclass Feedback and Support Find a code Other services Construction Information Service (CIS) NBS Schumann BIM New All tools

Resources

Knowledge Case studies Updates Reports Building Safety Act White Paper New Sustainable Futures UK Report 2024 New Digital Construction Report Resources Sample Specifications Financial Summary Sustainable Specification Guides Whitepaper

Support

Support NBS Academy Downloads and updates

About

About NBS Our team Our history Sustainability Careers Partners Contact us

News

Newsroom

Platform

NBS Chorus Plans and features Scope and Contents Book a demo Sign in to NBS Chorus NBS Source Browse by category Browse by manufacturer For manufacturers Go to NBS Source Uniclass Articles and updates Specifying with Uniclass Feedback and Support Find a code Other services Construction Information Service (CIS) NBS Schumann BIM New All tools

Resources

Knowledge Case studies Updates Reports Building Safety Act White Paper New Sustainable Futures UK Report 2024 New Digital Construction Report Resources Sample Specifications Financial Summary Sustainable Specification Guides Whitepaper

Support

Support NBS Academy Downloads and updates

About

About NBS Our team Our history Sustainability Careers Partners Contact us

News

Newsroom

Industry to lead a new initiative to deliver product data parameters and templates to help manufacturers prepare for April 2016 BIM mandate

Press Release
10 December 2015


A joint initiative between the Construction Products Association (CPA), BIM4M2, the Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE) and NBS has been formed to provide consistent product data parameters and templates to enable manufacturers to prepare their product information in readiness for the Government's April 2016 BIM mandate.

With April 2016 and the Government's Level 2 BIM requirement looming large on the horizon, there is a real and urgent need for accurate, accessible and consistent digital product information. The manufacturer community needs a single and unified approach to product data, using a common language. Manufacturers already have the required information, but a simple and industry-wide approach to product data parameters and templates has until now been a challenge.

Through this initiative, building and infrastructure manufacturers will have free and ready access to product data parameters and templates that are relevant to their products and have been developed through a defined consensus process. By using these templates manufacturers will be able to supply product information in a form that aligns with the UK's Level 2 BIM requirements. Each template defines the minimum information about a product that is required for UK Government BIM projects.

"When the BIM Task Group identified the client data requirements which are now provided in the BIM Toolkit we were looking for other communities to work together to provide their own common data requirements. This initiative from the products and manufacturing sector signals an important collaboration from industry which will add significant value and clarity." Mark Bew MBE, Chairman BIM Task Group

The benefit of this initiative to the supply chain is significant. The availability of product data in a structured form equips designers with the information they need to create project information models reliably and accurately. It will lead to the provision of higher quality project data that can be checked and validated by clients, designers and contractors. The successful electronic validation of BIM data relies upon this initiative considerably.

Product data template development work has been ongoing for a number of years and this initiative aligns the work of BIM4M2, NBS and CIBSE to create a unified basis for product data parameters and templates. These organisations have agreed to align their processes, approach and terminology, which will enable consistent and transparent development of full peer reviewed product data templates to expand on the breadth already freely available in the NBS BIM Toolkit, which currently stands at over 5,000. These templates currently identify the minimum product data requirements for Level 2 BIM and will be extended to include the greater depth of all aspects of a product's lifecycle and operational performance, building on the work already completed by CIBSE, BIM4M2 and others. Extended templates already developed by CIBSE may be found at http://www.cibse.org/knowledge/bim-building-information-modelling/product-data-templates. Common product data parameters will also enable easier development of further templates going forward.

"The CPA welcomes this move forward. We are at a point where clarity and ease of use of product data is vital for everyone to make progress. We are very pleased to be part of the initiative and will be encouraging all manufacturers to take part." - Peter Caplehorn, Deputy Chief Executive & Policy Director, Construction Products Association.

Through this joint initiative all templates will be maintained and developed to support the evolving needs of a digital construction industry and to ensure product parameters align with the requirements of relevant European and international standards as well as mapping to open data exchange standards, such as COBie and IFC.

The templates and common product data parameters will be made available on both the CPA and NBS BIM Toolkit websites as well as the existing CIBSE website. The current product data templates defining the minimum information for Level 2 BIM can be found at http://toolkit.theNBS.com/articles/pdts and further information can be obtained directly from NBS, CPA, CIBSE and BIM4M2.

The initiative will engage with other industry groups, including the wider BIM4 Communities and trade associations to ensure industry product data requirements continue to be supported.

 

NBS

NBS is committed to offering distinctive, innovative specification and information solutions to construction industry professionals. We have produced specification products for over 40 years, including the recognised national standard specification system for the UK. Our NBS specification products cover building construction, engineering services and landscape design.

Contact: info@theNBS.com
Websites: www.theNBS.com and www.theNBS.com/bimtoolkit
Twitter: @theNBS

BIM4M2

BIM4M2 is a working group consisting of people and organisations concerned with BIM for manufacturers (the organisations) and manufacturing (the process). Developed to support the work of the BIM Taskgroup, BIM4M2 was formed by the Construction Products Association (CPA), but is separate to and independent from it. Members include a healthy mix of manufacturers (SMEs and multi-nationals), consultants and content providers.

Contact: info@bim4m2.co.uk
Website: www.bim4m2.co.uk
Twitter: @bim4m2

CPA

The Construction Products Association represents the UK's manufacturers and distributors of construction products and materials. The sector directly provides jobs for 313,000 people across 21,000 companies, and has an annual turnover of more than £50 billion. The Association acts as the leading voice to promote and campaign for this vital UK industry.

Contact: jeff.may@constructionproducts.org.uk
Website: www.constructionproducts.org.uk

CIBSE

CIBSE publishes Guidance and Codes which provide best practice advice and are internationally recognised as authoritative design guidance for building services. The CIBSE Knowledge Portal, which makes Guidance available online to all CIBSE members, is the leading systematic engineering resource for the building services sector.

CIBSE members design, install, operate, maintain and refurbish the energy using systems installed in buildings, and also make a significant contribution to the thermal design of building envelopes.

CIBSE is a professional body that exists to 'support the Science, Art and Practice of building services engineering, by providing our members and the public with first class information'.

The CIBSE Journal is the leading monthly magazine for international building services and related professionals which is also available online and via the app. For more information about CIBSE please visit www.cibse.org.