APRIL NEWSLETTER
2015 ICIS Conference Brno, Czech Republic
The annual ICIS conference this year is being held at the Barceló Brno Palace Hotel in Brno,
Czech Republic from Sunday 7th June to Wednesday 10th June.
Brno, lying between the Bohemian-Moravian forested highlands and the fertile South Moravian
lowlands with vineyards, offers its residents and visitors a high-quality and attractive natural
environment for living, business and recreation.
The city is a unique cultural centre of the whole region. Brno is remarkable for its unique
functionalist architecture including an icon of functionalism - Villa Tugendhat, which is inscribed on
the UNESCO World Heritage List.
Dominating historical features of the city are the fortress of Špilberk castle and the Cathedral of
Sts. Peter and Paul. The unique medieval Ossuary under the St. James Church is a new tourist
attraction, as well as a complex of underground corridors and cellars running underneath the
whole downtown.
Welcome SIACAD
In February this year ICIS announced
the addition of its newest member to
the society, SIACAD Pte Ltd, of
Singapore. The invitation to join ICIS
was extended during a joint meeting
of the ICIS Board of Directors and
SIACAD in Singapore last October.
SIACAD, an organization that is jointly
owned by the Singapore Institute of
Architects and several software
developers, provides architects
with software that standardizes and
automates some of their CAD design
and documentation work. Increasingly,
SIACAD is also involved in providing
standardized software solutions in the
Building Information Modeling (BIM)
field.
See www.siacad.com for more
information.
New ICIS Website
ICIS are pleased to announce the
launch of our new website. The new
website design allows for much easier
navigation and provides a central
resource for all ICIS information. The
website is structured around four
primary topics of:
•
The conference welcome will officially commence on Sunday 7th June with an excursion to the
wine district of Southern Moravia or alternatively, as is tradition, a golf tournament will be held for
those who wish to play. The two groups will meet up in the evening to enjoy a walk through the
vineyards, wine tasting, a traditional moravian dinner and a cimbalom band at vineculture Nosreti
in Zajecí village.
About ICIS: Covering information
such as who we are, who we
represent, current members,
our history, our mission and ICIS
administrative policies.
•
Publications: A resource for all the
latest ICIS surveys, papers and
reports.
•
An optional welcome evening will be held in the hotel bar from 6pm on Saturday 6th June. And
for those arriving a little earlier, the Špilberk food festival begins at Špilberk castle on Friday 5th
June including food, drink and delicacies from the region.
Events: For information on upcoming and previous ICIS events.
•
The conference, including delegates assembly, will begin on Monday morning in the conference
rooms of the hotel and will continue until Wednesday 10th June, concluding with a farewell dinner
on Wednesday evening.
Membership: For information on
the benefits of being and ICIS
member and the requirements for
applying for membership.
Check out the new website for
yourselves at www.icis.org.
Further information including a detailed schedule for the conference, hotel details and travel
information can be found on the ICIS website at www.icis.org.
ICIS Head Office
Address: Sumavska 33
612 54 Brno
Czech Republic
Phone: +420 549 133 348
Email: [email protected]
NEWSLETTER - APRIL 2015
1
ICIS BIM Education –
Global – 2015 Update
The 2015 update to the BIM
Education – Global report has recently
been published. This report provides an
update to the 2014 version of the
report, summarising the current
status of BIM education in a number of
countries across the globe. The 2015
update includes contributions from a
total of 14 countries.
In the past year it would appear that
BIM education and the level of BIM
education being provided by higher
education institutions has progressed,
albeit at a slow pace. Analysis
completed in countries such as
Australia and the UK has indicated that
there are many challenges being faced
by educators in regards to
incorporating BIM into the curricula
and a number of these are indicated
in this report. Challenges such as
fitting additional material into an already
crowded curriculum and converting
lecture-based courses into smaller
multidisciplinary teamwork-based
courses.
However, many higher education
institutions are providing BIM
education on both an undergraduate
and postgraduate level. Many
vocational education institutions are
also providing BIM education to the
industry’s tradespeople and
para-professionals.
It would appear that little has changed
in the past year regarding the fact
that the majority of BIM education that
is being provided tends to focus on
training in the use of particular BIM
software packages. Training for both
graduates and professionals in open
BIM concepts, BIM management and
working in collaborative BIM
environments, appears to still be in its
infancy. However, a small number of
higher education institutions are now
starting to include these concepts as
part of their curricula.
BIM awareness and BIM uptake
appear to still be on the rise, with BIM
already widely adopted by practitioners
in the Architecture, Engineering and
Construction (AEC) industry of particular
countries and with the governments
of some countries, such as the UK
and Singapore, actively promoting and
mandating the use of BIM.
Whilst it is clear that BIM education is
starting to move in the right direction,
spearheaded by progressive higher
education institutions and educators, it
is also apparent that a current shortage
of experienced BIM educators and a
reluctance by some existing educators
to up-skill or change their teaching
habits to incorporate BIM will become a
setback to higher levels of BIM
education and the availability of a
graduate workforce with the
collaborative BIM skills required for the
future AEC industry of which they will
be part.
STABU MOVING FORWARD
STABU Bouwbreed
The STABU specification system, STABU2, has been in the market for 25 years. The system
is a defacto standard in the Dutch construction industry due to users having so many
years of experience with it. But industry is changing and the need for a more flexible and
comprehensive specification system has been clear for some time.
On January 6th 2015 STABU introduced the new specification system, STABU Bouwbreed.
New specification system
The new specification system has been designed to be used in a BIM process, but can still
be used in a traditional process.
The approach has been changed towards a project dossier instead of a single document.
This means users now have the possibility to use various classifications and clauses to work
from a more abstract level towards a fully detailed building dossier.
Flexibility
Multiple administrative systems
Developments in the construction industry demand more flexibility to allow collaborative
working within construction teams. One of the demands is to be able to create a contract
suited to the chosen construction process.
STABU Bouwbreed offers the possibility to make a choice from various administrative
systems.
Currently there are two systems that can be used:
• UAV: The traditional administrative system used in combination with the worksections
method of STABU2. STABU Bouwbreed is a generic system, where UAV is still a
possibility next to the other systems.
• UAV-gc: This is an administrative system which can be used when using more
performance based specifications.
We anticipate adding more administrative systems this year, which will result in a wider
spectrum of contract types that can be used in a construction process.
Multiple working methods
The STABU Bouwbreed specification system now consists of:
The traditional worksections classification;
• This is the most commonly known classification in industry, many users are experienced
in accessing the database content in this way.
• Also this classification is useful for restoration and renovation works.
Spaces (Areas, Building Types, Spaces);
• This classification is the missing link between the needs of the owner, translating into a
brief and the requirements of the facility manager.
Building systems and installations;
• This new classification has been built using experience from SfB, Uniclass and
omniclass, with the goal of creating a logical classification to describe systems in a
building. Starting with performance clauses and working this through to technical
solutions, working together in a process has become easier.
A copy of the report can be
downloaded from the NATSPEC BIM
portal, accessed from the NATSPEC
website (www.natspec.com.au) by
clicking on the NATSPEC BIM logo.
NEWSLETTER - APRIL 2015 2
ICIS National BIM
Object Library Survey
NATSPEC has been challenged by the
Australian Government and industry
with the stewardship of a National BIM
object library for Australia. To assist in
deciding the best approach to take in
regards to developing an object library,
a survey was developed in conjunction
with Konrad Stuhlmacher of Dr. Schiller &
Partner GmbH, who was previously DIN’s
representative at ICIS.
There was a great response to the
survey with 39 respondents from 19
countries across the globe.
European legislation – CE marking
Since July 2013, European legislation has enforced the Construction Product Regulation
for the European market. This is essentially a standard for technical product data, providing
a level playing field for comparing building products. Manufactures use these templates to
create a Declaration of Performance (DoP). The STABU clauses have been built according to
the harmonized European Standards. Validation of performance demanded in a specification,
with the product used in the project, is now a possibility.
More information on the Construction Product Regulation can be found at the following link:
http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/sectors/construction/legislation/index_en.htm
In the background
To create the flexibility needed everything in the background had to be redesigned. A new
database, infrastructure and software has been developed in house.
The new system works with an online database on which a user can logon through the
end-user software. The online database creates the possibility to update specification clauses
on a daily basis to give the professional user the most accurate information possible.
Concluding
The year 2015 is an important year to prepare the construction industry for the new way of
specifying. Support for the STABU2 system will end on December 31st, that is the turning
point for the industry to change their ways and start specifying BIM projects.
The future is here, start using the specification systems for information management.
Radboud Baayen
STABU Foundation
Netherlands
[email protected]
This survey aimed to identify what
National BIM object libraries currently
exist globally and how respondents
considered an object library should be
structured. The survey was completed in
December 2014 and was open to ICIS
Members, buildingSMART Chapters and
ISO TC59 SC13 members, plus
representatives of other countries.
NATSPEC summarised the findings of
the survey and published a survey
summary report to assist in global
knowledge. Some key points from the
report are listed below.
There are currently very few National BIM
object libraries in existence. Whilst many
private entities and software providers
supply BIM objects, the only
National libraries that were identified by
the respondents were the UK National
BIM Library and the Australian
BIM-MEPaus object library. Further
investigation found that Korea is also
developing a National object library, with
over 500 objects already produced.
Respondents believed that all objects
should be provided in the IFC data
format. In addition to IFC, the majority of
respondents also indicated that objects
should be provided in Revit (Autodesk)
and ArchiCAD (Graphisoft) formats.
Respondents felt that a National BIM
object library should be open in nature
and not reliant on any one (or more)
commercial data formats.
Respondents unsurprisingly suggested
that the classification system used most
prominently in their country should be
offered for objects in a National library,
whilst also recognising OmniClass and
Uniclass2. The majority of respondents
also opted for mapping to the
buildingSMART Data Dictionary (bSDD).
Standardised property sets are essential
for a successful object library. Twelve of
the nineteen countries indicated that they
already have or are currently working
on standardised property sets for BIM
objects.
A copy of the report can be downloaded
from the NATSPEC BIM portal, accessed
from the NATSPEC website (www.
natspec.com.au) by clicking on the
NATSPEC BIM logo.
NEWSLETTER - APRIL 2015 3
Commissioning (Cx) and
Specifications
Commissioning (often abbreviated as ‘Cx’) is a quality focused process for enhancing the
delivery of a project. The process centres on verifying and documenting that the facility and
all of its systems and assemblies are planned, designed, installed, tested, operated and
maintained to meet the owner’s requirements.
Not only is HVAC commissioned, but a growing list of dynamic and static systems, including
the building envelope, are being included as part of ‘whole building commissioning’. Carried
out effectively, commissioning results in owners achieving projects they wanted, users
getting more trouble-free buildings and contractors having smoother running jobs, with
fewer call-backs to rectify defects.
Joe Berchenko at ARCOM wrote a blog earlier this year on the topic, discussing
MasterSpec’s Section 019113 General Commissioning Requirements and in April 2013
NATSPEC released two new worksections specifically dealing with ‘whole building
commissioning’ in accordance with the ASHRAE Guideline 0. These worksections are for
use on projects where the principal engages an independent Commissioning Agent. This
article includes extracts from Joe’s blog.
An important note about construction specifications and commissioning is that construction
specifications address only the Contractor (not the Commissioning Agent) and the work
during the construction period. According to ASHRAE Guideline 0, “Specifications (as a part
of the construction Contract Documents) should include only the Commissioning Process
activities the contractors perform during the life of the construction contract, including the
work required during the correction period and for warranties.”
Much of the literature on commissioning is written from the perspective of the
Commissioning Agent (who is the consultant leading the commissioning effort for the
Owner, also known as the CxA, Commissioning Authority, or Commissioning Provider)
and describes the CxA’s work. However, the CxA is hired by the Owner under a separate
contract. Many activities in which the CxA engages are outside the scope of the
construction specifications.
Design professionals creating construction specifications for a facility that will also be
commissioned must answer two fundamental questions:
• What additional duties and obligations can the Contractor expect during construction
as a result of commissioning?
• What additional information is required and where should it be located?
It is important also to note the difference between specifying general construction contract
commissioning and testing and whole building commissioning (Cx). Individual worksections
specifying systems and equipment include commissioning and testing requirements that
must remain whether or not Cx approach is being employed.
For example, in a piping worksection, the requirements for quality of materials and
workmanship are specified and one of the requirements is to provide those specified
materials and install them in a manner that will result in a leak-free piping system. Therefore,
in the piping worksection, testing requirements are specified to test joints for leaks. These
requirements must remain whether or not Cx is employed on the project. When Cx is
employed, it is usually a requirement for the CxA to verify that these tests were successfully
completed.
MEMBERS
Africa
•
Australasia
•
Australia - NATSPEC
T: 1300-797-142
W: www.natspec.com.au
•
Japan - IIBH
T: + (81) 3-6435-3192
W: www.iibh.org
•
New Zealand - Construction
Information Limited
T: +64 9 6317044
W: www.masterspec.co.nz
•
Singapore - SIACAD
T: +65 6225 3823
W: www.siacad.com
Europe
•
Belgium - Cobo Systems
T: +32 (0) 2642 00 71
W: www.cobosystems.be
•
Czech Republic - URS Praha
T: 267-219-210
W: www.urspraha.cz
•
Denmark - Bips
T: +45 70 23 22 37
W: www.bips.dk
•
England - NBS
T: 0191-244-5500
W: www.thenbs.com
•
Finland - The Building
Information Foundation
T: +358 207-476-400
W: www.rakennustieto.fl
•
Germany - GAEB
T: (0211) 61 700 643
W: www.gaeb.de
•
Norway - Norconsult
T: + 47 67571500
W: www.nois.no
•
Norway - Standards Norway
T: +47 67-83-86-00
W: www.standard.no
•
Switzerland - Swiss Centre for
Building Rationalisation
T: +41 44-456-45-45
W: www.crb.ch
North America
•
Canada - Construction
Specifications Canada
T: 416-777-2198
W: www.csc-dcc.ca
•
Canada - National Master
Specification Secretariat
T: 819-956-3447
W: www.tpsgc-pwgsc.ca/
biens-property/ddn-nms/index-eng.html
•
United States of America ARCOM
T: 001-801-521-9162
W: www.arcomnet.com
The full blog article can be viewed at www.arcomnet.com/blog/commissioning-cx-specs.
The International Construction Information Society (ICIS) is an association of organizations that provides
national master specification systems, cost information systems and/or building product information for
the construction industry.
Board of Directors: Christopher G. Bushnell - ICIS President
Barbora Pospisilova - ICIS Secretariat
Rolf Huber - ICIS Treasurer
South Africa - Construction
Communication Network
T: +27 (31) 536-9300
W: www.ccnportal.co.za
NEWSLETTER - APRIL 2015 4