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Open access guide to BIM Level 2 launched

BIM professionals are invited to contribute to a free step-by-step guide to Level 2 BIM that has been created by Designing Buildings Wiki and Mark Bew’s consultancy PCSG.

The plain language online guide is aligned to Level 2 standard PAS 1192-2 and the 2013 RIBA Plan of Work. It takes users through the Level 2 workflows, from the basics of storing project information to preparing Employer’s Information Requirements.

The guide is the latest website that is aimed at encouraging greater understanding of the basic principles of BIM. It follows the recent launch of the NBS’s BIM periodic table and the BRE terminology tool.

Speaking to BIM+ Adrian Burgess, technical director at PCSG, explained that the guide is targeted at those just starting to gain an understanding of BIM: “The guide is aimed at people who are not BIM experts and will be helpful for employers, consultants, contractors and suppliers.

“It’s for anyone who wants to deliver benefit from better information management and adopt Level 2 BIM on building projects and due to the nature of our work on both contractor and client side it also includes content and guidance for building owners and estate managers.”

He believes the guide is needed as there is still a lack of understanding of BIM within the built environment: “One of the biggest challenges that we’ve faced is articulating Level 2 BIM in language that makes it real and accessible to non-BIM experts in different roles within building delivery programmes, such as employers, consultants, contractors and suppliers,” he said.

“The wiki is written based upon our experience of doing this to date and takes a step-by-step approach to articulating the interventions required at each stage of a project.”     

As the guide is open access anyone in the industry can edit and improve pages to reflect their experiences of using BIM in practice.

Burgess continued: “We thought that writing the wiki would help others and could develop into a great resource if everyone else who is going through this learning process gets involved and improves it and shares their knowledge as they learn. We encourage everyone to do that by the way, this is not a work of perfection it is very much a base to build from. We talk a lot about collaboration, this is it in action, and it just feels like the right thing to do.”

Designing Buildings Wiki chairman David Trench added: “We don’t all have to know how to operate BIM software, but everyone needs to understand the information workflows, collaborative practices and terminology that Level 2 has introduced.

“We’ve translated the jargon into plain English and explained the processes in a way that will feel familiar, rather than intimidating, to encourage the industry to embrace this change.”

It’s for anyone who wants to deliver benefit from better information management and adopt Level 2 BIM on building projects and due to the nature of our work on both contractor and client side it also includes content and guidance for building owners and estate managers.– Adrian Burgess, PCSG

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