The Construction Innovation Hub (CIH) and the Construction Products Association (CPA) want the industry’s feedback on its joint project to develop standardised construction product data sharing: LEXiCON.
According to a new report published as part of the launch of the consultation, LEXiCON can deliver the following benefits to:
- construction industry stakeholders, to build consensus about the process of product data management and help establish relevant authorities to facilitate this process;
- relevant authorities, by using LEXiCON to create, maintain and publish product data templates (PDTs);
- manufacturers, by using LEXiCON to retrieve PDTs to create, maintain and publish product data sheets (PDSs); and
- the wider construction industry, including designers, constructors, commissioning engineers, architects, and contractors, through using LEXiCON for a standardised industry approach towards formation and management of product data to request the creation of PDTs for key products and through the use of PDSs.
Keith Waller, CIH programme director, said: “At its core, the LEXiCON project is about standardising product information and ensuring it is computer-readable, accessible, auditable, and traceable. LEXiCON will develop best practice for the creation and management of product data, which will ensure construction professionals are able to better use product information to optimise designs and improve digital records as we look to build back better and answer the challenges of an increasingly complex post-pandemic world.”
Peter Caplehorn, CEO at the CPA, said: “To date, all the effort the construction industry has put into digitalisation has been an approximation given that the digital information of products has not been available to join up with the rest of the sector. LEXiCON provides a vehicle to allow that to happen, and for the first time we will have a completely digitalised sector with a consensus built, consistent language.
“It is vital that we hear back from industry, to reach our goal of producing a process that is both stringent and achievable in the aim of creating structured product information that is trusted, useable and complete. We encourage all those who create and use product information across the built environment to engage and welcome any feedback to help us refine our proposals.”
The deadline for responses is 18 August. In September, an update will be issued, and in November, the LEXiCON proof of concept demonstrator and early adopters programme will be launched.
To take part, go to: www.constructioninnovationhub.org.uk/lexicon-consultation
