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Advertising supplement provided by American Institute of Steel Construction

By Larry Flynn

The Time is Now for BIM

There are still those who insist that new technologies and processes will not gain traction in design and construction. Their arguments are that the old ways are too entrenched, the new technologies too expensive, the project delivery processes too complex, software not yet up to the task, and the desire for change too nebulous for meaningful change to occur. Yet the litany of complaints about design and construction continue: failure to improve productivity, decreasing quality of construction documents, poor communication and coordination, cost overruns, change orders, extras, project delays, and lack of adequate labor resources.

Building Information Modeling provides a process and vehicle to positively impact the design and construction process and enhance project productivity. BIM is increasingly being used in the design and fabrication of projects. Architects, structural engineers, general contractors, and steel fabricators using BIM are delivering projects that are completed faster, are less expensive, of higher quality, and safer than those of the competition.

AISC Trade Association

The American Institute of Steel Construction, Inc. is a not-for-profit technical institute and trade association established in 1921 to serve designers, contractors, and owners. AISC’s activities include specification and code development, research, education, technical assistance, quality certification, standardization, and market development. AISC works with architects, contractors, engineers, and owners to develop steel framing solutions tailored to schedule-driven and design-build projects. For assistance with a project, contact the AISC Steel Solutions Center at 866.ask.aisc or email solutions@aisc.org.

Guidance for Use of Digital Building Product Models

Gaining the full advantage of Building Information Modeling necessitates that a digital 3-D building model replaces the traditional 2-D paper contract drawings. In order to address this major shift in practice, the American Institute of Steel Construction has taken the lead by adding Appendix A: Digital Building Product Models to the Code of Standard Practice for Steel Buildings and Bridges, March 18, 2005. Appendix A, available along with the entire Code of Standard Practice for free download at www.aisc.org/code, provides guidance for the use of digital building product models.

APPENDIX A.
DIGITAL BUILDING PRODUCT MODELS

The provisions in this Appendix shall apply when the contract documents indicate that a three-dimensional digital building product model replaces contract drawings and is to be used as the primary means of designing, representing, and exchanging structural steel data for the project. When this is the case, all references to the Design Drawings in this Code shall instead apply to the Design Model, and all references to the Shop and Erection Drawings in the Code shall instead apply to the Manufacturing Model. The CIS/2 Logical Product Model shall be used as the building product model for structural steel.

If the primary means of project communication reverts from a model-based system to a paper-based system, the requirements in this Code other than in this Appendix shall apply.

Commentary:

Current technology permits the transfer of three-dimensional digital building product model data among the design and construction teams for a project. Over the last several years, designers and fabricators have used CIS/2 as a standard format in the exchange of building product models representing the steel structure. This Appendix facilitates the use of this technology in the design and construction of steel structures, and eliminates any interpretation of this Code that might be construed to prohibit or inhibit the use of this technology. While the technology is new and there is no long-established standard of practice, it is the intent in this Appendix to provide guidance for its use.