Open-access content
Thursday 4th April 2013
Gareth Tancred, chief executive at the BIFM, discusses the impact of the new BIM4FM group.
8 April 2013
However, although it is one of the most talked-about concepts in the built environment, the view of it within facilities management,
both as a profession and as an industry, has been mixed.
The BIFM's own FM Leaders Forum, 'BIM and FM: Bridging the gap for success', which took place in autumn 2012, highlighted a 'language gap' between designers and builders focused on capital expenditure on one side, and FMs and property teams focused on operations on the other.
Until now, BIM has mainly been used by and developed within the construction side of the built environment hierarchy. As a result, there appears to be a lack of understanding about the real value that facilities management brings to the wider built environment.
That's why the BIFM is delighted to have joined with other professional bodies, trade associations and institutes representing the FM industry, owners and occupiers, to form the BIM4FM group. Perhaps more importantly, and most significantly, this group includes some representation from the design side too.
The group consists of representatives from several leading organisations that all have a strong interest in ensuring FMs recognise the importance of raising the profile of BIM across our community: BIFM, Building Services Association, Building Services Research and Information Association, Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers, Facilities Management Association, Royal Institute of British Architects and the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors.
One of the group's main aims is to provide an avenue for industry input into the ongoing development of BIM and Government Soft Landing (GSL) work. This is being developed through the Cabinet Office Government Property Unit and BIM Task Group.
After all, BIM is not a tool or solution. For facilities management, BIM is a process which will require a new way of working. To be successful it will require a cultural shift and collaboration from across the built environment supply chain. Working with our industry partners we hope that FM and end users will be able to increase our share of voice.
The BIM4FM group has already highlighted some key tasks that it intends to work on. These include defining what BIM means to FM, identifying and communicating its benefits, as well as generally raising its awareness and profile across our community.
Over the coming months there will be much to clarify, but it is obvious that BIM is not going to go away. It is not a fad - it is a process that will need to be added to the skillset of the UK facilities management profession, and as such, all of us will have a role to play in promoting and understanding this new way of working.
Download the FM Leaders BIM paper at www.bifm.org.uk/fmlf
Since the government announced in 2011 that building information modelling (BIM) would be a requirement for all government projects by 2016, BIM has become the flavour du jour.
However, although it is one of the most talked-about concepts in the built environment, the view of it within facilities management,
both as a profession and as an industry, has been mixed.
The BIFM's own FM Leaders Forum, 'BIM and FM: Bridging the gap for success', which took place in autumn 2012, highlighted a 'language gap' between designers and builders focused on capital expenditure on one side, and FMs and property teams focused on operations on the other.
Until now, BIM has mainly been used by and developed within the construction side of the built environment hierarchy. As a result, there appears to be a lack of understanding about the real value that facilities management brings to the wider built environment.
That's why the BIFM is delighted to have joined with other professional bodies, trade associations and institutes representing the FM industry, owners and occupiers, to form the BIM4FM group. Perhaps more importantly, and most significantly, this group includes some representation from the design side too.
The group consists of representatives from several leading organisations that all have a strong interest in ensuring FMs recognise the importance of raising the profile of BIM across our community: BIFM, Building Services Association, Building Services Research and Information Association, Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers, Facilities Management Association, Royal Institute of British Architects and the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors.
One of the group's main aims is to provide an avenue for industry input into the ongoing development of BIM and Government Soft Landing (GSL) work. This is being developed through the Cabinet Office Government Property Unit and BIM Task Group.
After all, BIM is not a tool or solution. For facilities management, BIM is a process which will require a new way of working. To be successful it will require a cultural shift and collaboration from across the built environment supply chain. Working with our industry partners we hope that FM and end users will be able to increase our share of voice.
The BIM4FM group has already highlighted some key tasks that it intends to work on. These include defining what BIM means to FM, identifying and communicating its benefits, as well as generally raising its awareness and profile across our community.
Over the coming months there will be much to clarify, but it is obvious that BIM is not going to go away. It is not a fad - it is a process that will need to be added to the skillset of the UK facilities management profession, and as such, all of us will have a role to play in promoting and understanding this new way of working.
Download the FM Leaders BIM paper at www.bifm.org.uk/fmlf