BIM stands for Building Information Modelling. BIM is a process. As technology has developed, the construction sector has progressed to a point where the entire project team will now build a project in a digital environment before the physical construction begins. This allows for a greater understanding of the spatial requirements of the project, designs, and design changes to be understood more efficiently, and costs to be more accurately calculated. A wide variety of information can be included within the model if appropriate, which will allow for the model to be used to guide the entire life cycle of the building project, including enabling works, construction, commissioning, maintenance, and asset care.

CINCT are specialists in two of the many sectors of BIM:

• Managing each of the project teams’ “models” to ensure it is represented in a collaborative environment. This means the project’s BIM objectives are clear to all and ensures everyone has access to reference each other’s designs.

• Producing accurate models and drawings for the MEP sectors of a project.

MEP is a term used to describe the mechanical, electrical, and plumbing services that are included in a building. These services are critical in the successful use of a building and allow it to function efficiently as intended.

Mechanical Services (HVAC) includes the heating and cooling of a building, as well as allowing for filtering and fresh air introduction to allow the occupants to remain comfortable. This typically involves air conditioning units or space heaters, and associated pipework, ductwork, control panels and sensors.

Electrical Services describes all the electrical requirements of a building. The building’s power supply systems and outlets, lighting, data requirements, and how cables are routed and managed throughout the building are the typical considerations. We can also include security, audio visual, and communication devices.

Plumbing systems within a building will include the sanitary wastewater system, hot and cold-water reticulation, storm water management system, and other more specific systems. Effectively planning how water enters, is used, and leaves a building is vital to ensure the building operates as efficiently as possible and is safe for its users.

This depends on the project, your role in the project, and the entire design team. The information provided and collaborated by all team members has an impact on all the other team members. It's important to focus on what will add value.

As an example, mechanical systems need to be coordinated before and during construction, and effectively managed after construction within a large-scale project that offers limited space in ceilings or voids for services. It is important that the interfaces with structural, architectural and other services elements are modelled to a high degree of accuracy. This allows the construction team to be confident that the design portrayed is what is expected to be constructed. This project may benefit from other information regarding the servicing of the equipment, manufacturer and warranty details being included in the model, which allows the asset care team to have all the information needed at their fingertips for the plant and equipment.

Conversely, if the budget and scale of the project is small, and there is adequate space for access, then a high level of development in the building services models may not provide a great return on investment. However, managing the interface with architecture and structure may still be important to stay within budget and time constraints.

For BIM, how much information is in the model is described by the Level of Development (LOD). We will help you decided what LOD is appropriate for your project. If the expected LOD for a project is already outlined in a BEP, we understand what is expected and will provide the appropriate service to meet the project’s requirements.

Having everyone on a project working to the same playbook is critical. A BIM Execution Plan is a document produced in consultation with the team at the start of the project to outline processes and expectations of all team members on how BIM is to be delivered.

Having a comprehensive, yet easy to follow BEP, allows the team to understand each other's capabilities and challenges, and in turn, dictate the expectations for all who are working on the project.

The BEP guides what software is to be used, how models are to be shared and collaborated, which discipline has priority when coordinating, who key stakeholders and leads are for each of the design teams, and a range of other important information required for BIM to be successful on the project.

We understand the implications that the BEP will have on your design process and will help decipher that for you. If the project doesn’t have a BEP, we will craft one that will put what’s best for the project first.

CINCT specialise in using Revit for modelling and drafting.

We are experienced in collaborating models in the Autodesk Construction Cloud (BIM360). We are also confident when working with Revizto, Enscape, Navisworks, BIM Track, and a range of other software packages applicable for clash detection and construction visualisation. No one likes rework so we coordinate the elements in our models as we produce them. However, utilising the available technology to double check for issues and clashes at each stage is a gamechanger for some projects with lots of moving parts.

We will use and recommend what is most appropriate for the requirements of the project.

Collaboration is key. Each service has an impact on all others when designing for a project. We are experienced, and have the knowledge to work with Architectural, Structural, Seismic, Fire protection and passive fire, Acoustic, and Civil teams to benefit the project.