By
Joe Salimando
Exclusive for McCormick Systems
You can’t blame any electrical contractor for wondering what
building information models (BIM) is all about. McCormick Systems
has been getting questions about this “hot” new technology – so
we’re going to attempt to answer them here. First, some basics:
What is a BIM?
Just to confuse you, there is the trend to building information
modeling (BIM) and a given building can have a building information
model (BIM). Yes, they really DO share the same exact acronym. According to Wikipedia’s definition:
BIM
is able to achieve such improvements by modeling
representations of the actual parts and pieces being
used to build a building. This is a substantial shift
from the traditional CAD method of drawing with vector
file based lines that combine to represent objects.
. .
. so already, you see the place that BIM might interface with
McCormick somehow. Our company has been a pioneer in CAD Estimating.
To get a jump start, you might want to read the Wikipedia entry on BIM.
Essentially, the project team is creating a “smart” 3D model of the building – containing mountains of information on building components. In the past, architects and engineers have created 3D models . . . but they were “dumb.”
Today’s computer capabilities enable creation of a BIM model of a building in which details about a given occupancy sensor (as an example) would include:
Installation instructions.
Electrical specifications.
Maintenance.
Warranty information.
. . . and, more importantly, how this item “fits” (or does not fit) into the whole. The sensor on the drawing is “aware” of what it’s doing; it “knows” that it doesn’t belong in the middle of a doorway, for example.
Further, the item will also “know” if the design has progressed without the designers running a circuit to it. This is likely to help owners, engineers, and architects avoid change orders in the future.
Note that the U.S. General Services Administration (the largest
single landlord of any kind in the nation, and perhaps the world)
has “taken the lead” on use of BIM. The GSA has mandated use of BIM
on at least 20 projects (perhaps more by this time) . . . and with
designers, engineers, and contractors on large government projects
being specifically directed to make use of BIM, it’s no wonder that
many McCormick Systems users have questions!
BIM Webinar for Contractors
NECA in June 2008 conducted its first-ever Electrical Design Library “webinar,” aimed at building owners, architects, engineers, and (of course) electrical contractors. The subject: BIM.
Dr. Thomas Glavinich was the speaker. As of this moment, you can – FREE – watch a video replay and download Dr. Glavinich’s presentation – from this web page.
Note that NECA has informed me that the webinar might not be available on the web forever – so it would be prudent, if you’d like to learn more, to get to that web page NOW.
What does BIM mean to you?
At this moment, larger electrical contractors are likely to run into BIM on large new construction projects – especially for the U.S. government. But large corporations that regularly engage in new construction are likely to demand BIM on their projects as well.
What will this mean, for those who become involved in such a project?
You will be engaged – with others, especially including the project’s architects and engineers – in “virtually” creating an INFORMATION model of the building. Much of this work will take place before ground is broken on the site.
Potentially, that could mean more stress on your overhead people. They will be doing new things – attending more meetings (whether these are “in person” or virtual) and responding to information requests early in the project.
You’ll be contributing more to the project. More will be asked of your company. Just a few days ago (July 1, 2008), the AGC issued a press release about a “BIM addendum” to the ConsensusDOCs project.
Perhaps your company has differentiated itself from competitors in the past via the delivery of as-built drawings. It’s likely that the joint delivery (by the project team) of a BIM to the project owner will make that effort unnecessary.
Much of the reporting in construction magazines focuses on the positives of BIM – and that’s all to the good (see section below on why BIM is hot). But there are potential downsides for electrical contractors and other subcontractors, including:
Will you be paid for your design input?
Will the BIM, once complete, be used by the construction owner to “buy direct” much of the building’s major electrical components?
On many construction projects, the electrical contractor takes the “lead” on things like scheduling. Many BIM enthusiasts refer to it as a “4D” approach – with TIME being the fourth dimension. Potentially, your role as a project leader will be usurped . . . or you’ll be asked to do the thinking and planning you’ve routinely done (and contribute to BIM creation up-front) . . . with neither full compensation nor the intangible advantages you’ve been able to reap as the lead contractor.
Why
is BIM so “hot” right now?
Everything comes in its time. BIM has enormous potential to
revolutionize both the construction process and the facility
management business (see below).But at least for the moment, there’s
more hype than reality in the potential. Right now, though, there
are at least two real-life benefits that almost anyone can
appreciate:
Avoiding “collisions” –
construction work suffers from places where one subcontractor
runs into another. As an example, consider the instance where
the place the mechanical guys planned to put their pipes is
already occupied by the electrical contractor’s conduit.
BIM is gaining a great reputation for helping
everyone avoid these collisions. By constructing the building in
“four dimensions” (the 4th is time), the building
team can – in advance – identify times and places where
subcontractors will “collide.” There are documented instances of
4,000 such “collisions” being identified in advance and
(according to reports) . . . all parties on the project got them
down to . . . zero!
Precisely planning the work, avoiding
waste – I personally heard Richard Cramer of Dee Cramer,
Inc., a Michigan sheet metal contractor, describe how work on a
new General Motors plant, using BIM, led to a project with
ZERO waste.
Note that Cramer is (now) a past president of
SMACNA. I got to know him, in my time working for the
SMWIA-SMACNA marketing combine; he is a decent, honest man.
In his presentation, Cramer described how his
company used BIM output to feed his company’s CNC
(computer-numerical-controlled) cutting machines. The precise
information from the BIM led to sheet metal fabrication that was
100% accurate . . . nothing was thrown away.
Add: In another presentation (at another
venue, by an engineer), I heard about how BIM was used by a
mechanical contractor. The total waste for that firm in a
specific project: One valve.
Bottom line: Avoiding collisions saves money for every
contractor on a job, and (of course) the owner. It keeps people out
of court. Precise plans and avoided waste helps contractors make
money, too (and has the added appeal of providing the project, the
contractors, and BIM with a “green” tint!).
What is this “potential” referenced above?
BIM
offers the following potential, if developed into the future and
used correctly by owners, architects, engineers, construction
managers, general contractors, and subcontractors:
-
The BIM can
be a precise model of the building – an “as-built” that is
accurate the day the building is delivered to the owner’s
team.
-
Information
can be included in the BIM that can help facility managers
in their task of managing the facility. For example,
consider a transformer. The space in the BIM for that item
could include the specifications, as-installed drawings,
warranty information, and much more (as PDFs, DWG files, or
in other formats).
- Savvy
facility managers, with assistance from technology, could
update the BIM as they maintain, update, renovate, and add
to a given building. In theory, then, the BIM could evolve
as an “as-built” . . . to remain current, forever.
Salimando (ecdotcom@gmail.com) writes for and edits electrical industry publications, including Rexel’s Power Outlet. He’s the editor of McCormick Systems’ newsletter and the proprietor of The EleBlog.
What The Media is Reporting
No Fax, No Spreadsheet Needed:
McCormick Integrates NetPricer –
Offers Speedy, Accurate Info
Electrical contractors and their
estimators often go through a time-consuming process –
fraught with potential errors – in getting prices for
material needed to complete a project estimate:
They fax distributors.
They input prices from return faxes
into spreadsheets.
They use national pricing services
that aren’t precise.
Those days are over for users of
electrical and automated building systems estimating
software from McCormick Systems – thanks to the
integration of a service, NetPricer. With it,
contractors can get prices directly from their
distributors, via a system-to-system electronic hook-up.
“NetPricer is a separate service, but
we’ve integrated it into our system,” said Todd
McCormick, president. “As with the elements of our own
system, it offers contractors a higher level of
estimating productivity – more accuracy, and of course
precision, with greater speed.”
Added Sal Huerta, national sales
manager for NetPricer: “Now the contractors using
McCormick’s system don’t have to wait for accurate,
real-time materials prices. With NetPricer, they will
get them right from their distributors.”
Contractors/estimators using
McCormick software with the NetPricer interface in place
can now get prices for products included in a job by
simply “pushing a button” in the estimating software.
There’s no big additional
computer/network investment needed. Prices files are
transferred from the distributor’s computer to the
contractor’s system via the NetPricer web server.
About NetPricer
NetPricer is a service of the
ElectricSmarts Network, www.electricsmarts.com The company provides the
electrical industry with innovative web-based marketing,
E-Learning, and e-commerce services.
More information: http://www.NetPricer.net
SAVE THE DATE -
McCormick Conference 2009
April 22-25
LOCATION: Scottsdale, AZ.
Find Us At BICSI, NECA & IEC
Planning ahead? Come to see us – we’re coming closer to you! Put the
dates below on your calendar:
BICSI Fall Conference, Sept. 29 to Oct. 2, Las Vegas --
we’re in booth #604
NECA Show, Oct. 5-6-7, Chicago – we’re in booth #501.
IEC Expo, Oct. 29-31, Atlanta – we’re in booth #813
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