BIM has made a name for itself in our industry for many years. We even use BIM for commercial HVAC, commercial plumbing, and underground work on Petersburg Plumbing & Excavating’s projects. Even though BIM has become popular, there is still confusion about what it is and how it can better construction processes. Let’s take a look at the benefits of BIM:
What is BIM?
BIM stands for Building Information Modeling. Most people think that BIM is just a 3D model of a building. Although those models are a key component, BIM is actually the process of creating and managing all information about a project to design and construct buildings. A digital description of every aspect of the project is provided as it is virtually laid out before being physically constructed.
The end goal of BIM? To make every phase of construction run as efficient, safe, and cost-effective as possible. Since the project is built virtually, many inefficiencies and pain points are eliminated.
What are the benefits of BIM?
1. Save on cost
BIM takes the planning stage to the next level. BIM software offers tools to improve processes before construction even begins. This leads to saving money and reducing waste.
Since there is better documentation of the project before the build phase, there is less time spent fixing inaccuracies. Processes can be improved by everyone involved in the project before construction even starts.
Utilizing BIM on projects also helps assist with making better choices when it comes to materials. Better planning means less wasted materials. Having a better overview of the project with BIM before construction begins allows for more prefabrication and lays out exactly what is needed.
Cheaper material and labor costs? What more could you ask for?
2. More Efficient Product
When utilizing BIM, saving money and time goes hand in hand.
Since BIM allows for design and documentation to be done at the same time, all projects have a shorter life cycle because of easy management. Errors can be reduced and reworked ahead of time, making on-site issues vanish.
Also, schedules can be planned more accurately. With this capability, projects are more likely to be completed on time or early.
As we touched on above, prefabrication is possible with BIM. There is more opportunity to design and produce pieces ahead of time rather than doing it on-site from scratch. BIM makes designing a painless process and gives even more accurate estimations through BIM models.
3. Improved Communication
You know what they say, teamwork makes the dream work! Communication is key when it comes to major projects. Unfortunately, it is not easy sharing paper - especially when changes are constantly
being made. Forget about shuffling through papers – all notes are stored in one place with BIM! Up-to-date notes are always provided so no one is left in the dark.
Being able to share models between all teams involved in the project makes planning and execution a seamless process as everyone has insight into the entire project. When project teams aren’t communicating early and often, mistakes are made, and jobs have to be done twice. No one likes that, right?
4. Better Safety on Worksites
Safety is extremely important to us here at Henson Robinson Company. Using BIM allows hazards on the worksite to be pointed out before they become problems. Physical risks can be visualized ahead of time, which allows for logistics to be planned out before on-site construction begins.
Safety is guaranteed over the course of the entire project.
5. Better End Results
While the benefits of BIM can be seen mostly through the design and building process, there is also an improvement in the quality of the build. Relying on the BIM tools allowed team members to work together through all phases of the project while taking total control over technical decisions around the execution of the initial design.
With models and calculations being more detailed and accurate, higher quality builds are guaranteed.
BIM makes it possible for us to get jobs done fast while maintaining quality. It’s an advantage to all people involved in the project and leads to better results. If you’re looking for your next project to be a success, we’re the ones to call!