Despite the use of Building Information Modelling (BIM) being on the rise, it is not always correctly implemented.
That’s according to the director of proptech specialist Virtual Viewing, Stewart Bailey, who has warned that incorrect implementation can increase construction costs, cause delays, and even carry legal consequences.
Recent statistics published by Statista show that 73% of UK construction professionals implemented BIM into their project in 2020.
That’s a 4% increase from 2019, and a 60% uplift since 2011, when only 13% of respondents confirmed using BIM.
Bailey said: “BIM has become an essential tool for efficiently managed construction sites, helping teams to create homes that are safe and commercial developments that are functional.
“Although the industry is incorporating BIM into their sites more frequently, we are witnessing projects where the system hasn’t been used properly by all parties involved.
“This stops the technology’s capacity from reaching its full potential and can cause a variety of problems along the way.”
He continued: “In addition to construction delays and increased costs caused by poor communication between teams, companies must be aware that any data gap can cause the BIM model to be outdated.
“This can result in the final development differing from the originally approved plans and building permission. After the passing of the new Building Safety Bill, this could be a criminal offence.”
The UK’s use of BIM hasn’t gone unnoticed, as it was recently announced that the US intends to adapt the UK’s national BIM development programme in order to comply with the international standard for BIM- ISO19650.
Image: Blue Planet Studio/Shutterstock
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