Monday 5 September 2011

National BIM Library

On Friday we announced the launch of The National BIM Library. This will be a collection of free-to-use generic BIM objects. It will also be followed by proprietary manufacturer BIM objects. It seems to have caused a little bit of interest so far on the web. The full press release is below - keep looking back to this blog for further updates...

NBS to launch National BIM Library
NBS is pleased to announce the development of a National BIM (Building Information Modelling) Library for the UK construction industry.

The National BIM Library, which will be accessible online and free of charge, will enable architects, contractors, interior designers and other construction professionals to locate and download generic and proprietary BIM objects for a comprehensive range of systems and products such as walls, windows, doors, foundations, cladding and roofs.

The service, which will go live in November with the first set of objects, will be built up to become the primary source of standard and proprietary BIM objects.

By also publishing property definitions for all systems and products, NBS will establish a common approach to quality standards across the construction industry, with a view to encouraging consistency and collaboration.

The development of the National BIM Library is the latest step in NBS’s efforts to provide, share and maintain quality information for the built environment and by extension, support the growth of BIM as an information-rich database and highly effective business process. It also supports the launch of their new NBS Create specification tool, which truly brings specification into the BIM arena.

Stephen Hamil, Director of Design and Innovation and Head of BIM at NBS commented,
For the last 40 years NBS has been developing and maintaining a national master specification for UK construction best practice. We are perfectly placed to make the next step and extend our building information to include geometry and create a fantastically rich resource for the industry.
Crucially, we will maintain the National BIM Library in line with changes to standards and best practice and ensure that the library truly represents UK industry best practice. We know that our industry is crying out for high-quality, maintained BIM resources and we are the right organisation to deliver this.”

Richard Waterhouse, Chief Executive of RIBA Enterprises Ltd, said:
The effective use and exchange of information is at the heart of BIM and will dictate the overall impact it will have on the construction industry. By establishing a National BIM Library, NBS will increase access to the information construction professionals need to make the right decisions at the right stage of the building process.
By providing free access to NBS’s high quality BIM information, we can also play our part in ensuring all organisations can take advantage of the latest intelligence and huge benefits of BIM.”

To develop the generic BIM objects, NBS has engaged the BIM Academy, which was launched in June 2011 by Northumbria University and Ryder Architecture, to support the industry‘s take up of BIM by establishing a centre of excellence for related research and education.

The generic models will initially be delivered in IFC (Industry Foundation Classes) and Autodesk Revit formats with the intention of making content available through a variety of alternative formats as soon as possible.

Peter Barker, Operations Director at BIM Academy, said:
"BIM Academy are delighted to be working with NBS on this exciting initiative. With the rapid escalation in BIM adoption over the last few years, there is now a compelling need for consistency in library content and quality. Equally important is the need for these libraries to be available in all common software formats, structured to suit UK construction practice and linked more closely to specification data. We look forward to applying our industry experience and expertise in IFC classification and BIM technologies to help NBS realise this ambition and deliver real efficiencies to the industry through the National BIM Library."

Information and the opportunity to register for updates about the National BIM Library can be found by visiting www.theNBS.com/NBL

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