Overview

Whilst BIM describes the process of creating a complete digital model of a building or other construction, BIM objects (or components) are individual digitised 3D replicas of products which can be placed into the BIM. These can include a complete range of the product's aesthetic options and comprehensive information on its technical characteristics, providing specifiers with access to interactive data covering not just the visual qualities of a product and all its variants, but also its technical and performance data. Moreover, its operating instructions and the complete range of colour and finishing options can be included, along with logos and copyrights. 

Released in Autumn 2023 by NBS, the latest Digital Construction Report (download it free here) surveyed 723 construction professionals and it revealed that 70% were using BIM. Adoption amongst architecture and landscape practices was recorded at 77% whilst for multidisciplinary practices it was 88%.

On the specific issue of the value of BIM Object creation on the part of the construction product manufacturer, respondents clearly demonstrated that they want manufacturers to provide them with

BIM/ digital objects because, according to the commentary “…. it saves them time, providing the technical data and geometry that they can quickly insert into the model and link to their specification ….” Importantly, the survey found that “…. in some cases, specifiers have said that they are less likely to specify a particular product if there isn’t a digital object for it.” The survey found that manufacturers are responding to this demand, with 56% providing digital objects for the majority, or all, of their products.

So, from the manufacturer's/supplier's point of view, the marketing benefits are clear and, what is more, BIM objects provide the potential for delivering data into the heart of a project's design process, accessible by all involved specifiers and other participating professionals. In 2021 the Institution of Engineering and Technology published a comprehensive guide for the industry’s manufacturers. Titled ‘Digitisation for Construction Product Manufacturers - A Plain Language Guide’ (download free here) the publication aims to show manufacturers how they can structure and share their product data safely and sustainably. A 50-minute webinar was also produced and can be viewed on demand above

Once the product manufacturer has produced BIM objects, the promotion of the information parallels that of traditional forms of product marketing, or at least in terms of the dissemination of the information, i.e. available as downloads from the manufacturer’s own website, industry information sites, online journals and directories (view our databases of construction industry journals and construction product directories).

Integration of BIM Objects
In October 2016, the Construction Product Association published its report entitled 'The Future of Construction Product Manufacturing', which outlined a roadmap to enable the sector to fully integrate with each stage of the construction process.

Part of the plans included the development of LEXiCON, a template designed to provide consistency in the digital representation and sharing of construction product data through BIM. It became clear that the task was far more significant and complex than had initially been anticipated and the project’s aims were re-assessed. The current phase of the LEXiCON project began in 2019 with the launch of the Construction Innovation Hub and is expected to run until August 2022. An explanation of these aims and the project’s structure and stakeholders can be found here. 

Also worthy of mention to product suppliers is BIMHawk. Launched in 2016, it provides the software tools for the creation of standard parameters for BIM objects, which enables users to create and manage construction Product Data Templates (PDTs) simply and easily.

In this section, we have provided more detailed information on BIM and are grateful to the construction communications agency and BIM specialist, Costello Palmer, for its invaluable article, The Importance of BIM in Manufacturing, including:

• BIM is a Process
• Harnessing the Power of BIM
• Facilitating Your Customer's Needs
• Why do we Need BIM?