BIMReL: a new BIM object library using Construction Product Regulation attributes (CPR 350/11; ZA annex)

Abstract

The digitalisation of construction sector introduces opportunities for all the actors of AEC chain. Using the virtualisation of real entities, with models of buildings, infrastructures or of the environment (BIM: Building Information Model), it could be possible to simulate the sustainability of new property developments or renewal ones (capex/opex; BS PAS 1192-2-3 [1] [2]). With the object-oriented programming, the new ICT tools for AEC sector can rework on the data themselves, with the classes and attributes they have “learned”. At the beginning, the typology of classes and attributes were defined in BIM authoring software. To complete all the information required for every different use, the actors can find other attributes (of objects) they may need in other database existing on the market. These extended attributes could be linked to the BIM authoring objects to complete their functionality in all phases of the construction process. Thus, all the attributes of each object are now defined by the software houses, by public or private organisations (and their BIM tools) or by every single manufacturer company. However, there isn’t an international standard other than the Italian UNI 11337-3:2015 [3]. To improve this status quo, increase the implementation of sustainability simulation and life cycling data management in AEC process, it is necessary to define a new specific technical standard of BIM object attributes. BIMReL is the first BIM object library that uses the common information structure and the essential characteristics for CE mark of CPR 350/2011 (Construction Product Regulation) [4], to define the attributes of the virtual objects like the real products. The architecture of BIMReL is based on the data structure of newly released Italian standard UNI 11337-3 (2019) and, as a consequence, part of the EN draft standard at European CEN 442 Technical Committee (WG 4).