Legrand, the global specialist in electrical and digital building infrastructures, has become the first manufacturer in the electrical industry to achieve the brand new BSI BIM (Building Information Modelling) Objects Kitemark. The new quality mark is designed to help manufacturers demonstrate that they have embedded BIM into their manufacturing processes and are delivering high quality BIM Objects
With limited choice around third party BIM certifications currently available for manufacturers, the new BSI Kitemark will validate the digital version of a manufacturer’s product, required for construction projects. It will also demonstrate that the dimensional, performance and specification data has been validated, that products have been presented and structured correctly and using standardised templates.
For designers and specifiers, the real advantage of the BSI Kitemark is the ability to be able to quickly identify accurate digital objects which are found and searched for within BIM libraries and on manufacturers’ websites. It will also provide a level of confidence that the manufacturer’s processes meet the requirements of BIM and that the Object will function properly when placed within a digital model.
Included within the initial scope of the BSI Kitemark, a set of BIM Object Families have already been created for a number of Legrand products including Swifts cable tray and ladder, Cablofil steel wire cable tray, Electrak powertrack, buscom and under-desk modules and a number of products from the CP Electronics range of presence detectors and lighting control systems. With more expected over the coming months, each of these families have the associated Product Data Templates assuring accuracy before publication.
By verifying the BIM Object beforehand, the accuracy of the design and installation can be improved, significantly reducing the cost and time associated with returning and replacing products that don’t fit the original specification, as well as time spent sourcing and validating data.
Tony Greig, CEO at Legrand Electric, said: “We are delighted to be the first manufacturer in the electrical industry to achieve the BIM Object Kitemark, demonstrating that our robust set of processes for the production and management of BIM Objects meets the requirements of BS 8541 parts 1, 3 and 4. Having already integrated a number of our ranges into the Building Information Modelling environment, it will enable project teams to utilise our systems to produce accurate and efficient plans, cable routing and procurement lists as part of a fully integrated BIM project. ”
Andy Butterfield, Director of Built Environment, Product Certification at BSI, said: “The overall aim of BIM is to help companies to carry out more efficient methods of design and construction, ultimately driving out waste and inefficiency. This Kitemark has been developed to give architects and designers the assurance that the BIM Objects they are choosing for their projects accurately represent the physical product, reducing the number of checks they will need to undertake throughout the project.”
“The manufacturing industry is highly competitive, therefore it’s really important that manufacturers can differentiate their construction products when tendering for BIM projects and to gain access to new markets. BIM is here to stay and manufacturers need to ensure that they are prepared – we believe this new Kitemark will help manufacturers to do that.”
In order to achieve the BSI Kitemark for BIM Objects, manufacturers will be independently assessed against the requirements of BS 8541 Library objects for architecture, engineering and construction (parts 1, 3 and 4) by BSI’s technical BIM experts. As with other Kitemarks, organisations holding the Kitemark will be routinely assessed. The BSI Kitemark for BIM Objects is available to all manufacturers that have a quality management system equivalent to ISO 9001, the Quality Management Systems standard.
For more information on the BSI BIM Kitemark, please visit www.bsigroup.com/BIM-UK. To find out more about Legrand’s BIM Objects, please visit www.legrand.co.uk
