BIM: building together – right from the design stage

By using Building Information Modelling (BIM), you can already erect a building together just like on a building site – this applies to lifts too. You can learn the basic technical principles of this cooperation.

This is worthwhile, since doing so facilitates improved sector cooperation and a new kind of preview of the building processes. To prevent the building project ending like the tower of Babel, rules are required for the joint digital erection of the building – this is all the more vital if different kinds of software are used.

If your own design is based on a universally modelled 3D model that transports data, it can be the basis of many other use cases. For this purpose, it must first be exported to a generally valid open file format. Currently, the use of the IFC (Industry Foundation Classes) format is common in the building industry.

Once it has been exported as a reference model, this model can be provided to the other parties involved for inspection and coordination. The building model, structural model or other models can be imported in order to coordinate the lift planning in your own software.

Cross-sector definition

Agreeing on the 3D coordination for a building project with all parties involved makes sense. The working group “BIM4INFRA2020” has published a helpful cross-sector definition with the assistance of the Federal Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure. You can find it in the associated support materials titled “Use case 5 Coordination” (see box “BIM coordination use case” below).

The “VDI/bS 2552 sheet 11.5 Building Information Modeling; Exchange requirements; Elevator technology” explains in detail how lift design can be integrated into the overall coordination.

As is frequently the case, this deals with who has to provide what to whom as well as when and for what purpose.

Interdisciplinary work

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Ideally, models are structured and coordinated with each other in the design phase in a way that ensures improved implementation of the building project. There are joint project platforms to avoid having to share mutual access to software when coordinating design and yet still enable all participants to have access to the current design stage. These are known as common data environments (CDE).

You can upload your model here after export and everyone involved in the project can access it via a model viewer. This is then followed by coordination, for example, in the form of clash detection.

To manage clashes, questions, problems or annotations, so called “issues” are created in the CDE. The file format for these messages is known as “BIM Collaboration Format” (BCF).

Updated at defined intervals

The models undergo continuous further development and are updated at defined intervals on the project platform. BIM execution planning (BEP) determines the update rhythm. In model-based planning, lifts are coordinated with the other sectors at the same interfaces as in conventional 2D planning. VDI/bS 2552 sheet 11.5 describes this process for lift planning in three phases with different levels of development (LOD):

Pre-design (or concept design) phase: No lift planning without input. A 3D architectural feasibility study already includes more information than you would suppose. For example, conveyance height and intended use of the lift can already be deduced from it. Pre-design of the lift technology is already possible in this phase because the building design information needed at this point is limited to certain geometries: in this phase, it requires a model in LOD100 with the space requirements for the shaft including shaft head and pit. This already permits the development of various building versions.

Schematic design phase: This begins with expanded requirements. The building planning now provides additional building geometries, fire protection requirements, a definition of the precise use, user groups and also precise requirements on the car. Based on this, a detailed lift model is produced in LOD200. This includes objects and information in need of coordination – for example, the breaches for ventilation, shaft smoke extraction and electrical installations with the structural model. The landing doors and display- and operating elements are included for coordination with the building planning.

Design development (or detailed design) phase: Here the schematic design phase is repeated in more detail with an LOD300 model; for example, anchor rails, control cabinets and much more are included. The greater degree of detail permits further steps in designing the structure.

Tools and competences

You need two tools and competences in the company in order to take part in the interdisciplinary model exchange. On the one hand, the design and modelling software used in the company is required to provide an IFC-interface and someone has to be capable of configuring the IFC import and export. On the other, a tool is required for checking the models received or which you wish to send. You can start with an IFC viewer. There is now a wide selection of different and in part even free solutions. Video tutorials render learning how to operate them easy.

This is already all of the equipment and know-how needed for getting started with digital model-based cooperation – it is easy to learn and handling it is not rocket science.

By Andreas Pilot
Dipl.-Ing. architect Andreas Pilot is BIM-Manager, head of the BIM studio in the Department of Architecture at the Technical University of Darmstadt and chairman of the guideline committee VDI Sheet 11.5 BIM-lift technology.

BIM coordination use case: You can find useful support materials for model-based design coordination from the infrastructure sector from the working group “BIM4INFRA2020”. (German language only): https://bim4infra.de/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/AP1.2-AP1.3_BIM4INFRA_Bericht-Stufenplan.pdf

This very important BIM use case is comprehensively described and its conditions explained under the title “Use case 5 Coordination”. (German language only): https://bim4infra.de/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/BIM4INFRA2020_AP4_Teil6.pdf

Current IFC viewer and CDEs: The “BIM toolset” for cross-sector model exchange comprise the IFC viewer and BIM project platforms. Some examples for getting started:

IFC viewer:
• BIMcollabZOOM from Kubus: https://www.bimcollab.com/en/products/bimcollab-zoom
● FZKViewer of the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT): https://www.iai.kit.edu/english/1302.php
● BIMVision from datacomp: https://bimvision.eu/en/download/
● DDSCAD from Data Design Systems: https://www.dds-cad.net/downloads/dds-cad-viewer/

BIM project platforms with IFC viewers:
● TrimbleConnect from Trimble: https://www.tekla.com/uk/products/trimble-connect
● Bimsync from Cantenda: https://catenda.com/products/bimsync-arena/
● Aconnex from Oracle: https://www.oracle.com/de/industries/construction-engineering/aconex-project-controls/
● Squirrel from albert.ing: https://squirrel-cde.de/

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