BIM Execution Plan: Tips for Effective BEP Creation and Implementation

Building information modeling (BIM) has revolutionized the construction industry by incorporating advanced computer models and 3D representations. Design, planning, and testing processes can now be completed in the digital realm to improve efficiency and collaboration in construction projects. BIM Execution Plans help teams utilize this technology more effectively by providing a framework for BIM integration and management.

What Is a BIM Execution Plan (BEP)?

A BIM Execution Plan (BEP) is a document that outlines how a project will utilize building information modeling (BIM) tools to achieve objectives. The BEP ensures all stakeholders are aligned on deliverables, modeling standards, and data exchanges.

BIM execution plan requirements are included in the BS EN ISO 19650-1 and BS EN ISO 19650-2 standards, which replaced the previous PAS 1192-2:2013 standard in 2018. BEP standards establish a common approach to BIM that allows organizations to reduce errors and improve collaboration. A properly developed and executed BIM implementation plan ensures projects flow through each phase smoothly and all stakeholders understand their specific roles.

What Is Included in a BIM Execution Plan?

A BEP is not just a checkbox activity, so a well-written BIM project execution plan should include information that guides stakeholders on the proper use of BIM technology and how to communicate progress effectively. While the contents of a BEP vary according to the scope and requirements, a few key elements should always be included in the plan.

• Roles and responsibilities: The plan should clearly state expectations for each team and organization, including responsibilities for general tasks like data management and clash detection and specific deliverables such as models and reports. Key individual participants should also be named.
• Project timelines: Milestones and their timelines should be included in the BEP so that stakeholders can track the progress of important tasks like model development, design sign off, and cost estimation. Comparing progress to BEP timelines helps to keep tasks on schedule.
• Deliverables: The goals of the BIM design should be translated into a list of deliverables required for completion. These deliverables might include things like clash detection reports, quantity takeoff, build schedules, as-built models, and 5D cost estimation reports.
• Training requirements: The BEP should include basic BIM training requirements for each team member so that these tasks are completed as early as possible, and everyone understands how to use BIM tools properly and adhere to BIM standards.
• Working procedures: Standard approaches to workflows like data transfers, BIM iteration management, file naming conventions, and construction tolerances should be included in the BIM execution plan to keep everyone on the same page.

Types of BIM Execution Plans

The information captured in a BIM execution plan will vary depending on the scope and status. Pre-contract and post-contract BEPs are the two primary plan types.

• Pre-contract BEP: This type of plan is drafted during the tendering stage before the contract is awarded. Using this type of BEP, contractors or suppliers will lay out their proposed BIM approach based on their preferences and capabilities. Specific input from managers and clients might also be included.
• Post-contract BEP: After the contract is awarded, this type of plan includes more specific task and schedule information. A post-contract BIM implementation plan builds upon a foundation created in the pre-contract plan to finalize details like model management protocols, data exchange methods, and quality control practices.

The Importance of Having a BIM Execution Plan

BIM is a powerful tool for enhancing design and construction processes, but it must be used properly to avoid costly mistakes and miscommunication that can lead to inaccurate models and simulations. These issues can cause delays, rework, and cost overruns, and they can also impact the safety and quality of the finished structure in significant ways.

The BIM execution plan creates a structure for collaboration, quality, and change control that maximizes BIM’s benefits while eliminating drawbacks. A BEP is also important because it provides a clear roadmap for implementing BIM processes and standards that extend through each stage.

How to Create a BIM Execution Plan

Creating an effective BEP goes beyond including appropriate sections and ensuring compliance with BEP standards. A good BIM execution planning guide must also be clear, concise, and relatable to the stakeholders who need to understand and follow it. This can be accomplished through thoughtful research and planning during the document creation process.

Understand the Project

What are the ultimate goals of the undertaking? What role will BIM play in accomplishing them? These are some of the questions you need to ask as you gain the insight required to draft an effective BEP. You should also understand the hierarchy of team members, unique elements of the scope, critical deadlines, and similarities to past BIM endeavors that can be studied for comparison.

Define Key Objectives

This review step should include the project’s objectives as well as goals for BIM implementation. For example, BIM objectives might include improving design coordination, reducing rework, improving the construction cost estimation and takeoff processes, or using BIM to model and implement green designs that improve sustainability and energy efficiency.

Set Clear Roles and Responsibilities

Accountability is a key part of any comprehensive plan, and BIM project execution plans are no exception. Assigning roles and responsibilities upfront for things like model coordination and quality control ensures everyone is aware of their expected tasks and properly trained and prepared to carry them out. Clear assignment of responsibilities also helps identify resource gaps to complete the BIM tasks on time.

Define Communication and Collaboration Protocols

With teams often working in different locations, the benefits of BIM are most evident when collaboration and communication in construction projects are strong. BIM execution plans provide an opportunity to standardize collaboration practices by laying down ground rules for common scenarios like model sharing, model updates, and conflict/issue resolution. Alignment of standards and collaboration norms is especially important for large international teams.

Develop Your BIM Execution Strategy

The BIM execution strategy is the underlying framework that guides the coordination, implementation, and management of BIM processes. This strategy should be established even before the BEP is written since it helps define and prioritize goals and objectives. The high-level strategy will also feed into personnel requirements and decisions on BEP software selection and purchasing that must be made early on.

Select the Software to Be Used

The selection of BIM management software is a key aspect of the execution strategy and one of the most important decisions to be made. Each available software tool offers unique features and capabilities, such as cloud compatibility, automated reporting, and large-scale model compatibility. RIB CostX is one solution that boosts BIM implementation and execution by providing an all-in-one takeoff, estimating, and reporting solution that accurately estimates quantities and costs based on BIM files that incorporate large data repositories.

Determine Deliverables With a Timeline

No plan is complete without a detailed timeline to set goals for the team and baseline progress. The upfront time spent defining resources, tasks, and tools will pay dividends by allowing realistic timelines to be included in the released BIM execution plan. These timelines should include critical milestones and collaborative reviews that allow the team to track progress at regular intervals, as well as built-in buffer periods to address unforeseen challenges.

Establish Quality Control and Assurance Plans

Quality control means verifying that each BIM element and deliverable has been completed correctly. In contrast, BIM quality assurance focuses on building quality into the culture so that best practices and standards compliance become the norm. For the BEP, quality assurance and quality control policies and guidelines should outline verification steps, model validation protocols, and review checkpoints to ensure that the BIM process maintains a high level of quality.

Monitor Regularly and Improve

It is important to remember that the BEP is a living document intended to change as needed while the team moves through each phase. Monitoring deliverables, timeline performance, resources, and quality objectives in the plan at regular intervals allows the team to learn from their experiences with BIM and incorporate these lessons into BEP revisions and future BIM processes and workflows. Professional construction analytics software is a great tool to generate progress reports and track performance in real-time.

Final Thoughts

The history of BIM has shown the construction industry that centuries-old design, planning, and building processes can be taken into the digital age. However, as the saying goes, “With great power comes great responsibility,” and an effective and well-written BIM execution plan can ensure this revolutionary technology is used responsibly and efficiently. Thankfully, complementary software tools now make it easier than ever to coordinate international BIM teams, automate workflows, track real-time progress, and leverage BIM for efficient takeoffs and estimates.

Our state-of-the-art BIM takeoff software, RIB CostX, facilitates BIM management by providing powerful automation features and templates to make the job of construction companies a lot easier and more efficient. The platform supports various BIM files to ensure full integration and collaboration. If you are ready to benefit from innovative BIM support, get a free demo of RIB CostX today!