July 1, 2016 |
Specialist structural steel manufacturer voestalpine Metsec plc has gained BIM Level 2 accreditation; becoming the first cold roll steel forming company to be certified as such by the BSI, and the first Tier 2 designer and manufacturer to achieve the standard for design and construction in the UK.
Building Information Modelling (BIM) Level 2 is characterised by the ability to work collaboratively across the supply chain. Although parties involved in a project will use separate 3D CAD models, the design files must be supplied in a common format.
Since April 2016 BIM Level 2 has been an official requirement on all centrally procured government programmes. In addition, main contractors on prestigious, large-scale or complex projects are now demanding that suppliers and specialist subcontractors have the correct level of BIM capability.
Since 2013, Metsec has made significant investment in the development of its BIM capabilities, which have played an integral role in many of its major contract wins and overall success as a provider of bespoke solutions. The company recognises that to improve construction processes the industry needs to embrace and integrate BIM at all stages of construction – from conceptualisation phases right through to project delivery.
In support of this strategy Metsec has now achieved BIM Level 2 accreditation from the BSI. Alan Harris at Metsec commented:
“The integration of BIM has been a key part of our long-term strategy and service offering for many years. We are proud to be among the very first companies in our sector to be certified as Level 2 compliant.
The way buildings are planned, designed, built and managed is changing. As such, the creation of more accurate models and plans within the same BIM modeling format will help our industry to identify and solve issues earlier in the construction process. BIM is all about providing a greater level of insight, which allows us to offer clients best performance, quality and value.”
The achievement of BIM Level 2 for Metsec follows a long commitment to technical excellence, training and education within the business and Metsec’s sponsorship of a BIM training and development suite near to its Oldbury headquarters. The first of its kind from a local authority – it aims to help individuals and construction businesses improve their understanding of BIM and take the necessary vocational training.
Metsec has produced a leaflet that explains BIM, why it is so vital to the industry and how Metsec can help - to download visit www.metsec.com/bim/.
