ASHRAE Insights

 Imagine having a crystal ball that allows you to predict the design, construction and operation of a building while still in concept phase.

Building information modeling (BIM), which is the use of real-time, intelligent, multidimensional and dynamic models long used in the manufacturing and aerospace industries, provides you with a look into the future of a building.

A look at how BIM is changing the building industry will be presented in a seminar at the 2008 ASHRAE Winter Meeting, Jan. 19–23, in New York. The seminar, Building Information Modeling, takes place from 8–9:30 a.m. Jan. 20 at the Hilton New York.

“Although buildings will continue to be unique undertakings that will never enjoy the refinements and economies that mass production industries do, BIM allows the construction industry to accurately design, construct and operate buildings in a virtual environment before the first yard of earth is moved or the first brick or bath of mortar ordered,” said Dennis Knight.
“By allowing for greater collaboration between disciplines and trades involved in the process, we will produce better buildings that are safer, healthier, environmentally more sustainable and economically more efficient with fewer errors, omissions and less waste.” Knight is vice chair of ASHRAE’s technical committee on integrated building design, which is sponsoring the session.

The session seeks to provide practical information from practicing HVAC&R design professionals on how to begin the process of implementing BIM into a design or construction practice.

Knight said that ASHRAE is actively participating in the process of making BIM a preferred method of designing, constructing and operating buildings. 

ASHRAE has established a Building Information Modeling and Interoperability Steering Committee to develop and identify initiatives and opportunities presented by interoperability, BIM, and related topics.

“We need to be cognizant of the bigger picture—the potential impact of BIM on almost everything we do as a technical society, not just on technology associated with buildings but the actual process of design, construction, commissioning and operation,” said Gordon Holness, Fellow/Life Member ASHRAE, chair of the steering committee.

The committee also is working to develop informational and educational programs on BIM and interoperability.

Externally, ASHRAE is participating in collaborative efforts to help develop common terminology and common technologies to ensure data exchange across operating platforms and software systems is reliable and accurate. 

ASHRAE has representation on the buildingSMART Alliance, which is an independent body of the National Institute of Building Sciences. The alliance, whose members include the International Code Council, the International Alliance on Interoperability and the Construction Specification Institute, is working to develop an open information environment for knowledge based collaborative processes throughout the lifecycle of a building.

Topics covered and speakers in the ASHRAE seminar include:
•  Automating Code Compliance Checking with BIM, David Conover, International Code Council, Washington, D.C.
• The Promise and Reality of BIM, Christopher Wilkins, P.E., Hallam-ICS, Burlington, Vt.
• Building Information Modeling and ASHRAE’s Steering Committee on BIM and Interoperability, Gordon Holness, P.E., Grosse Pointe Shores, Mich.

For more information about the ASHRAE meeting, Jan. 19–23, New York Hilton, visit www.ashrae.org/newyork.