Building Smarter: BIM and Beyond

Smart building practices give engineers, builders and designers a leg up on the competition for complex projects

By Melody Spradlin. South Bay Office Leader, Dome Construction, San Jose

Today’s contractors have become “smart builders” who are using highly sophisticated computer modeling tools to tackle complex projects at biotech and computer labs and other high-tech manufacturing facilities.

The models allow a design-build team to visualize synergies and conflicts in the various systems and allow the users to “walk around” in the building while it is still on paper.

And when the model is created on multiple databases with the future use of the building in mind, important information can be stored, including maintenance records, training documentation and validation to installation.

advertisement

The engineers at Dome Construction Corp. in San Francisco and San Jose have created a building culture that is at the forefront in the usage building information modeling and other complimentary methodologies. Our company has used BIM to construct hospitals, biofuels plants, pharmaceutical facilities and computer operations throughout the Bay Area.

Here are 10 advantages resulting from smart building practices:

1. You can use BIM’s multiple parallel database functionality to store a lot more sets of data tied to building components than is currently done.

2. Smart building can show cash flow overtime as the model of the schedule is being built. This results in less cost tied to objects and scheduling.

BIM models allow a design-build team to visualize synergies and conflicts in the various systems.

3. You can tie LEED ratings with each object, so that LEED paperwork is automatically produced with equipment and materials selected in drawings versus submitting a separate package.

4. For a GMP (current Good Manufacturing Practices) facility, you can tie all of the commissioning and validation data to each piece of equipment. It is much easier to locate this data later for an inspection by FDA. With the large dollars associated with these facilities, a lot of the members of the board of directors are involved in the decisions. Only a few can read drawings, so the more of these synchronized visualizations, the better.

5. For a local university law school project, our project team is utilizing BIM for energy modeling to verify Title 24 and ASHRAE 90 baseline calculations. In addition, facilities management will use BIM and the integrated building control system (i.e., HVAC, ceiling fans, operable windows, shade controls, lighting, etc. to “fine-tune” energy performance results, based upon trend data.) The projected BIM savings per year is nearly 15%.

6. During a biotech manufacturing expansion project, we used the BIM animation feature for equipment setting, given the limited space constraints. Mechanical, process piping, plumbing, electrical and fire protection scopes of work were coordinated using Autodesk Navisworks 2010. The resource-loaded scheduling approach for MEP rough-in phase was based on BIM model information.

7. For a biotech pilot plant project, we used BIM to coordinate a new structural roof platform vs. the air handling units and process air handling units to ensure proper access was achieved and unnecessary piping and ductwork offsets were avoided, causing pressure drops and increased energy consumption. And we used BIM for air filtration, specifically HEPA filter location for air flow characteristics vs. process equipment and user interface.

8. For a biotech isolator/scale-up project, we used BIM for a Class 100 or Grade A room to ensure proper air flow was maintained throughout the space vs. process equipment. In addition, this model was used for mechanical, plumbing and electrical/controls interface, given the limited building height.

9. On a biotech project we were able to use the model to expedite the design and fabrication process by using the model to finalize appropriate routings in highly complex spaces and move directly into fabrication of all duct and piping materials. The model allows for direct usage in creating validation documentation (ISOs, weld logs, etc.) and to bypass lengthy reviews of individual isometric drawings.

10. On a local university project, the BIM model provided for a detailed review of the finished product to the client for verification that the design was satisfactory. We were also able to confirm the functionality of the private offices because our model integrated the ceiling fans, lighting, operable windows and control systems.

BIM can be used for energy modeling to verify Title 24 and ASHRAE 90 baseline calculations.

Overall, the advantages of using thoughtfully applied, smart building practices yield cost savings, as well as easier-to-access and more maintainable facilities, schedule reduction, improved accountability and better coordinated vendor management. BIM helps bring projects in on time and on budget much better than traditional paper-driven management methods of the past.

Melody Spradlin is a graduate of the U.S Naval Academy BS, Southern New Hampshire College MBA and Stanford University MS Civil Engineering, Construction Engineering and Management. Spradlin has worked in the construction industry since 1986 and in the Bay Area construction industry since 1988. She has taught in the Design Construction Integration masters program at Stanford University as a consulting professor and guest lecturer.