What is a BIM Execution Plan?
Within the BIM work methodology, the BEP (BIM Execution Plan) is a document that collects and distributes all the information necessary to successfully carry out a construction project.
This article creates a work framework where the bases, rules, and internal regulations of any construction project to be developed in BIM are established. In this way, each responsible agent knows in which phase of the project must participate.
By using a BEP, coordinated, coherent, agile, and efficient teamwork is achieved, and it also addresses the Employer’s Information Requirements (EIR).
To prevent errors and make the integration process simpler, hiring a BIM Consultant who is familiar with the job is advised.
Objectives of a BEP – BIM Execution Plan
We can define that the main objective of the BEP or BIM Execution Plan is to synchronize and coordinate the workflow of a project. With the processes improvement and time compliance, a BIM Execution Plan also allows for lower costs, better coordination and defines the dates and milestones for each construction phase.
A BIM Execution Plan is not a static or closed document. The first tentative bid of a BEP can be updated and evolved towards continuous improvement to a final BEP, once the contract is awarded by the participants in the process.
Structure and contents of a BEP or BIM Execution Plan
Every BIM Execution Plan (or BEP) is usually structured in chapters or sections, including in detail, roles, responsibilities, standards and procedures to be followed in the process.
- Introduction: Includes the definition of the BEP document, as well as the objectives of the project proposed by the contracted company at each stage of the BIM implementation. The execution strategies are incorporated based on the client’s specifications.
- General project information: general project data (name, address, cadastral reference, uses…), phases, and associated BIM level of detail (LOD) are specified here.
- Agents: In this section, the project participants, contact details, profile organization chart (defining BIM roles), and responsibilities matrix are detailed.
- Necessary technological structure: Hardware and Software, defining data, requirements, infrastructure, and procedures.
- Modeling criteria and collaboration methods: Determines the modeling system and coordination of BIM models from different disciplines in CDE (Common Data Environment), change management, and deliverables.
- Task Information Delivery Plan (TIDP): This is a table with the definition of phases, stages, and tasks with completion dates.
BIM manager, the person responsible for the BEP
At the start of every project, the BIM Manager is responsible for drafting the BIM Execution Plan. To do so, he has to take into account the requirements of the information exchange. This means that the instructions must be expressed in such a way that they can be reflected along the entire supply chain (technical, management, and commercial details).
The BIM Manager will also be responsible for keeping the execution plan up to date throughout the various phases of the project.
Benefits of a good BEP or BIM Execution Plan
The benefits of a good BEP are directly related to excellent coordination of workflows. Thus, a BIM Execution Plan allows:
- Reduce delivery times, which also facilitates compliance with budgets (cost reduction).
- Monitor the different phases of the project life cycle through the BIM methodology.
- Therefore, it facilitates transparency both in the processes, and in the responsibilities of all the agents involved in the project.
- Improve accessibility to relevant information. Different resources and necessary documents are available to all participating agents (CDE Environments).
- Achieve objectives, as these are detailed in a correct and achievable way.
- Ensure the quality of the project, optimizing processes.
A good BIM Execution Plan saves between 13% and 21% in the construction phase and between 10% and 17% in the operations phase.
