Foster, the commercial refrigeration manufacturer, has announced that its product ranges are now live on the professional foodservice industry’s leading BIM database.

This will enable design houses and architects to access technical information supporting each product listed, 3D BIM models and to create quotations using live pricing information.

The 3D models of Foster’s range have been uploaded to the CESABIM site ahead of government legislation, which says all public-funded projects must use BIM (Building Information Modelling) in their design phase from January 2016. BIM will allow effective planning and control, whilst helping to reduce construction costs.

To answer this industry need, CESA (the Catering Equipment Suppliers Association) created CESABIM to allow manufacturers, designers and suppliers of catering equipment to view and download compatible 3D models, in order that they can be specified for projects using BIM.

Now also featuring the Foster range, the site is designed to make it simple to gain access to BIM models, which can be uploaded into any BIM compatible software.

Foster customers, design houses and architects can access CESABIM using Autoscheme Factory Pro software, which is downloadable via the company’s website. This free industry standard software tool also allows access to 2D plan CAD blocks, product information and specification sheets as well as the creation of quotations using live pricing information. Once downloaded the models can be rendered to create photo realistic images for kitchen or restaurant design layouts.

Market and development director at Foster, Chris Playford, said: 'The CESABIM site is going to prove very important for designers going forward, with the onset of the BIM legislation.'

He continued: 'Customers who log in will have access to Foster 2D Plan CAD blocks and Foster 3D BIM models in IFC format which can be used on all proprietary CAD software systems including Autoscheme, ArchiCAD and Revit, along with live product and price information – all key in ensuring best practice for public funded projects, such as our work in the schools and university sector.'

For more information about CESABIM, please visit: http://www.cesabim.com/

To apply for an account to access Autoscheme Factory Pro software, please visit: www.autoscheme.com/bim_guide