The building services sector’s ability to engage with BIM will be tested by a major new survey, conducted by the Electrical Contractors’ Association (ECA), supported by the Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE) alongside building services and engineering consultancy BSRIA.

Over the next six to 12 months, businesses working in building services will be able to share data via an online survey which should reveal how prepared the sector is to adopt ‘BIM Level 2’ practice, which allows for the sharing of digital building information between those involved in building and maintaining the structure.

The survey comes at a crucial time for the sector because the Government will require BIM Level 2 engagement when it awards contracts from 2016. This is in order to achieve the greater innovation and cost-savings associated with using this technology throughout a building’s life-cycle. Many other bodies, including those in the commercial and public sectors, have also committed to introduce BIM Level 2 as a requirement in bidding for contracts next year.

CIBSE technical director, Hywel Davies, said: “Government is committed to using BIM to improve its management and operation of buildings and infrastructure. Mechanical, electrical and plumbing services are all critical to the effective operation of buildings. Our sector is involved in the operational life and performance of built assets, not just the design and delivery.”

He added: “Getting the right information into the model and then ensuring that the model is still accurate on handover to the building managers and operators is key to the whole success of BIM. This survey is important for our sector to understand how well prepared we are for BIM.”

BSRIA's Principal Consultant and BIM specialist, John Sands, said: “With the implementation of the UK Government’s Level 2 BIM mandate just a few months away, the building services industry should be in a position to make the most of the opportunities it will present. This survey will help us all to identify where we are in the BIM journey, and to enable us to plan the way forward to BIM maturity.”

The BIM study will run until 15 September and can be accessed by visiting www.surveymonkey.com/r/ECA-BIM