Sarah Birchall, Sustainability Engineer with the research and consultancy organisation BSRIA Ltd, describes what is required by Government Soft Landings
The word BIM is everywhere at the moment, and every now and then Government Soft Landings (GSL) is also mentioned in the same sentence, but there is still some confusion within the industry around what BIM and GSL are.
The UK construction sector is interested in these subjects because the UK Government has specified that all central government departments will be required to adopt fully collaborative 3D BIM (in terms of BIM maturity, this is Level 2 BIM which means, among other things, that all project and asset information, documentation and data is worked on electronically and collaboratively) on their projects as a minimum by 2016. Government has refined its definition of Level 2 BIM as compliance with the following seven components, one of which is GSL:
1. PAS 1192-2: 2013 Specification for information management for the capital/delivery phase of construction projects using building information modelling
2. PAS 1192-3: 2014 Specification for information management for the operational phase of assets using building information modelling (BIM)
3. BS 1192-4: 2014 Collaborative production of information Part 4: Fulfilling employers information exchange requirements using COBie – Code of practice
4. Building Information Model (BIM ) Standard Protocol for use in projects using Building Information Models
5. Government Soft Landings (GSL)
6. Digital Plan of Work
7. Classification
The first five of these are already available. The Digital Plan of Work and Classification are currently being developed by RIBA Enterprises, as part of a TSB funded research project and are due for delivery in spring 2015.
On the UK Government’s BIM Task Group website BIM is defined as “value creating collaboration through the entire life-cycle of an asset, underpinned by the creation, collation and exchange of shared 3D models and intelligent, structured data attached to them”. BSRIA views it more simply as a managed approach to the collection and exploitation of information about built assets.
GSL is a UK Government client requirement on projects that has been drawn up from the principles of a BSRIA published document called Soft Landings Framework BG54/2014. These requirements have been developed for use within Central Government’s own procurement strategy. The key objective is about “aligning the interests of those who design and construct an asset with those who subsequently use it”.
Although the GSL process generally follows the Soft Landings methodology described in the publication, it also adds the use of metrics to demonstrate compliance with construction project outcomes.
Under GSL, government departments will be required to define a series of high-level outcomes at the very beginning of a project. GSL also provides key questions that will need to be asked by the government department’s GSL project champion (an individual assigned to each project to see the GSL process is followed through) and answered by the construction team as the project progresses. It is designed to aid decision making and focus on the defined project outcomes. There are four areas that these outcomes need to link with and each will need targets and monitoring throughout the project stages:
1. Functionality and Effectiveness: the needs of occupiers/users of the building must be met effectively.
2. Environmental performance: performance targets in terms of energy efficiency, water usage and waste reduction must be met.
3. Facilities Management: a clear, cost efficient strategy for managing the operations of the building is vital.
4. Commissioning, Training and Handover: it is important that projects are delivered, handed over and supported to meet the needs of the end users, operators and maintainers.
Exactly how the metrics will be set is still work in progress but GSL, along with its measurements for building performance, will help ensure that the building delivered meets the client’s aspirations and objectives. GSLs main benefit is around meeting the needs of the end users and the required operational outcomes.
Further information about BIM, Government Soft Landings and Soft Landings can be found at the following websites:
http://www.bimtaskgroup.org/gsl/
https://www.bsria.co.uk/services/design/soft-landings/free-guidance/
In 2009, BSRIA and the Usable Buildings Trust developed the core principles and published the Soft Landings Framework. The idea behind it is to make buildings perform better from day one.
The Soft Landings approach identifies specific gateways in the design and construction process where the performance needs to be reviewed and any issues addressed. By using the gateways to make changes and monitor improvements, a building can pass more smoothly from its build phase into occupation. This creates a “soft landing” rather than a “crash landing”.
Sarah Birchall
Sustainability Engineer
BSRIA Ltd
Tel: 01344 465600
bsria@bsria.co.uk
www.bsria.co.uk
www.twitter.com/BSRIALtd
