The client asked for a BIM....

[jagostinho]

Hello,

You have all been there, for sure, so I would really like to get some feedback.

The BIM word is currently spreading accross too quickly for people to know what that really means (even the ones how know about it debate), so it is fairly common for clients to hear about it and ask for a BIM whithout knowing what that may mean.

As architects, what do you do? do you tie your liability to particular LOD levels? How do you set limits to your responsability?

thanks.

[Wanderer]

Hello,

You have all been there, for sure, so I would really like to get some feedback.

The BIM word is currently spreading accross too quickly for people to know what that really means (even the ones how know about it debate), so it is fairly common for clients to hear about it and ask for a BIM whithout knowing what that may mean.

As architects, what do you do? do you tie your liability to particular LOD levels? How do you set limits to your responsability?

thanks.

First of all, talk to the techs on the owner side to see what they really need and how they'll use the data. The execs and PMs never know that...
It could be a model for building analysis or clash detection or simply including specially formatted numbers to import into their CAFM or CMMS.

Some of those requests will be easy and not effect your processes at all, others will require more explicit contracts.

(See here: http://mistressofthedorkness.blogspot.com/2012/09/what-does-owner-want-with-bim.html )

[Brian Myers]

I would talk to your clients and discuss what they mean by "BIM" and come to a mutual understanding of project needs, concerns, and expectations. Once that becomes somewhat defined you protect yourself contractually in terms of what your deliverable will be.

Here are a few links to start with. I realize I'm providing you with a lot of reading, but I believe strongly that discussing BIM and protecting your practice is worth the time to educate yourself:

http://www.aia.org/aiaucmp/groups/aia/documents/pdf/aiab085571.pdf

http://www.fm.virginia.edu/fpc/ContractAdmin/ProfSvcs/BIMAIASample.pdf

http://info.aia.org/aia/digitaldocuments.cfm

http://www.aia.org/contractdocs/training/bim/aias078742

http://www.aia.org/contractdocs/index.htm