With everything all about BIM and collaboration and coordination amongst the design team. I have a question about sharing digital information, with subtrades and contractors.
We are a structural consulting firm in Canada, and obviously we work closely with Architects, Mechanical and Electrical Engineers (AEC) during the design and construction of all our projects. Doing so by using BIM360 or the old school Friday model exchange etc etc. The question we are having right now is how much information do we share with the subtrades and contractors who are brought on to the project after the tender process or even after construction has started. Do we just freely share out Revit model with any one who asks for it, such as a rebar supplier who will detail and produce the shop drawings and rebar for the project. Or do we charge them a small fee for in simple terms providing them with a completed model they easily can design their steel in.
As well should we be worried about proprietary information such as custom schedules, dimension styles, families, etc that we have taken time and invested money into developing, being copied and reused by others.
We are looking at providing the design team full access to the model of course, but only providing AutoCAD exports to any trades brought on that are not on the design team. And if they require more then that we are considering charging a small fee for the Revit model.
Any suggestions of advice on this would be great.