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Polypipe Ventilation launches BIM library

Polypipe Ventilation, manufacturer of market leading energy saving Domus ducting and Silavent mechanical ventilation appliances, has set up a BIM (Building Information Modelling) Library, available free of charge.

BIM is a government driven shared knowledge resource, providing all of the information about every component of a building, in one easy to access place. It enables construction professionals to digitally model a building and examine its entire life-cycle, from inception and design to demolition and materials reuse. Using BIM data reduces the risk of mistakes or discrepancies at an early stage, making for more cost-effective, safe construction.

The Polypipe Ventilation BIM Library features an extensive array of products, including energy saving, whole house Silavent HRX Mechanical Ventilation with Heat Recovery (MVHR) appliances and Silavent CMX Mechanical Extract Ventilation (MEV) units, as well as award winning Domus Radial semi-rigid duct systems and its full range of Domus rigid ducting and accessories, which incorporates Domus Thermal duct insulation and duct sound attenuators.

BIM Object data on Polypipe Ventilation products includes detailed information such as product properties, geometry, visualisation data and functional data that enables the ?object? to be positioned and behave in the same manner as the product would in-situ. Airflow rates, for example, can be set at each grille or air valve, allowing engineers to easily and more accurately estimate pressure losses and velocities within the ductwork, which isn?t possible using other design packages, such as AutoCAD. Product dimensions are automatically calculated to ensure it fits into the desired design space and even the correct amount of product required is calculated within BIM to prevent product wastage. In addition, BIM enables parts to be automatically scheduled during the design process, for speed and maximum convenience.

UK BIM processes range from Maturity Level Zero to Level Three. Typically, a Level One project will use a mixture of 3D CAD and 2D work and is the level at which most private-sector companies now find themselves. Now required by law for centrally procured public sector projects, Level Two denotes projects where all parties use their own 3D CAD models (although these will not, necessarily, be working on a single, shared model) and design information is shared through a common file format, enabling any organisation within the project to combine the data with their own. It is considered only a matter of time before deadlines are put into place for the rest of the construction industry and beyond to meet Level Two.

Polypipe Ventilation has a well deserved reputation for quality, supported by excellent technical support, from a market leading manufacturer and designer. It is well placed to offer immediate, practical solutions to Building Regulations Parts F & L. The company continues to provide differentiated solutions in the private and social housing sectors, transforming the way developers, specifiers, installers, home owners and distributors meet emerging environmental standards.

For further information please go to www.polypipe.com/ventilation or call on 03443 715523.
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Flat roof manufacturer Bauder extends BIM library

Following the arrival of the UK government’s BIM mandate back in April, which requires all centrally procured public sector building projects to be BIM Level 2 compliant, flat roof manufacturer Bauder has extended its BIM offering with the creation of 19 new waterproofing system objects that are available now for free download on its website.

The launch of Bauder’s new generic BIM models means its comprehensive library now includes objects for its bituminous, single ply, cold liquid applied, hot melt and green roof system options, which can easily be dropped into 3D models and plans. This allows architects, designers, specifiers and contractors to easily access and share all of the object information needed at the concept and design stage of a project. All of these BIM objects are available in Revit format, which according to NBS’ 2016 National BIM Report is by far the most popular tool used for producing drawings. In order to ensure that your BIM object meets the exact requirements of your building you will need to register your project with Bauder, who can in turn provide you with all the necessary technical support and resources.

Bauder’s Technical Director Nigel Blacklock commented: “A lot of the ideals that BIM is based upon, such as promoting the use of quality, long-lasting materials that deliver life-time value and getting things done properly first time on a project, align with our own principals as a market-leading manufacturer of flat roofing products. As a result, we will continue to invest our time and resources into BIM in order to extend our offering, as we see it as an integral part of the future of the built environment both in the public and private sector.”

For more information on BIM and to download your free objects now visit: www.bauder.co.uk.
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New Product Downloads

Marflow Hydronics has further developed its website to now allow customers to download relevant technical information, including BIM Models, via a brand new Product Downloads section.

With BIM Level 2 being a new requirement from April 2016 and the move towards complete BIM compliance getting closer every day, Marflow Hydronics has introduced a brand new Product Downloads area on its website that allows people to download BIM Models as well as other technical documentation. Marflow Hydronics is dedicated to providing customers with the information that they require, and this is just another part of the company’s added value service. In addition, all product pages can now be captured in PDF format at the press of a button and can be used as a data sheet, another way the company is trying to make life easier for product users.

Chris Forbes, Managing Director, says “We are continually seeking to add value for our customers and we are constantly looking at ways to develop our website further to provide people with access to the information they need. The Product Downloads area is very new and we will be working hard over the coming weeks to make sure all relevant documentation and BIM Models are included. We encourage our customers to let us know if there’s something they need that they can’t find.”

The new Product Downloads area can be accessed via the relevant button at the top of all product pages or in the Knowledgebase. Also on all product pages, there’s a new PDF Download button that will export the product information into a PDF at the click of a button.

Access to the new area is found on the Marflow Hydronics website: www.marflowhydronics.co.uk.

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Armstrong Ceilings keeps its customers in suspension

A comprehensive guide to its peerless portfolio of suspension systems has been launched by Armstrong Ceilings.

The 54-page A4 product selector catalogue provides specifiers, installers and supply chain partners with a huge range of standard and designer solutions for all types of spaces in the widest choice of designs, colours and materials to fulfill the requirements of modern building concepts.

Designed to not only coordinate with the complete portfolio of Armstrong ceiling products, whether mineral, metal, wood or custom solutions, they also integrate with all types of building service elements such as lighting and HVAC.

There are systems for metal ceilings, floating ceilings, corridors, the suspension of plasterboard ceilings (Armstrong’s fast-track precision-engineered Drywall Grid System – DGS), perimeter detailing via the AXIOM range of Blind Boxes, angles, channels, trims and bulkheads, and a wide range of accessories.

The portfolio also includes an extensive range of performance grids offering specific solutions for more demanding applications such as Clean Rooms and seismic installations.

CE Marked, resistant to fire, recyclable and available with warranties up to 30 years when installed with Armstrong ceilings, the systems are supported by CAD and BIM files, the latter via the National BIM Library.

For more information please visit www.armstrongceilings.co.uk.

Guidance on loading capacities is also included within the new suspension systems catalogue which is available to download from www.armstrong.co.uk/assets/global/commclgeu/files/Literature/3515.PDF or from the Armstrong Ceiling Systems free App. This is available from both the Apple store as well as the Google Play store, or by clicking on one of the links below with your mobile device here for iPhone or here for Android.

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BIM objects for roof slates and ridges from Cembrit

Following on from a successful launch for natural slates, Cembrit has added BIM objects for its fibre cement slates and fibre cement ridges to its growing portfolio. The new objects have been designed with the same attention to detail as the first group which were recently nominated in the Developers’ Choice BIM Object Awards 2015. This initiative is part of an ongoing process that will see the whole Cembrit product portfolio available as BIM objects.

Cembrit’s BIM objects contain detailed dimensions, product specifications and other key details, along with high quality 3D images to add into virtual model and simulated building designs. “We’ve been delighted with the reception our BIM objects have received from the specification community so far,” says Ged Ferris, Marketing Manager of Cembrit. “This latest release adds our versatile and well regarded fibre cement slates and key accessories, and so broadens the scope of our BIM object offering to encompass many more roofing design scenarios.”

The Cembrit range of fibre cement slates includes Westerland, Moorland, Zeeland, Jutland and Diamond, all offering their own unique appearance. The slates are ideal for use on conventional pitched timber roofs with a rafter pitch of 20° and over, or hung vertically as cladding on external walls. The slates are complemented by matching fibre cement ridges, ventilation solutions and fixings.

Cembrit holds five BBA Certificates for its fibre cement slate range, ensuring that whichever system is chosen, architects can be confident in the specified product. To achieve this status, Cembrit fibre cement slates completed a comprehensive testing process and successfully met all the requirements set out by the BBA. Compatible with both, Revit and IFC software versions, Cembrit’s Building Information Modelling (BIM) objects for fibre cement slates are hosted on the NBS National BIM Library and are available to be downloaded and integrated into any BIM software programme.

For more information please visit www.cembrit.co.uk. 

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Slow BIM adoption could harm UK industry

According to new research published by the RICS, 75% of surveyors believe that slow uptake and non-adoption of BIM could seriously hinder construction as an industry over the next 12 months.
The survey also found that although 74% of surveying firms have considered the very real business case for BIM adoption, there are still a large number of firms not using BIM in the day-to-day aspects of their work.
One of the main reasons for non-adoption appears to be a lack of information; 68% of respondents currently not implementing BIM within their organisation say that they don’t feel there is adequate information available for small companies in order to assist them in adopting the new modelling system.
Luddism is also playing its part to some degree; 31% of surveyors claim that there is not a need to use the technology in their organisation, whilst 26% stated that they don’t feel their firm have the technical knowledge, expertise and resources in place to adopt BIM.
55% of those members interviewed revealed that they are currently already doing business with architectural firms that are utilising BIM. Additionally, half of these respondents said that the architects they have collaborated with have been actively encouraging them to adopt BIM within their own organisations.
Global Director of Built Environment Professional Groups at the RICS, Alan Muse commented “Our research clearly shows that the importance of BIM is not being lost on the UK’s surveying sector with 73% identifying that non-adoption is likely to have a negative impact on the industry as a whole.”
“It’s clear from the research that the industry needs to be doing more to help smaller surveying firms – as well as the wider industry – in getting up to speed with the technology, particularly when it comes to how they can implement the technology across their organisation.”

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Fermacell embraces BIM

Systems from Fermacell are now available through bimstore.

Systems from Fermacell, manufacturer of the “ultimate building board”, are now available through bimstore.

Downloadable in the Revit format, more than 30 Fermacell systems for walls, floors and ceilings are now available through the UK’s largest BIM portal, www.bimstore.co.uk, as well as through www.fermacell.co.uk.

The Fermacell BIM components include steel and timber stud partitions, steel and timber wall linings and SFS wall systems as well as dry floor screed and steel frame and timber ceilings.

Fermacell’s BIM models provide 3D digital replicas of the products as well as the critical COBIE data which an architect will need about them to guide them through the whole design and construction process.

The 3D images complement the drawings and details that are the legal documents in the design and construction process when the information model is a basis for tenders and proposals.

Fermacell general manager Gary Carter said: “Fermacell sees BIM as an integral part of the strategy to maximise the construction process from inception through to completed construction.”

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