best practice, it’s important to involve the client as
early as possible to see to what extent they will use
the model post-build.
Although many within the pharmaceutical sector can see the benefits of BIM, some are reluctant
to embrace it. This is attributed to a lack of understanding of the concept.
While there is a natural progression toward
the standard, a debate has emerged about when to
train people on BIM. Up until now, the process has
evolved organically, and it will continue to do so
as people introduce the skills to those entering the
sector.
Soon we will reach critical mass where decision
makers are educated in BIM and incorporate it in
all their projects.
Benefits to the pharmaceutical sector
One of the key benefits of incorporating BIM into a
pharmaceutical build is the ability to detect clashes
and extract data from the model. With a 2-D model,
it is very easy to miss clashes, which can cause severe
problems when the facility is in construction. A 3-D
CAD model allows users to de-risk construction,
minimalizing problems on-site.
The software encourages people to work in a
different way, putting greater emphasis on services
such as electricity, water, and in the case of cleanrooms, ventilation, cooling and heating.
BIM is a powerful tool for showing clients
exactly how their facility will work. It can provide
users with almost photographic images of the proposed facility. This process also means that builders could potentially work off-site and pre-fabri-cate certain elements of the build, which can then
be installed later.
BIM ensures that all the pre-fabricated elements will fit perfectly with the pre-installed elements. Without BIM, the idea of pre-fabricating a
build would not be possible. The process can not
only save time and money, but the client is also
left with a cleaner site throughout the build.
The seeds of revolution have been sown in the
construction industry, but for the BIM concept
to be truly embraced, suppliers must continue
to educate and inform clients of its benefits,
post-construction.
Neil Pulman is the principal architect at Boulting
Environmental Services, where he is responsible for
assembling the correct teams for a variety of projects
and unites both the technical and the aesthetic aspirations of clients into a building that is operationally
correct and both pleasant to occupy and look at. He
holds a Post Graduate Diploma in Architecture from the
University of Huddersfield.
