Barrington Arch guide to BIM. Get a great over view of what building information modeling is and how BIM effects your company.

1. Copyright 2010 Barrington Architecture & Design Ltd.
You have permission to post this document, email it, print it and pass it along for free to anyone you would
like to, as long as you make no changes or edits to its contents or the printed or digital format of it.
What this means: 1. You can pass it on to a friend 2. You can send them to www.barringtonarch.com to
download it for free 3. You can make a copy of it or print it out and give it away (as long as you do not alter
the original form of it).
Copyright 2010 Barrington Architecture & Design Ltd.

2. About the Author
Hi, my name is Scott Barrington and i lead the team at Barrington Arch.
Barrington Arch. is one of the fastest growing BIM content development companies,
working with building product manufacturers from around the globe.
At the time of this publication we have been in operation, developing BIM content (for
Graphisoft ArchiCAD, Autodesk Revit) for over four years. Working with companies from
New Zealand to London.
For most business owners in the AEC industry (Architectural, Engineering & Construction)
BIM (Building Information Modelling) can be a confusing topic.
This booklet has been put together to help clear up some of this confusion & clearly
outline where your business fits into the “BIM” process and how you can implement it to
achieve fantastic results!
If, at any stage, you would like to spend some time with someone from Barrington Arch
discussing the concepts outlined in this booklet and how they relate to your business and
our services and products - feel free to contact us at info@barringtonarch.com or on
+64 3 669 0204
I sincerely hope you find this booklet helpful!
Regards
Scott Barrington
Chief Executive
Barrington Architecture & Design Ltd.
Contact Us
Phone:! +64 3 669 0204
Email:!! info@barringtonarch.com
Web:! ! www.barringtonarch.com
Copyright 2010 Barrington Architecture & Design Ltd.

3. Building Information Modeling (BIM) Process
Building Information Modeling allows architects, designers,
engineers, manufacturers, CGI experts, developers & contractors to work in
collaboration. By working from the same 3D building information models,
projects can be designed, constructed & managed with far more efficiency
and accuracy.
From B
IM con
tent to Manufacturer's products purchased
actual
purcha Your BIM content makes your products
Building Product Manufacturer se apart of the BIM process. Thus resulting
By making parametric BIM models in your products being purchased over
of your products available to Architects Owner/Developer your competitors.
& Designers, you unlock more value Manufacturers BIM Content Can keep a closer eye on the project,
in your product information and allow Distributed via the allowing them to manage costs and
Architects & designers to more easily online BIM the project outcome.
use and make decisions on your products. network channels
Thus increasing your return on investment.
Architect Contractor
Use BIM software to produce Contractors can manage
documentation from design to costs & time more easily
working documentation. & see how changes will
All documentation is produced effect the project in
more accurately and efficiently. advance.
Final project being
constructed
Engineers Building Information Model CGI, Rendering & Marketing
Can produce their documentation CGI firms can use the BIM model to produce
directly from the Architect's BIM all of their renders, animations & marketing
model. Allowing them to work material from the project's 3D BIM model. Thus
more accurately and quickly see how saving them time & allowing them to keep up
decisions effect the overall project. with changes.
Barrington Architecture & Design Ltd. Our Services: Barrington Architecture & Design
Is a specialist at all aspects of the BIM process. -BIM object creation for Manufacturers & Suppliers -Interactive & Viral Web development Works Globally. Contact us today:
From BIM object creation to Working documentation -BIM content distribution -BIM project model creation info@barringtonarch.com
to CGI animations & virtual reality.
-In house BIM object creation for Architects & Designers -Design & Working documentation for Projects www.barringtonarch.com
Contact us today: info@barringtonarch.com -Rendering, Animation & CGI -Database driven web applications
-Virtual Reality Models -BIM & Project consulting & mentoring
©Copyright 2009 Barrington Architecture & Design Ltd.

4. Introduction
Building information modelling (BIM) is currently a buzzword in the architectural and
construction industry, and is the process of producing virtual (digital) building models on a
computer which are then used to produce the documentation for the project. BIM
software is currently being adopted three times faster than 2D CAD software was in the
early 1990s.
There are a few different brands of BIM software available, such as ArchiCAD, Revit and
Vectorworks. ArchiCAD is currently the most widely used in New Zealand, with around 45
percent market share.
BIM provides a number of benefits to people and companies at all stages of the building
process. The problem most companies experience is coming to terms with BIM and
correctly understanding how it affects them.
Over the next few pages I will explain how BIM affects people in different areas of the
AEC industry.
Copyright 2010 Barrington Architecture & Design Ltd.

5. Architects
BIM software is used by architects and designers from the initial design concept to
working documentation.
This allows the initial time that has been invested in the design process to be transferred
through into the working drawing stage, thus speeding up the entire process. As well as
insuring that vital aspects of the design are transferred through to the completed project.
All the building documentation is taken from the BIM model, which enables it to be
produced more efficiently and accurately and allows far more technicians to work
collaboratively.
Architects and technicians can easily place 3D “parametric” smart objects into their BIM
models. This allows them to instantly see whether a product will work with their design,
visually & functionally.
As the project is “virtually built” on the computer, it allows for a large amount of error &
collision checking, which once again saves time & avoids errors & delays on site.
The architects BIM model can then be exported to a variety of different formats to allow
any other consultants on their time to easily collaborate with them.
Copyright 2010 Barrington Architecture & Design Ltd.

6. Content is King
In order for architects & technicians to produce powerful BIM models they require well
built and information rich BIM content.
BIM content (often referred to as Revit families or ArchiCAD objects) are the components
that make up the BIM model and are normally of a building manufacturer’s products such
as windows or timber beams.
As BIM models get more widely used (up take is happening at a rate 3 times faster than
2D CAD up take in the 1990s), the need for BIM content from manufacturers is increasing.
How Can You Help?
At Barrington Arch our core business is helping manufacturers to get their products BIM
ready and deliver them to BIM users in all of the formats they require. If you are a building
product manufacturer make sure you get in contact with us at info@barringtonarch.com,
as with any thing new, the market awards the early adopters.
If you are an architect or technician, you can help this process by recommending that
manufactures get their products into a BIM format that you can more easily use. If you
have a particular manufacturer or product you would like to see in a BIM format, feel free
to send your ideas through to us at info@barringtonarch.com
Copyright 2010 Barrington Architecture & Design Ltd.

7. Engineers/Consultants
The 3D virtual BIM models can be accessed by and exported to work with the software
used by structural, MEP and thermal engineers.
Once again this allows all parties to work in collaboration, meaning documentation is
produced more accurately. This saves time during the final building process as everything
is modelled in 3D, and any issues can be sorted out before construction starts.
Structural
Structural Engineers can take the architect’s BIM model and use it for their structural
calculations. They can then place all of their designed beams and structural elements into
the 3D BIM model. Allowing them to instantly check for collisions and whether they
compromise the architect’s design.
MEP
Mechanical, Electrical & Plumbing engineers can once again work from the same BIM
model (which now contains data from the architects & structural engineers). This allows
them to virtually run all of piping & wiring and once again check for collisions.
Thermal
Thermal & Energy Efficiency (Green Building) engineers can take the BIM model and run
simulations on it. Such as virtual sun studies & weather pattens. This allows them to
effectively see how different weather will affect the proposed building project. This
information enables us to instantly see how how energy efficient a building will be & helps
to improve it, before the project is built.
Copyright 2010 Barrington Architecture & Design Ltd.

8. Building Product Manufacturers
BIM provides manufacturers a chance to unlock more value in their product information.
By producing and making available parametric BIM objects of their products, it allows
architects, designers and engineers to use and make decisions on manufacturers’
products more easily. as well as instantly seeing how a product will affect the building
project.
Data from BIM content/objects which are place in the model can then be pulled from the
BIM model to populate schedules & specs. This allows all of the project’s documentation
to be more streamlined and creating less chance for error.
BIM content is easily distributed via a variety of internet channels, which allows product
data to reach the market more quickly and easily. The fast growing amount of
manufacturer specific BIM content allows for greater cross product comparisons and
more educated decisions.
Above is a Timber i-beam BIM object shown in ArchiCAD 12, Built by Barrington Arch.
Copyright 2010 Barrington Architecture & Design Ltd.

9. Manufacturer’s Obligation
As a building product manufacturer, making it easier for Architectural firms to integrate
your objects into their project(s) translates to more usage of your product and an increase
to your bottom line. As well as create a huge brand preference.
That means creating high quality BIM content and getting it distributed to the design
community increases your chances to be specified and used.
The Keys To Success With BIM Content
There are many key factors that will add to the success of your BIM content (whether it be
for ArchiCAD, Revit, Bentley BIM or Sketchup). These are:
1. Quiality built content
2. Good distribution
3. Backup user support
4. Updating (What happens when next year’s version of Revit or ArchiCAD is
released?)
5. Stats collection & ROI measurement. (Remember if you can’t measure it, it’s not
worth doing!)
Review Where Your At
Every building product manufacturer is different. Whether your big or small, selling
windows to concrete blocks, well made BIM content will get your products in front of more
architects & get more of your product specified. Contact us at info@barringtonarch.com is
you would like us to assess what it would take to get your product range BIM-ready. Or
click here to learn more.
Copyright 2010 Barrington Architecture & Design Ltd.

10. Developers/Owners/Clients
Through using BIM modelling, developers and owners can keep a closer eye on the
whole construction process, allowing them to manage costs and the project outcome.
BIM 3D models can then be exported for use in marketing materials. As well as used to
produce photo-realistic renders & animations
Commercial projects can also use the BIM model as part of their everyday building
management system, thus making the BIM process a very valuable part of the building’s
life cycle and yielding a huge return on investment.
Proposed living room rendered from BIM model by Barrington Arch.
Copyright 2010 Barrington Architecture & Design Ltd.

11. Summary
To summarise, BIM is all about increasing the flow of information and allowing greater
collaboration between parties within a project.
I hope this booklet has given you a better insight into the BIM process and where you,
your company or your product fit into it.
If you have any questions or would like to enquire about any of our services & products,
please contact us at info@barringtonarch.com
Regards
Scott Barrington
Chief Executive
Barrington Architecture & Design Ltd.
P.S. Still looking for more information? Be sure to check out of news/blog at
www.barringtonarch.com/news/ for some of our latest insights & ideas.
Contact Us
Phone:! +64 3 366 4131
Email:!! info@barringtonarch.com
Web:! ! www.barringtonarch.com
Twitter:! twitter.com/barringtonarch
Skype:! sdbarrington
Copyright 2010 Barrington Architecture & Design Ltd.