1. Fire Sprinkler Design and BIM
The construction industry moves toward BIM compliance.
Paul A. Basherian
Vice President
M.E.P.CAD, Inc.
431 Eastgate Rd., 3rd Floor
Henderson, NV USA
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2. Building Information Modelling (BIM)
Becoming common for projects to be designed in 3D BIM
Ready or not, the construction industry is rapidly moving away from traditional 2D CAD design tools and toward this modern method of design
UK market is moving toward BIM compliance
* If any of these issues caused a schedule delay or need to be discussed further, include details in next slide.

3. Building Information Modelling (BIM)
3D: intelligent object building model for spatial coordination
4D: Construction Time and Scheduling
5D: Cost
6D: As-Built Working Model for Maintenance and Building Life Cycle
Possibly More Levels to Come
* If any of these issues caused a schedule delay or need to be discussed further, include details in next slide.

4. Level of Detail(LOD)
Typically, Too Much Information (detail) is provided for sub-contractors in the working model
High LOD = very large files (> 1GB!)
Requires a significant investment in hardware and training
Ideally, Extract only Trade-Specific information from model
No industry standard for BIM Levels!
Other standards and levels: COBie (0 – 3), 1-4, G0 – G3, & more…
* If any of these issues caused a schedule delay or need to be discussed further, include details in next slide.

5. Why Change?
Why should our industry move away from traditional design tools?
Why should we abandon years of investment in software and training?
Mainstream Architectural BIM software is very powerful, but somewhat limited for a fire sprinkler designer
No welded outlets
No complex hydraulic calculations involving unlimited loops, pumps, multiple water sources, and more
No curved pipe
No stocklisting for fabrication
Massive file sizes : workflow slows to a crawl
* If any of these issues caused a schedule delay or need to be discussed further, include details in next slide.

6. Limitations of 2D CAD – “The Hammer”
“When all you have is a Hammer, everything starts to look like a Nail”
Dependent on a command-driven, layer-dependent 2D CAD engine, which is not BIM
The 3rd dimension must be constantly thought about since it is not on the screen during design and within the design program
Requires training for 2D CAD engine, the fire sprinkler design add-on program, a separate coordination program, and possibly the program used to create the building model
No internal intelligence of elements
Draw with lines, blocks, and attribute tags (electronic hand drafting)
CAD = Computer Aided (Hand) Drafting
* If any of these issues caused a schedule delay or need to be discussed further, include details in next slide.

7. Limitations of 2D CAD
No immediate feedback for spatial coordination – info must be sent to:
External coordination program does not allow modifications, hydraulic calculations, or fabrication stocklisting
Time consuming back and forth (2D – 3D) process
What is the project about?
Define the goal of this project
Is it similar to projects in the past or is it a new effort?
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Is it an independent project or is it related to other projects?
* Note that this slide is not necessary for weekly status meetings

8. Traditional Coordination
FLOWCHART
Traditional Coordination 2D
Design
Repeat
Create 3D model, then open and view in coordination program
All revisions must be made in 2D design program – repeat process as many times as necessary until design is collision-free
Collisions?
Design
Repeat
Yes
Time Wasted No
Maintain 2 versions of the same system (2D and 3D)!
Convert
Check 2D
Design 3D
Design

9. BIM-Compliant Coordination
FLOWCHART
BIM-Compliant Coordination
Design
Complete! 3D
Design
Maximum Efficiency
Analysis
Revisions
Collisions?
Yes No
All revisions made in design environment for immediate hydraulic and cost analysis
Maintain only 1 version of the system (3D BIM)
Done!

10. Automobile Design Analogy
What is the project about?
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Back to the Old Drawing Board

11. Good What is the project about? Define the goal of this project
Is it similar to projects in the past or is it a new effort?
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Good

12. Not Good What is the project about? Define the goal of this project
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Not Good

13. Definitely Not Good What is the project about?
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* Note that this slide is not necessary for weekly status meetings
Definitely Not Good

14. Brilliant What is the project about? Define the goal of this project
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Brilliant

15. The challenges of 3D building plans
Increasingly complex buildings
Reveals the limitations of 2D CAD
What is the project about?
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* Note that this slide is not necessary for weekly status meetings

16. The challenges of 3D building plans
What is the project about?
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The same building in 2D

17. BIM for your Business Model
Resisting this only serves to stifle innovation and limit your company’s flexibility. Both are bad news for a Business Model.
What does all of this mean for your Business Model?
Transitioning to modern technology before your competition does will allow you to acquire or maintain a competitive advantage.
What is the project about?
Define the goal of this project
Is it similar to projects in the past or is it a new effort?
Define the scope of this project
Is it an independent project or is it related to other projects?
* Note that this slide is not necessary for weekly status meetings

18. Business Model Analysis – The Kodak Corp.
Perfect example of a company resisting change.
Initially ignored the shift away from film and toward digital imaging
Ultimately cost them their position at the top.
Massive legacy costs in hardware
Skepticism and dismissal of new technology
Instead of a bigger and better hammer, a completely different tool was required
What is the project about?
Define the goal of this project
Is it similar to projects in the past or is it a new effort?
Define the scope of this project
Is it an independent project or is it related to other projects?
* Note that this slide is not necessary for weekly status meetings

19. Benefits of 3D BIM – “The Anti-Hammer Device” a. k. a
Benefits of 3D BIM – “The Anti-Hammer Device” a.k.a. The Right Tool for the Job
BIM is more than just nice looking 3D pictures or models.
Improved system design through better collaboration with all trades
Coordination becomes a Team Effort
What is the project about?
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Is it similar to projects in the past or is it a new effort?
Define the scope of this project
Is it an independent project or is it related to other projects?
* Note that this slide is not necessary for weekly status meetings

20. Risk is reduced by eliminating unknowns
Benefits of 3D BIM – “The Anti-Hammer Device” a.k.a. The Right Tool for the Job
Risk is reduced by eliminating unknowns
Increased accuracy in ordering materials and fabrication
Delivery of products and services are accelerated through better efficiency
Fewer changes on job site – less wasted material and labor (Increased Profits)
Better predictability of costs and scheduling – again, due to the elimination of unknowns
What is the project about?
Define the goal of this project
Is it similar to projects in the past or is it a new effort?
Define the scope of this project
Is it an independent project or is it related to other projects?
* Note that this slide is not necessary for weekly status meetings

21. BIM for Fire Sprinkler Design
Instead of lines representing pipes, blocks for fittings, inherent properties instead of attribute tags, full BIM compliance requires intelligent parts in a three-dimensional model. This is the “I” in BIM. Without this, the model is just a 3D picture.
Intelligent parts contain the product data sheet, hydraulic properties, weight, cost, and more.
What is the project about?
Define the goal of this project
Is it similar to projects in the past or is it a new effort?
Define the scope of this project
Is it an independent project or is it related to other projects?
* Note that this slide is not necessary for weekly status meetings

22. BIM for Fire Sprinkler Design
Water Flowing
No Water Flow
Each parameter can be changed, which changes the object’s appearance and behavior. For example, a check valve would behave exactly as its real world counterpart would. If it’s oriented in the wrong direction, the clapper within the valve should close and not allow the flow of water in the opposite direction.
What is the project about?
Define the goal of this project
Is it similar to projects in the past or is it a new effort?
Define the scope of this project
Is it an independent project or is it related to other projects?
* Note that this slide is not necessary for weekly status meetings

23. BIM for Fire Sprinkler Design
Fire pumps, water storage tanks (including water level information to establish QMax and QCap data), fire sprinklers, hose valves, etc. should all know their role in the system and interact with each other appropriately.
What is the project about?
Define the goal of this project
Is it similar to projects in the past or is it a new effort?
Define the scope of this project
Is it an independent project or is it related to other projects?
* Note that this slide is not necessary for weekly status meetings

24. Fire Sprinkler Design and BIM – Q&A
The construction industry moves toward BIM compliance.
Kevin Maddux, PE
President
M.E.P.CAD, Inc.
431 Eastgate Rd., 3rd Floor
Henderson, NV USA
Paul A. Basherian
Vice President
This template can be used as a starter file to give updates for project milestones.
Sections
Right-click on a slide to add sections. Sections can help to organize your slides or facilitate collaboration between multiple authors.
Notes
Use the Notes section for delivery notes or to provide additional details for the audience. View these notes in Presentation View during your presentation.
Keep in mind the font size (important for accessibility, visibility, videotaping, and online production)
Coordinated colors
Pay particular attention to the graphs, charts, and text boxes.
Consider that attendees will print in black and white or grayscale. Run a test print to make sure your colors work when printed in pure black and white and grayscale.
Graphics, tables, and graphs
Keep it simple: If possible, use consistent, non-distracting styles and colors.
Label all graphs and tables.