Heinen is a security doors manufacturer. Heinen doors have always remained faithful to their primary objective: to provide protection while guaranteeing stability and robustness that enable heavy-duty use of the door.
They met Polantis at 2016 BIM World in Paris.
Heinen wanted to start making BIM objects (such as the BIM security doors), since there was a high request from the prescribers from countries close to France, such as the Netherlands.
It was therefore a real opportunity for the company, since they were still ahead of time compared to its rival companies, which did not have any BIM objects yet.
They chose to model 2 objects specifically adapted to prescription: the “swing doors Metal +” which has 1 and 2 sliding.
The Heinen swing doors are built on the same foundation and have the same characteristics. This basic door is called Metal+ and already has some assets, such as the Metal+ Inside technology.
The main characteristic of the Heinen security doors modeled in BIM is the fact that they were modelized as objects with adjustable settings, such as its dimensions.
These have specific fire classifications, some security standards and are available in 12 software formats on the platform. Therefore, they allow the final users to have the possibility to adapt their swing doors to their projects.
Through its BIM objects and to stand out from the competition, Heinen wants to offer to its prescribers some profits, such as the performance, the sustainability and the security aspect.
– You can find Heinen’s objects on Polantis right here.
– You can also find Heinen’s objects directly on the manufacturer’s website right here.
We suggest you the following articles:
Tsaratsiry started with the presentation of Tsara Architectures. His architectural firm specialized in BIM is mainly commissioned for BIM design’s missions, BIM support and BIM management. He explained that since nearly 2 years now, Tsara Architectures has been working in collaboration with Francois Leclercq Architectes Agency, the agency where Clémence Eliard is working.
The presentation started by Francois Leclercq’s Nanterre University project. Tsaratsiry rapidly explained: « In the project, everyone is not using BIM yet « . This project was started traditionally in 2D in AutoCAD and was then continued in BIM because project owners tend to ask it more often, even if it is not compulsory.
When the question about the interest of BIM method for project contractors was asked, Clémence answered: « Private contractors have big interest asking for BIM because they can reuse the information to prepare the bills of quantities. » « Provided that they know how to use them of course » insisted Alexandre Poter (GIRPI Technical Director at Aliaxis).
« We have an increasing number of public tenders. High-Schools and Colleges are increasingly asking for BIM », declared Tsaratsiry. He adds: « 70% of the construction costs is concerning exploitation and exploitation is optimized in BIM ».
Situated in the Southwest of Paris with a significant road network as well as tramways and bus systems, the city-center was cut from the rest of the city by the forest. Clémence explained « The project’s main issue was to deal with the isolation of the city-center, a very disparate urban fabric. »
Clémence explained: « The aim was thus to recreate new connections with the city through the creation of a wide tree planted alley and a second planted alley which allowed the connection with the inner-city. The main advantage of the project was the creation of a wide square which will be vivid and will connect the two tramway stations.
Revit or Archicad?
When this question was asked, Tsaratsiry answered: « Revit is used because it is multidisciplinary. Archicad is interesting for architects but less interesting for other construction players. That is the reason why so many Revit poles of activity are created. »
This question was the occasion for Tsaratsiry to talk about a project of collective dwellings in Marseilles in collaboration with CARTA-Associés Agency and François Leclercq. « Everything is made with a digital model » he explained, « and the exchange of a digital model allows a better coordination ».
Building Information Modeling: Only for the largest companies?
« Tsara Architecture supports agencies working on projects large enough to imply working with BIM. But BIM is not excluded for smaller projects, it only requires more expertise« .
The BIM method: a methodology above all
According to Tsaratsiry, « BIM remains a working method. BIM manager is not a title, it is a role ». He added: « When we say BIM, we already talk about a project environment ».
At Tsara Architectures, the decision was made to create a charter and to have a quality control because « When you say conception it implies complete project management ».
Toward a BIM city?
The objective would be that one day, a whole city would be created in BIM. Tsara Architecture is working on a project with François Leclercq: the urban project of « Euroméditerranée » at Marseilles. The project managers and project owners with the support of the CSTB are creating a prototype of a multiscale BIM digital model for the Mediterranean urban design. Francois Leclercq Agency is in charge of the urban part of the project.
Thank you again Clémence and Tsaratsiry for your presentation!
We suggest the following articles:
As said previously, Polantis is interested in conferences and BIM events who are taking place all around the world. This article is the occasion for us to give our European clients an other example of an event that could help them to learn more about BIM.
Event Summary: « BILT is an annual event, run in multiple regions around the globe, designed to cater to the needs of those who design, build, operate and maintain our built environment. As a community of professionals, it is dedicated to improving the way industry works together ».
If you wonder what BILT acronym stands for, it stands for Buildings Infrastructure Lifecycle, supported by Technology.
RTC Events Management (RTCem) organizes conferences in Asia, Australia, New Zealand, Europe and North America to facilitate the transfer of know-how between architecture, engineers and AEC players.
This educational and networking event provides the guests with a variety of opportunities to learn and share. Whether you are a practitioner or a consumer of BIM, DE, VDC, it aims at helping your firm to become more effective, more impactful and more productive.
If you want to participate, we encourage you to register on their website as soon as possible.
We suggest the following articles:
Polantis is keenly interested in conferences and BIM events who are taking place all around the world. This article is the occasion for us to give you an example of an event that could help you to learn more about BIM.
Event Summary: « BILT is an annual event, run in multiple regions around the globe, designed to cater to the needs of those who design, build, operate and maintain our built environment. As a community of professionals, it is dedicated to improving the way industry works together ».
If you wonder what BILT acronym stands for, it stands for Buildings Infrastructure Lifecycle, supported by Technology.
RTC Events Management (RTCem) organizes conferences in Asia, Australia, New Zealand, Europe and North America to facilitate the transfer of know-how between architecture, engineers and AEC players.
This educational and networking event provides the guests with a variety of opportunities to learn and share. Whether you are a practitioner or a consumer of BIM, DE, VDC, it aims at helping your firm to become more effective, more impactful and more productive.
If you want to participate, we encourage you to register on their website as soon as possible.
If you are unable to participate in this event, don’t worry, there will be another one in Europe in October!
We suggest the following articles:
The project Qwartz
When Corina arrived at DGLa 11 years ago, she told us how she rapidly how rapidly she noticed that DGLa did not systematically use 3D.
Her first project at DGLa was about a submission of an application for a building permit for Qwartz shopping center. It was developed in 2D on Autocad, as most of the projects at that time. She added: «The projects were sent to the clients and to the engineering agencies by mail with complementary files to print them which made exchanges more complex and slowed them down. Then, files were sent (at least) in PDF format, but when I had the occasion, I started using Revit and invited my colleagues to do so.”
Qwartz was finally inaugurated 3 years ago. For its future extension, DGLa will have the mission of BIM management.
Slow and steady BIM wins the race!
Corina presented different projects on which she could work and highlighted the evolution of BIM method’s use at DGLa.
DGLa rapidly understood the importance of BIM and its role as a facilitator and enabler of exchanges. The agency progressively integrated BIM method to its working method to gain more efficiency and to better improve its communication.
Corina explains: “Two projects with similar characteristics were compared: one was developed on Autocad and the other on Revit. With Revit, one could end with similar results with a better coherence of documents, while diminishing by 50% the time needed for the project and with less people affected to the project.
Working with BIM method: a traineeship
Through the different BIM projects they worked on, DGLa teams had the opportunity to learn from their mistakes. Corina brought out that for instance, there are still a lot of work with the work site stages and that it is not always that simple to bring digital models as a monitoring and exchanges medium on the work site.
To her, before reaching efficiency, one needs to learn how to master modeling and its database, how to better communicate as well as how to coordinate widely the exchanges with the different actors of the project. Collaborative work is efficient if the tools used are appropriate.
She said: “The first project in BIM ordered in 2014 by one of our project management support (and inaugurated this year), was the second extension of the shopping center BAB2. It served as a crash test for the following ones. We could start from the digital model from the first extension, adopt a new organization scheme and move toward BIM level 2, which actually became our current standard”.
Corina then talked about the roof covering of a pedestrian street. A smaller project indeed but modeled by two of her colleagues with adaptive structures created from parametric volumes.
She explains to our guests that for this undergoing project, you need to remember that parametric modeling is also part of BIM. “It consists of filling the digital model with information from its components and to obtain database and a nomenclature coherent with the model.
It enables architects to anticipate the environmental, technic and economic constraints as well as better construct what they are modeling.
Corina explained: “On Revit, we often create detailed digital models and heavy files. It becomes more complicated when you export them in IFC format. Sometimes, it multiplies by two or three the size of the files and harms their interoperability.
In order to tackle this issue, Corina gives possible solutions to provide digital models for the CMMS (computer-assisted maintenance management system). To her, you can fill all the information in a 3D file with a link toward the URL address of the component’s product card or toward a more detailed version of the 3D model. A second option, when it is possible of course, would be to integrate the drawing of the details in 2D within the family category which would be visible only with the high level of details.
“If the families created for different BIM software follow the 3 levels of details of geometrical complexity (the data do not depend on that), it will help us.
Corina explains: “Once that the BIM is implemented, we are trying to be more efficient”. For instance, having created our own tools, detail banks, with 2D details components (adaptive and/or pre-informed) is time-saving which is substantial. She also added: “this year, DGLa created an intern collaborative platform which will allow a better communication with the different collaborators and stakeholders (the project management support, the engineering agencies and consultants, etc.). The aim is to provide digital implementation files, to submit BIM building permits and to produce more virtual reality simulations. But project management support is still afraid of that.”
What about the implementation of BIM level 3?
“The level 2? Yes! But with the level 3, it is more complicated » she explains. At this moment of the presentation, our guests talked about the different issues at stakes when it comes to BIM level 3 implementation: intellectual property, responsibility, regulations…
The main result of this debate was the desire that we will see improvement with regard to this issue so that everyone could beneficiate from all the advantages of the BIM level 3. Corina insisted on the fact that different organizations were working on this subject to provide a better framework (Mediaconstruct, the MAF, etc.). It is to be monitored very closely!
We recommend you the following articles:
Deceuninck is a Belgian group which develops profile systems which include joineries as well as window and doors systems.
Its core technologies of PVC extrusion and patented Twinson material allow the company to create innovative building solutions for windows & doors, outdoor living, roofline & cladding, and interior.
Deceuninck masters the differents manufacturing steps from the manufacturing of raw materials to the profile and joinery’s recycling and reuse at end of life. Besides, it is an eco-responsible company labeled VinylPlus. Its solutions meet today’s demand for timeless, innovative and elegant design while striving to achieve the lowest possible ecological footprint.
The company initiated its BIM approach with Polantis in 2016 to meet the increasing demand coming from architects. Indeed, its CAD and BIM products are providing the architects with more perspectives thanks to the addition of insulation within the joineries’ profiles. The company has chosen to model three products presented previously at Equip’baie exhibition.
-Please click here to reach Deceuninck’s products on Polantis platform.
-To access Deceuninck’s website, please click here.
We suggest the following articles:
Spenle is a family business created in 1977 which develops and manufactures a wide range of engineered doors for the food industry, the professional kitchens, pharmaceuticals and hospitals. These doors are commercialized in France, European countries as well as in Africa and Asia.
This BIM project was organized with the CEO of the company, Mr. Spenle, as well as with Polantis teams. It aimed at increasing the brand visibility and at providing 3D models to its customers.
Spenle’s forward-thinking BIM approach was undertaken step by step with a selection of Spenle’s representative products.
Spenle’s doors are intended for different environments, specific constraints and defined criterions such as the opening system, the number of leaves, the sealing system… Seven types of products were thus modeled in 15 different CAD and BIM (Revit) formats.
Spenle’s doors available on Polantis platform are the following:
These references were modeled as parametric objects integrating dimensional minimum and maximum. They enable customers with the possibility to adapt the woodworks according to their projects and applications.
Beyond the dimensional aspect, Spenle’s products contain some functionalities and set ups for each product:
Alls specificities aim at proposing complete 3D models to the prescribers. It limits the margins of error within a project in terms of structural elements and affiliated woodworks.
Known for its know-how, high product quality, innovations, professionalism and responsiveness, Spenle wanted to position itself as a precursor by developing and providing 3D tools and solutions to its prescribers and customers.
We suggest the following articles:
–Solardis’ CAD and BIM catalog modeled by Polantis
–Deceuninck’s CAD and BIM catalog modeled by Polantis
On May 18th, manufacturers and professionals of the construction world were welcomed by Polantis to attend a presentation conducted by Rafael Garcia – Architect and BIM Manager at Valero GADAN Architects.
« Les Mésanges » project
Rafael started his presentation by the project « Les Mésanges » – 150 collective buildings at Sceaux – which is under construction and should be delivered for 2019. He explains: “It was the first BIM project of France Habitation”.
This contest launched in September 2015 let only 3 months to its candidates to deliver their project. It is a really small period of time when taking into account the heavy workload that it implies. He adds: “In VGA (VALERO GADAN Architects), a team was specifically dedicated to the BIM method because it was impossible to work on the concept and with the data at the same time for a contest”.
Using BIM method during contests: Relevant or not?
Rafael immediately raised the issue of the workload implied by BIM method and talked about the relevance of its use during contests. He shared with the guests the different difficulties they faced, particularly when it comes to matrix and parameters. “There are more than 117 parameters to comply with on more than 5000 objects which are a lot for a contest » he said. He added: « using BIM method for contests? Yes. But at what cost? »
Answer: « You need to find a balance. Some technical requirements were too important and a simplification would have been needed”. Indeed, “BIM Tech had created a technical specification, a digital model in IFC format, a BIM catalog and a BIM matrix which were given to the participants to for the contest” and it represents a significant time investment. According to Rafael, BIM method is “a time investment at the beginning for sure, especially during the development phase but it represents also a time-saving tool for the future”.
It is consequently detrimental for construction managers not taking into account this investment. The fact that this kind of demand is not upgraded in terms of mission and fees is detrimental as well.
What about the challenges and uses of BIM method?
« Architecture must prevail over any software but BIM is still a tool allowing the pooling of resources and it enables collaborative work. However, the actors are not all aware of the limits and uses of the BIM method”. Rafael explains that using BIM in a contest requires a lot of work and he adds: “we were not expecting that but we learned a lot”.
An actual problem mentioned by Rafael is the lack of codification for some BIM objects. Otto Kus – BIM Manager and Architect – explains that to solve this problem “VGA tried to create tools to optimize some working process which remained slow and repetitive”. They thus created a coding scheme and took British protocols to create a dictionary. The creation of categories is a good thing. However, the question of the difficulty to reuse them in the future and of the quantity of information they contained led to a debate.
The future of BIM method: the importance of informing, investing and innovating now.
Rafael insists: « There is a need to train BIM actors to use BIM’s software and process as well as invest and innovate”. He invited our guests to ask themselves “how to save time by developing their own tools ». It led to a debate allowing everyone to give their opinion and to share their own experiences.
For VGA, the answer is simple: invest and innovate for the future of BIM method should be based on insight training to inform the different project stakeholders. There is also a need to raise awareness among the different actors including the project managers. It would consist of raising awareness about the objectives and the upgrading of the missions.
This morning was rich in debates and allowed our guests to ask a lot of questions. A great thank to Rafael Garcia and Otto Kus for this enriching presentation.
We suggest the following articles:
Since 50 years, Installux Aluminum designs and distributes a wide range of accessories and profiles in aluminum for use in the manufacture of windows, doors, facades, guard rails, gates, and conservatories.
Its products are adapted to all configurations: individual or collective dwellings, new or renovated, architectural projects. Innovation is at the core of the company’s approach in order for it to remain a forward-thinking company.
Installux works on projects such as « Lyon Saint Exupéry » train station which was designed by the architect Santiago Calatrava and on projects such as the wall of the new stadium of the « Olympique Lyonnais ».
Innovative and complex solutions adapted to the reality of the market have always been provided by the company. BIM was thus the next necessary step.
Installux Aluminium is aware of the added-value of BIM as well as of the evolution in the specifiers’ working methods. That is why it has chosen to model 3 of its best-seller ranges :
These files offer an enlarged choice of solutions since different versions of the products do exist. These solutions are at the same time aesthetics, performing while ensuring all the safety aspects.
The Univers 54 range is composed of the following curtain walls:
This range which was created under the form of a curtain wall is linked to Revit functionalities and to the way specifiers will use it. The Installux BIM products will provide users with both visual and technical aspects of the products.
As part of its BIM project, Installux Aluminium has also the desire to propose a combination of products giving free rein to the creativity of the architects without failing to include technicity and specificities to its own products.
It is also reflected in the joineries of its Univers 54 range :
The Univers® range includes structures with a visible grid, a continuous raster as well as bonded clearance glazing.
During this project, Mr. LODI, Design Manager, explained to us that the company wants to put forward the depth of its ranges as well as the quality of the customer support provided to its clients at each stage of the project.
Convinced of the vital role of BIM and aware of the mindset changes, Installux made the choice to support its clients through these changes.
We suggest the following articles:
–Deceuninck’s CAD and BIM catalog modeled by Polantis
–Spenle’s CAD and BIM catalog modeled by Polantis
Gonçalo presented Silex2, the project of EGH and ERP. This project for “La Foncière des Régions” which was created through the collaboration between Arte Charpentier and Ma Architectes, is a project of building offices situated in Part-Dieu in Lyon.
“BIM is a lot of daily efforts and the management of a high quantity of information”.
From the beginning of the presentation, Gonçalo insisted on the importance of going out of the agency to train yourself in BIM and to remain alerted to the new trends and to keep in touch with the current topics.
The presentation was organized in the following order:
According to Gonçalo, BIM aim is mainly to optimize exchanges to avoid redundancies and to sharpen the models. This working method allows to propose more complex projects.
BIM is useful on the construction sites and during the management phase. There are different levels of maturity: the BIM level 0, 1, 2, 3 etc. This level depends on the implication of BIM actors as well as on their level of maturity.
At Arte Charpentier, this working method was adopted in 2013, and now, it represents 25 projects in BIM level 1 or 2. It should be noted that each program (public housing, office building, hotels, shopping centers, etc.) implies different pattern and methodology.
Gonçalo insists: “In theory, when people talk about BIM, they are thinking about beautiful pictures but not systematically about what is beyond. BIM implies a constant effort and the management of a high quantity of information”.
The project Silex 2
The presentation naturally focused on the project Silex 2.
It is a project of extension and rehabilitation of an existing EDF tour from the 70’s with the presence of asbestos.
This initiative to work in BIM for this project came from Arte Charpentier and from the project owner, La Foncière des Régions. MA Architectes retains the control over the artistic direction and the teams are trained to master Revit with the aim to model the tour and to exchange in BIM. ARTE Charpentier is in charge of the coordination mission between the trade bodies (the ERP part, landscaping and bedrock – all the graphical interface).
In order to work efficiently, Gonçalo and his team gathered all the existing digital models within the same model conceived by the agency: liquids, kitchen’s manufacturers and designers, and structures.
He said: “Compared to a traditional approach, the digital model allows to access in one click to all the plans, sections and elevations. It represents a possibility to identify all the hypothetical problems during the study phase and to foresee the problems to tackle them. With the digital model, we have access to the different pieces of information. For instance, in the case of a terrace with waterproof excavations, we can have folded walls problems… With the traditional approach vs. BIM, the problem is never solved during the study phase because the views would not allow it”.
A question was asked: “We now know how to measure the costs when we use the traditional method. But, are we really saving money with BIM?”
Gonçalo answered: “In the study phase, we worked on the project with the traditional method, with the same surface and the same characteristics than the project Silex 2.
On Silex 2, at one moment, we have decided that each stair should be lowered by 1 centimeter (0.39 inches). It took us one and a half day to update the digital model and all the attached documents.
For a similar modification on the comparative project, our colleagues – who are still working with Autocad – took 3 weeks to make this update”.
Gonçalo also sad “ But I do not want to advertise for BIM method, the team members working on the lowering of the stairs have at least 3 years of experience in BIM. The digital model was optimized to allow all these quick changes.
The advantage of BIM is that it allows more flexibility and reactivity because the architects remain “artists who tend to question themselves”.
The challenges and issues at stakes about BIM
During the presentation, a question was asked about the place of the economists. According to Gonçalo, an economist can access the digital model and can exploit it because differents software do exist to move from a digital model to another. However, it is clear that his role will change and that he needs to redefine its way to work with the architects.
But BIM does not only have advantages and it is the part developed the most by Gonçalo during the presentation. Here is a non-exhaustive list:
-When we start using BIM method: we need to have a broad knowledge of the project. Indeed, to define some aspects of the project. What is carried out in advance and sometimes what is carried out during downstream processing need to be decided because you cannot move forward that way.
-In general, working methods are benchmarked and what is not rigorous is not allowed, it implies a reassessment.
Gonçalo concluded: “as we are in the premise of BIM, we feel our way along, we do not know exactly what we are going forward to, and everyone is doing it his way, which is totally normal. What is important is to keep our eyes open to know where to go and to pay attention to others.”
We suggest the following article :