The building services sector’s ability to engage with BIM will be tested by a major new survey, conducted by the Electrical Contractors’ Association (ECA), supported by the Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE) alongside building services and engineering consultancy BSRIA.

Over the next six to twelve months, businesses working in building services will be able to share data via an online survey which should reveal how prepared the sector is to adopt ‘BIM Level 2’ practice, which allows for the sharing of digital building information between those involved in building and maintaining the structure.

The survey comes at a crucial time for the sector, because the Government will require BIM Level 2 engagement when they award contracts from 2016. This is in order to achieve the greater innovation and cost-savings associated with using this technology throughout a building’s life-cycle. Many other bodies, including those in the commercial and public sectors, have also committed to introduce BIM Level 2 as a requirement in bidding for contracts next year.

Hywel Davies, CIBSE Technical Director, said: “Government is committed to using BIM to improve its management and operation of buildings and infrastructure. Mechanical, electrical and plumbing services are all critical to the effective operation of buildings. Our sector is involved in the operational life and performance of built assets, not just the design and delivery.

“Getting the right information into the model and then ensuring that the model is still accurate on handover to the building managers and operators is key to the whole success of BIM. This survey is important for our sector to understand how well prepared we are for BIM.”

Paul Reeve, ECA’s Director of Business Services, added: “This sector-wide survey will provide much needed and very timely information on how ready the building services sector is to engage with BIM as we approach the 2016 government deadline. The survey will provide the sector with much needed information on how well the sector is prepared, and highlight any specific issues.

“We urge all building services companies to take part in the new survey, and we will be sharing the data with the industry, the Government and other stakeholders when the results are in during September 2015″.

The BIM study will run until September 15, and can be accessed by visiting the following link: www.surveymonkey.com/r/ECA-BIM