BIM and Sustainability will be vital in 2016

2015-11-30

Delivering sustainable solutions and adhering to BIM-based planning. These will be the two key issues in 2016 for architects, specifiers and contractors planning to install moveable partitioning walls.

According to Julian Sargent, group managing director of Style Partitions, the ability to evidence your green credentials is fast becoming an essential aspect of specifications for both new build projects and refurbishments.

Equally important is BIM (Building Information Modeling); the smart, computerised, three-dimensional planning of buildings, with 2016 being the year when it becomes mandatory in the UK for all publicly financed construction projects to use BIM.

Julian believes this will act as a key catalyst for BIM to become standard practice among architects and construction engineers - in the same way as in the USA.

“In 2016, I’m expecting to see significant changes in the moveable partitioning walls sector that will begin to revolutionise our industry,” said Julian.

“Style was the first UK supplier of moveable walls to be able to offer comprehensive BIM files for key elements of our range of partitioning wall systems, increasing the accuracy of estimations, reworks, alterations and the avoidance of error due to the loss of information.

“BIM isn’t just about changing the software you use. It requires everyone in the engineering, architecture and construction industries to work differently, and it’s going to become essential to use a BIM provider when specifying projects.

“When it comes to sustainability, the demands have changed dramatically in recent years.

“Companies, such as ours, are under increasing pressure to deliver sustainable solutions for BREEAM (BRE Environmental Assessment Method), LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) and SKA (Measuring the environmental effects of an office fit-out).

“As the first ever UK supplier of EPD certified moveable walls in accordance with ISO 14025 and EN15804, we are extremely proud to be leading the way in this field, and the EPD communicates the environmental performance of a product.

“By having an EPD means architects and contractors can participate in tenders involving sustainable building certification procedures.

“If you look at the combination of BIM commencing and sustainability becoming ever-more important, 2016 is going to be a fascinating year as we see expectations shift, changing forever the way everyone operates.”

For more information about BIM and EPD certified moveable walls, please contact your nearest regional Style office