Archives for uniclass2

Uniclass2: Demystified

The UK Government’s BIM Task Group have featured the new Uniclass2 system in their weekly news roundup: http://t.co/xqG1maj4pw

 

Uniclass2 classification system launched for use and review in live projects

The new Uniclass2 classification system, which provides a logical platform for Building Information Modelling (BIM), has been launched for use and review in live projects.

Freely available to construction professionals from the BIM Task Group website,(http://www.bimtaskgroup.org/uniclass2) Uniclass2 offers a searchable application that provides unified tables for structured information at key levels including complexes, activities, spaces, entities, systems and work results. Tables for other information sets will be added.

Replacing the current UK standard classification Uniclass, which was first introduced in 1997, Uniclass2 has been developed, with full industry consultation, by the Uniclass working group of the Construction Project Information committee (CPIc). Construction Project Information (CPI) brings together representatives of the major construction related bodies to provide guidelines on construction information and collaboration, and to ensure best practice in the UK construction industry.

CPI is encouraging users to provide feedback on and suggest improvements to the new system.

Uniclass2 features increased scope, depth and consistency of information covering all aspect and disciplines of the built environment, including infrastructure and process engineering.

The new system is based on proposals by NBS, which were accepted as the basis for consultation by the Uniclass working group. NBS was then commissioned to deliver the first tranche of unified tables that is now being launched.

The Chairman of CPIc said “For the first time ever, the UK has a unified classification system that can structure how construction project information is accessed, developed and maintained. We want to ensure the system is constantly improved so if people can’t find what they are looking for, we want to know.”

Unified Uniclass consultation process

There are now four of the proposed new tables available for comment on our Uniclass page. Click here to see them.

The new section classification system for specification

Construction Project Information (CPI) promulgates Uniclass (which includes the Common Arrangement of Work Sections – CAWS) nationally. CPI committee members comprise representatives from RIBA, RICS, UKCG, ICE, CIBSE, CIAT and CIOB.

CPI established its Uniclass Working Group in 2006, to consider proposals for revision of the Tables in Uniclass. This has resulted in the release of a new Table, Z, for CAD, and the development of a Uniclass On line Tool for generating layer classifications from the Uniclass tables and for requesting new classifications. Tables under review within the Working Group include those for Construction Entities (Table E), Elements (Tables G and H) and Work Sections (Tables J and K). It has been agreed that the Elements Tables should be combined, and that the Work Sections Tables should be combined.

NBS has contributed particularly to the review of the Work Sections Tables, through its reworking of Table J (CAWS) in order to support the new NBS. The NBS proposals have been endorsed in principle by the Working Group, but have yet to be endorsed formally by CPIC itself.

The work that NBS has done on Work Sections has also led to proposals from NBS for the unifying of Uniclass, which could affect all the Tables eventually, but would affect just the Facilities (D), Construction Entities (E), Spaces (F), Elements (G&H), Work Sections (J&K) and Products (L) Tables to start with. New Tables might also be developed as a result of this proposal, e.g. for Activities. Again, these proposals have been endorsed in principle by the Working Group, but have yet to be endorsed formally by CPI itself.