ISO 12911:2023
(Main)Organization and digitization of information about buildings and civil engineering works, including building information modelling (BIM) — Framework for specification of BIM implementation
Organization and digitization of information about buildings and civil engineering works, including building information modelling (BIM) — Framework for specification of BIM implementation
This document establishes a framework for providing specifications for the internal commissioning and implementation of building information modelling (BIM) during both delivery and operational phases. It identifies a structured approach so as to encourage clarity during development, management and checking processes for use by organizations that develop and apply these specifications. This document does not provide specific content but it does provide examples. It is applicable to buildings, infrastructure, facilities and managed landscapes, of any size or complexity.
Organisation et numérisation des informations relatives aux bâtiments et ouvrages de génie civil, y compris modélisation des informations de la construction (BIM) — Cadre pour la spécification de la mise en œuvre du BIM
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INTERNATIONAL ISO
STANDARD 12911
First edition
2023-02
Organization and digitization of
information about buildings and civil
engineering works, including building
information modelling (BIM) —
Framework for specification of BIM
implementation
Organisation et numérisation des informations relatives aux
bâtiments et ouvrages de génie civil, y compris modélisation des
informations de la construction (BIM) — Cadre pour la spécification
de la mise en œuvre du BIM
Reference number
ISO 12911:2023(E)
© ISO 2023
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ISO 12911:2023(E)
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© ISO 2023
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ISO 12911:2023(E)
Contents Page
Foreword .iv
Introduction .v
1 Scope . 1
2 Normative references . 1
3 Terms and definitions . 1
3.1 Terms related to knowledge resources . 2
3.2 Terms related to requirements management . 2
4 Purpose and background .3
4.1 Role of the framework. 3
4.2 Intention of BIM implementation specifications . 4
4.3 Overview of framework sections . 4
4.4 Implementation . . 4
4.5 Conformity . 5
4.6 Implications of nonconformity . 5
5 Relationship to other standards .5
5.1 Review . 5
5.2 Use . 6
5.3 Development of new outcomes. 6
5.4 Specialized application areas . 6
5.5 Classification structures and language usage . 7
5.6 Automation . 7
6 Framework . 7
6.1 Overview . 7
6.2 Framework sections . 7
6.2.1 Framework Section 1: Outcomes . 7
6.2.2 Framework Section 2: Controls . 8
6.2.3 Framework Section 3: Input . 8
6.3 Extensions . 8
6.4 Clause structure . 9
6.4.1 Overall . 9
6.4.2 Title . 9
6.4.3 Applicability . 10
6.4.4 Selection . 10
6.4.5 Exception . 10
6.4.6 Requirement . 10
6.4.7 Complex metrics . 10
6.4.8 Notes . 10
Annex A (informative) Clause ordering .11
Annex B (informative) BIM implementation specification examples .14
Bibliography .22
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ISO 12911:2023(E)
Foreword
ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) is a worldwide federation of national standards
bodies (ISO member bodies). The work of preparing International Standards is normally carried out
through ISO technical committees. Each member body interested in a subject for which a technical
committee has been established has the right to be represented on that committee. International
organizations, governmental and non-governmental, in liaison with ISO, also take part in the work.
ISO collaborates closely with the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) on all matters of
electrotechnical standardization.
The procedures used to develop this document and those intended for its further maintenance are
described in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 1. In particular, the different approval criteria needed for the
different types of ISO documents should be noted. This document was drafted in accordance with the
editorial rules of the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2 (see www.iso.org/directives).
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of
patent rights. ISO shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights. Details of
any patent rights identified during the development of the document will be in the Introduction and/or
on the ISO list of patent declarations received (see www.iso.org/patents).
Any trade name used in this document is information given for the convenience of users and does not
constitute an endorsement.
For an explanation of the voluntary nature of standards, the meaning of ISO specific terms and
expressions related to conformity assessment, as well as information about ISO's adherence to
the World Trade Organization (WTO) principles in the Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT), see
www.iso.org/iso/foreword.html.
This document was prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 59, Buildings and civil engineering works,
Subcommittee SC 13, Organization and digitization of information about buildings and civil engineering
works, including building information modelling (BIM).
This first edition cancels and replaces the Technical Specification ISO/TS 12911:2012, which has been
technically revised.
The main changes are as follows:
— formalization of requirements;
— references updated.
Any feedback or questions on this document should be directed to the user’s national standards body. A
complete listing of these bodies can be found at www.iso.org/members.html.
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ISO 12911:2023(E)
Introduction
Information management processes for the built environment sector have been defined through several
international standards (e.g. the ISO 19650 series and the ISO 29481 series). These standards can be
supported by creating structured and checkable technical specifications for the inputs to, controls on
and outputs from those processes.
Structured and checkable technical specifications cover a wide range of situations. They can be used to
define:
— the structure of an information planning document (e.g. a BIM execution plan);
— an information management control (e.g. the convention for a file name);
— the contents of an information container (e.g. the specified level of information need in a particular
type of design model, drawing or schedule).
Some of these applications are already subject to standardized definitions but these definitions are
usually in the form of textual descriptions which means they cannot be used by rule-based software to
check for the expected outcomes.
This document defines a systematic approach through which a structured specification for any type of
BIM implementation document can be created. Once created, these BIM implementation specifications
can be shared amongst those providing and receiving information to enable deliverables to be checked,
ideally through automated processes. The BIM implementation specifications are designed so that they
can be both human-readable and machine-readable. This is done through the clear definition of the
requirements that the deliverable has to meet, the applicable situation(s) that each specification is for,
any selection of subsets, and any exceptions that need to be stated. This structured process is referred
to as "RASE" (requirement, application, selection, exception).
Use of this document is expected to help organizations and individuals at all points during information
management processes to explain their own expectations and to understand the expectations of others.
Authors of BIM implementation specifications, including international and national institutions as well
as individual organizations, can use this framework to document their expectations in a way that is
clear, concise and checkable. Those supporting specific software application usage can also conform to
the framework.
Implementers of information management processes will benefit from the clear structure and the
ability to compare and merge BIM implementation specifications, potentially from multiple sources, to
mobilize, execute and check their internal BIM implementations.
BIM implementation specifications can be used:
— internally within an organization, to standardize the production of planning documents or to
encode the rules to be used during the production of information containers;
— in appointment documentation to convey requirements from one organization to another;
— by discipline or sector-wide organizations to capture consensus on specific aspects of information
management and production (e.g. the expected contents of detailed design drawings for structural
steelwork or architectural floor plans).
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INTERNATIONAL STANDARD ISO 12911:2023(E)
Organization and digitization of information about
buildings and civil engineering works, including
building information modelling (BIM) — Framework for
specification of BIM implementation
1 Scope
This document establishes a framework for providing specifications for the internal commissioning and
implementation of building information modelling (BIM) during both delivery and operational phases.
It identifies a structured approach so as to encourage clarity during development, management and
checking processes for use by organizations that develop and apply these specifications.
This document does not provide specific content but it does provide examples.
It is applicable to buildings, infrastructure, facilities and managed landscapes, of any size or complexity.
2 Normative references
The following documents are referred to in the text in such a way that some or all of their content
constitutes requirements of this document. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For
undated references, the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.
ISO 6707-1, Buildings and civil engineering works — Vocabulary — Part 1: General terms
ISO 12006-2, Building construction — Organization of information about construction works — Part 2:
Framework for classification
ISO 12006-3, Building construction — Organization of information about construction works — Part 3:
Framework for object-oriented information
ISO 19650 (all parts), Organization and digitization of information about buildings and civil engineering
works, including building information modelling (BIM) — Information management using building
information modelling
ISO 29481-1, Building information models — Information delivery manual — Part 1: Methodology and
format
ISO 29481-3, Building information models — Information delivery manual — Part 3: Data schema and code
3 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the terms and definitions given in ISO 6707-1 and the following
apply.
ISO and IEC maintain terminology databases for use in standardization at the following addresses:
— ISO Online browsing platform: available at https:// www .iso .org/ obp
— IEC Electropedia: available at https:// www .electropedia .org/
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ISO 12911:2023(E)
3.1 Terms related to knowledge resources
3.1.1
framework
structure of processes and specifications designed to support the accomplishment of a specific task
Note 1 to entry: A framework for a specification is analogous to a schema for an information container.
[SOURCE: ISO/IEEE 11073-10201:2020, modified — Note 1 to entry added.]
3.1.2
building information modelling implementation specification
BIM implementation specification
technical specification that aids authors and implementers in achieving their intended results through
the use of BIM (3.1.5)
EXAMPLE Guide, guideline, manual, handbook.
Note 1 to entry: BIM implementation specifications are instantiations of a framework (3.1.1) schema.
Note 2 to entry: BIM implementation specifications can include BIM execution plans, definitions of style and
content of deliverables such as types of drawing or schedule, and rules for preparing deliverables such as
information container naming conventions.
3.1.3
information delivery manual
IDM
documentation which captures the business process and gives detailed specifications of the information
that a user fulfilling a particular role would need to provide at a particular point within a project
Note 1 to entry: This can be referred to as an "information delivery specification (IDS)".
[SOURCE: ISO 29481-1:2016, 3.10]
3.1.4
information model
set of structured and unstructured information containers
[SOURCE: ISO 19650-1:2018, 3.3.8]
3.1.5
building information modelling
BIM
use of a shared digital representation of an asset to facilitate design, construction and operation
processes to form a reliable basis for decisions
Note 1 to entry: The acronym BIM also stands for “building information model” as a shared digital representation
of the physical and functional characteristics of any construction works.
[SOURCE: ISO 29481-1:2016, 3.2, modified — “asset” has replaced “built object”, and “(including
buildings, bridges, roads, process plants, etc.)” has been deleted from the definition. ‘“building
information model” as a’ has replaced “the” in Note 1 to entry.]
3.2 Terms related to requirements management
3.2.1
constraint
objective (3.2.4) or metric (3.2.2) that can be evaluated to true, false or unknown
Note 1 to entry: Based on specification of IfcConstraint in ISO 16739-1.
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ISO 12911:2023(E)
3.2.2
metric
limiting value or boundary condition that can be applied to or tested against a descriptive resource
Note 1 to entry: Based on specification of IfcMetric in ISO 16739-1.
Note 2 to entry: A building information model is an example of a descriptive resource.
3.2.3
clause
part of a specification document which contains one or more objectives (3.2.4)
Note 1 to entry: See 6.1.
3.2.4
objective
constraint (3.2.1) that is decidable by examination of its constituent objectives (3.2.4) and metrics (3.2.2)
Note 1 to entry: Based on specification of IfcObjective in ISO 16739-1.
3.2.5
requirement, application, selection, exception
RASE
method for structuring knowledge by distinguishing requirements, applicability, selections and
exceptions
Note 1 to entry: See 6.4 and Reference [16].
4 Purpose and background
4.1 Role of the framework
The objectives of the framework are as follows:
a) Create a common approach for BIM implementation specifications by:
1) aiding the development of clear and repeatable processes;
2) allowing international, national, institutional and project/enterprise BIM implementation
specifications to be prepared according to a common framework.
b) Make BIM implementation specifications manageable by:
1) encouraging completeness of BIM implementation specifications by providing a common
structure for outcomes, controls and inputs;
2) encouraging the provision of reasoned explanations for demanded performance;
3) enabling extensibility of BIM implementation specifications;
4) supporting the comparing and merging of BIM implementation specifications.
c) Make BIM implementation specifications able to be tested by:
1) encouraging the testing of BIM implementation specifications against this document;
2) supporting the testing of outcomes against BIM implementation specifications;
3) encouraging the use of formal arrangements which refer to BIM implementation specifications.
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ISO 12911:2023(E)
4.2 Intention of BIM implementation specifications
BIM implementation specifications may be used for a variety of purposes, including to:
a) establish the desired outcomes and define appropriate quality;
b) identify appropriate management effort and tools;
c) identify necessary effort and resourcing;
d) achieve and maintain a common understanding within national and project/programme contexts.
BIM implementation specifications may additionally cover the presentational conventions for
application in the generation of outputs such as drawings and documents. This content may be carried
forward from national and project drawing and document production standards.
4.3 Overview of framework sections
Authors and implementers should be able to easily navigate and understand any BIM implementation
specification that results from implementation of this document. The enterprise is supported when the
objectives for applying BIM (Framework Section 1: Outcomes, see 6.2.1) are reviewed and approved at
the executive level. Information management (Framework Section 2: Controls, see 6.2.2) is supported
by reviewing and implementing the management policies needed. Since these policies are keyed into
the overall objectives, the dialogue between the manager and the executive is supported. Delivery
teams can review and implement the input requirements (Framework Section 3: Inputs, see 6.2.3) as
this defines what they shall do. These requirements are keyed into the management policies so that the
dialogue between the delivery teams and management is supported. The three sections are illustrated
in Figure 1.
The style and content are intended to ensure that the requirements within the BIM implementation
specification are directly measurable either by human inspection or by automated checking.
A BIM implementation specification may be provided at an overall facility project or programme level,
but may also be provided more specifically for individual sub-processes within those overall objectives.
These individual sub-processes may be arranged in series and in parallel. The IDM methodology (see
ISO 29481-1) shall be used to document, review and specify new processes. The outcomes of the review
of new processes should then be documented in a BIM implementation specification, adhering to this
document.
NOTE Based on the ISO/IEC/IEEE 31320-1:2012 IDEF0.
Figure 1 — Interaction of framework sections
4.4 Implementation
International, regional and national standards bodies, as well as other sponsored standardization
authors and other project and consortia organizations responsible for facility projects or programmes
may mandate the framework and BIM implementation specifications produced according to it. They
may also author their requirements using this document. Requirement documents authored by those
organizations may be converted to this document for use by organizations.
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ISO 12911:2023(E)
BIM implementation specifications are used internally within an organization as corporate technical
specifications to manage information management within the delivery or operational phase.
The hierarchy of requirement sources authoring to this document affecting the execution and checking
of its specifications is illustrated in Figure 2.
NOTE In some contexts national or regional standards can take precedence over international standards.
Figure 2 — Sources of and target for BIM implementation specifications
4.5 Conformity
Conformity testing to the BIM implementation specification shall be achieved by inspection or by the
application of automatic compliance checking of information models and other information containers.
All units of information shall satisfy all objectives, by showing that each is either not applicable,
is not selected, is excepted or is as required. Clause 6 and Table 2 give more detail on the logical
implementation.
NOTE Units of information include objects, properties and relations.
4.6 Implications of nonconformity
Failing to conform to this document can impact on usability and coordination of BIM implementation
specifications, leading to contractual and practical ambiguities.
Nonconformity with a BIM implementation specification can hinder testing and so impact the quality
and efficiency of project/facility outcomes.
5 Relationship to other standards
5.1 Review
BIM implementation specifications shall be authored to support the internal commissioning and
implementation of information management. It can be used in combination with other standards (refer
to Table 1). New processes shall be analysed using ISO 29481-1 (IDM) and shall be incorporated within
the ISO 19650 series process or other processes described in 5.2. Individual use cases or the overall
delivery shall be defined and implemented using this document so as to support systematic checking
using ISO 29481-3.
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ISO 12911:2023(E)
Table 1 — Approximate alignment of this document with other International Standards
Level of responsi- Process develop- Information man-
Use-case planning Checking
bility ment agement process
ISO 29481-1 The ISO 19650 series This document ISO 29481-3
Information delivery Information manage- Implementation
IDS/mvdXML
manual ment specifications
Detailed responsibili- Section 1:
Executive Scope Package
ty matrix Outcomes
Asset or project infor-
mation standard, pro- Section 2: Classification and
Management Business rules
duction methods and Controls naming policies
procedures (internal)
Level of information
Entities, relation-
Section 3:
need (internal)
Implementation Functional parts ships, shape and
Inputs
1) properties
(see ISO 7817 )
See 5.2 a) for non-BIM
and 5.2 b) for stan-
dalone BIM projects
5.2 Use
BIM implementation specifications shall be applied to the internal implementation of information
management. In addition:
a) Projects and operational programmes that are not using BIM shall conform to this document with
appropriate quality assurance (QA) and quality control (QC) measures.
b) Standalone projects and operational programmes, where only documentation is shared or
published, should conform to ISO 9001 for QA and QC and ISO 21500 and ISO 55000 for its purposes.
c) Collaborative projects and operational programmes shall additionally follow the ISO 19650 series
where BIM implementation specifications serve as the internal implementation plan or project
or asset methods and procedures. ISO 19650-4 provides the information quality criteria for
information exchanges.
NOTE Modelling and data technology can follow ISO 29481-1, ISO 23387, ISO 23386 and the ISO 21597 series.
5.3 Development of new outcomes
Where new outcomes are envisaged, ISO 29481-1 should be applied, and the outcome mapped to a BIM
implementation specification. Refer to Table 1.
NOTE The inputs into the IDM process include a detailed process map for the desired outcome, highlighting
the interfaces between parties and documenting the information requirements, generating a new Framework
Section 1: Outcomes. Business rules that constrain the expected data can be documented, generating new clauses
in Framework Section 2: Controls. Functional parts document the specific inputs, generating new clauses in
Framework Section 3: Inputs.
5.4 Specialized application areas
The implications of International Standards from specialized application areas, where applicable, shall
be inserted into the developed BIM implementation specification by domain experts.
EXAMPLE ISO 15686-4.
1) Under preparation. Stage at the time of publication: ISO/DIS 7817:2022.
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ISO 12911:2023(E)
5.5 Classification structures and language usage
BIM imp
...
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