On June 30th, the ConsensusDOCS™ coalition, an initiative of 21 leading construction and surety organizations, published a new, first-of-its-kind document that addresses use of Building Information Modeling (BIM) by project parties. The document, titled ConsensusDOCS™ Document 301, Building Information Modeling Addendum, was approved by member organizations of the ConsensusDOCS™ coalition of which NASBP is a member. Click here for the ConsensusDOCS™ press release.

NASBP, which approved the document at its Annual Meeting held this spring, believes the new document will be of tremendous help to the industry as it begins to identify and to address protocols for the use of this new technology.

Richard Foss, Executive Vice President of NASBP, said, “NASBP is interested in ensuring the creation of documents and identification of practices that lead to proper risk management practices on construction projects where BIM is used.”

BIM is computer technology that permits the construction team to create a digital three-dimensional model of a building that, within associated databases, houses information and data about the different relationships and systems comprising the building. BIM technology offers the promise of making the design, construction, and maintenance of buildings more efficient.

As with the adoption of any new technology, BIM is not without risks for project participants. To mitigate risks, the project parties at the earliest opportunity should discuss, plan for, and memorialize agreements concerning use of BIM. To that end, the ConsensusDOCS™ BIM Addendum likely will prove a useful vehicle to encourage project parties to do just that.

For more information about ConsensusDOCS™ documents, visit http://www.consensusdocs.org. For free samples of select documents, go to http://www.consensusdocs.org, click on the tab “PURCHASE,” scroll down and select “ConsensusDOCS™ Sample Contracts”.