Crane Fluid Systems Launch BIM Valves

Crane Fluid Systems has become one of the first valve manufacturers to develop a comprehensive offering of BIM ready product components primarily in the Autodesk Revit platform.

Building Information Modelling, or BIM as it’s more commonly referred to, is a computer based tool which is increasingly being adopted by engineers, architects and builders to intelligently design buildings by creating a digital representation. BIM can be used to design any type of construction, from houses to hospitals and from football stadiums to bridges, regardless of complexity or scale.

At present, Crane FS has made some of their traditional and balancing valves available as BIM content with others to follow shortly. Please click here to view the full range.

Unlike CAD drawings, BIM models have the ability to provide simulation of a design and share specific information about a project, which is at the core of the ‘BIM’ philosophy. Access to this information also aids commissioning, operation and maintenance activities – It is a full lifecycle process.

The construction team can now digitally generate systems with different combinations of valve products, locations and other details, allowing better-informed design decisions to be made from the start, through to automatic scheduling in the later stages.

Paul Richardson, VP/GM for Crane FS said “We believe that this early collaboration approach will lead to better and more robust designs and importantly less margin for error. The construction team can make the best choices on efficiency, productivity, reliability, safety and fundamentally reduce project risks and waste.”

The uptake of BIM is rapidly increasing in the public sector due to the 2011 government mandate which is driving level 2 BIM to be used on all government construction projects by 2016. This change in approach for the construction industry is also driving adoption of the technology in the private sectors as the real time benefits are being realised.

This UK government lead in the use of BIM has enabled the development of best practice approaches in the industry which are being acknowledged in the rest of Europe and MENA, both areas where BIM usage is increasing.

It is predicted that almost everyone in the building engineering sector will be using BIM in five years’ time. It really is the future of construction. In the words of Paul Morrell, the UK Government Chief Construction Advisor (2009 to 2012) – ‘Adopt BIM or be Betamaxed out’.