In this episode, focusing on the customer journey at Wavin, David and Oleksandra touch on digitalization. The construction industry has become more digitalized in the past ten years. In an industry that traditionally has relied on pen-and-paper methods, introducing digital techniques is a significant step toward new construction practices.
We at Wavin see this as an excellent opportunity to update the standards and raise the bar. We want to digitalize the entire construction process, starting at the planning stage. And that is why we are offering our BIM services free of charge for our customers.
About a third of the total waste stream in the EU comes from construction and demolition waste. That is, waste generated by demolition, renovation, and new construction. Words like circularity, recycling, and reuse dominate the debate around construction and demolition waste, reflecting approaches to unavoidable waste. But when it comes to new construction, much of the waste is due to overcalculations and poor planning. In Norway, for example, new construction accounts for 30 percent of construction and demolition waste. That number indicates a pressing need for more accurate planning, which could be achieved with the help of a BIM model.
BIM, short for Building information modeling, is a method with many advantages. One of them is improved accuracy in comparison to regular 3D models. A more accurate model results in a more reliable bill of quantities, meaning you don’t have to overestimate just to be on the safe side regarding materials. That also means the construction project will generate less waste while costing you less money. And since one model contains all the project elements it also allows us to address any challenges in the design before construction, meaning no need to rebuild faulty constructions.
Using BIM improves efficiency while reducing waste in every step of the construction process. So why are so many still relying on regular, geometric models? Good question.
Expensive and difficult to implement, or just another myth in the industry?
Implementing BIM requires investments in software and proper training, which can be costly. That much is true. But managing construction waste also comes with a hefty bill attached – often made worse by inaccuracy during the planning stage. If your purchase order is based on overestimations, you are likely paying for materials heading straight for the waste pile.
To remove any constraints and make BIM a ubiquitous method, Wavin is offering BIM free of charge. If you have no experience with BIM-based design of installations, reach out to our BIM engineers to set up a guidance meeting. If you already have a BIM model, we will match it to our products and make any adjustments needed to fit the best solutions. That is what David and Oleksandra dub Wavinification. Designers can also use our Revit plugins to design a BIM model from scratch or produce prefab drawings.
Another advantage of BIM is that the objects contain metadata. That means product codes and materials are all incorporated into the BIM objects. Storing all that information in the BIM model makes it useful for facility managers even after the construction phase. If you are a facility manager and lack any documentation for the built asset, give us a call! Wavin is happy to provide you with anything needed for fuss-free facility management.
Global access to BIM
At Wavin’s Design Service Center in Poland, we have a team of skilled engineers working with BIM modeling. Thanks to them, our services are available for any customer anywhere. If we don’t have a qualified BIM designer in your country, our polish team will take care of your request. So, whether your country is at the forefront of digitalization or slowly catching up, the quality of the Wavinified BIM model will be the same.
