The Ultimate BIM Knowledge Hub
Your one-stop resource for BIM electrical.
Revit Guides
Data Management
ELI5
EXPRESS specification
formal specification is provided in the EXPRESS language. BS EN ISO 23387:2020

COBie data drop
COBie data drop Individual COBie data drops are the responsibility of Task Team BIM Managers, who must upload the required information containers in accordance with Exchange Information Requirements (EIR).The COBie
CDE gate
Transition [ISO19650] Transition is used to denote change (in the state of the information container)
agent
…’An agent is just something that acts (agent comes from the Latin agree, to do). Of course, all computer programs do something, but computer agents are expected to do more:
exchange requirement (ER)
defined set of information units that needs to be exchanged to support a particular business requirementat a particular process phase (or phases)/stage (or stages) BS EN ISO 29481-1:2017
Assignment matrix
Responsibility matrix [ISO19650] In ISO 19650 there is a principle to develop responsibility matrices to cover information management activities and information delivery. Responsibility matrix [PAS1192] The former is illustrated as
Geographic Information System (GIS)
A geographic information system (GIS) is a framework for gathering, managing, and analyzing data. Rooted in the science of geography, GIS integrates many types of data. It analyzes spatial location
Message Flow
A message flow depicts the exchange of messages between two participants who are ready to send and receive them. A message flow must connect two distinct pools. They are either
Handover
After the project is completed, the Appointing Party expects to receive Asset Information Model (AIM) compliant with the Exchange Information Requirements (EIR). The aim is to support the life
Appointee
UK BIM Alliance responding to the inconsistency between current guidance of CIC BIM Protocol, Second Edition 2018 and ISO 19650 Framework published updated Information protocol to support BS EN
energy let-through of a device (I2t)
I2t The energy let-through of a device in A2s. The total amount of energy let through by a protective device for a given level of fault current at a stated
Management of duplicates
The procedure to remove duplicate properties shall be carried out on the relevant attributes. The management of duplicates cannot be fully automated. BS EN ISO 23386:2020
Set-Based Design
Set-Based Design commonly referred to as a set-based design innovation or set-based concurrent engineering. It is a product development approach where teams consider a wide range of design alternatives (a

lead appointed party
The term introduced by ISO 19650 typically describes the Tier 1 Main Contractor. For example: : The Lead Appointed Party is a specific entity directly appointed (employed) by the primary
secondary power supply (SPS)
alternative or supplementary electrical energy sources has become more viable, typical secondary power supply (SPS) Photovoltaic (PV) power Wind turbine power standby generator
Role
BIM roles are not necessarily related to specialist positions. It should be viewed as a function that could be fulfilled by more than one person and allow the transfer of
Collaborative Design
Working with different teams is probably the most difficult part of the design process. It is important to note that a collaborative design process is not about someone else creating
Rating factors
Rating factors are divided into the nominal rating of the circuit protective device (In) to determine theminimum current-carrying capacity (Iz) of a cable in a circuit. For example:Iz = In/(Ca

Emergency Voice Communication System (EVCS)
An Emergency Voice Communication System (EVCS) or (EVC) is a fixed, monitored and maintained, bidirectional, full duplex voice communication system (Refuge system) designed to facilitate the orderly evacuation of disabled
geometrical
This is an ISO 19650 term which replaces the PAS1192 term “graphical”. Geometrical is more appropriate to describe spatial positioning and relationships
Cost Led Procurement
A procurement method introduced by Constructing Excellence and the Cabinet Office intended to allow industry to use its experience and knowledge to develop innovative solutions through leveraging design, materials, subcontracting, direct labour
record
document stating results achieved or providing evidence of activities performed [1] Note 1 to entry: Adapted from ISO 9000:2005, 3.7.6. 1 Online Browsing Platform (OBP) [WWW Document], n.d. URL https://www.iso.org/obp/ui#search (accessed 4.10.21).
smart building
The term “smart building” was originally introduced by the European Union in the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD)[1] as one of the main enablers of the future of the built environment,
Model View Definition (MVD)
One or more specific information exchange requirements may necessitate the need for a model view definition (MVD). A machine-readable representation of MVDs is required when using them in software development.
information exchange
verb act of satisfying an information requirement (3.3.2) or part thereof [cited from ISO 19650-1:2018(en), 3.3.7]
computer-aided design (CAD)
Computer-aided design (CAD) encompasses the use of computers (hardware) and software to assist in the design process. CAD software is frequently used by different types of engineers and designers. CAD

Emergency Lighting Standards and Regulations
BS 5266‑1:2025 – whats changed? Status & scope. The new edition was published on 29th and came into effect on 31 October 2025, withdrawing BS 5266-1:2016. It is intended to be
Target Value Design
Target Value Designs (TVD) focus is on reducing the cost of a project without reducing the quality of the end product or extending the timetable. The team sets a cost
Soil Thermal Resistivity
Relates to the ability of the soil, in which the cable is installed, to conduct heat energy away from the cable. The rating factor Cs is applied in cable sizing

Digital twin
ELI5-S1 BIM Basics E19_Digital Twin “The digital twin is the virtual representation of a physical object or system across its life-cycle. It uses real-time data and other sources to enable

Force Relinquish
Tip of the Day (TOD): How to Relinquish Locked Revit Models If you’ve ever been frustrated by locked Revit model elements when a team member is unavailable to relinquish them,
BS EN ISO 12006-3:2016
Building construction — Organization of information about construction works Part 3: Framework for object-oriented information
Geo-referencing
A BIM is said to be geo-referenced when the BIM is located with respect to one of the standard geographic survey coordinate grids established to represent locations on the Earth’s

Insurance Backed Alliancing projects under the IPI model
Introduction Martin Davis member of the New Models of Construction Procurement (NMCP) Working Group and the Integrated Project Insurance (IPI) mentor describes the Integrated Project Insurance model (IPI) coupled up
Distribution board
An assembly containing protective devices associated with one or more outgoing circuits fed from an incoming circuit. In the ProDesign software,a distribution board (DB) may be single-phase or three-phase,and can
International Harmonized Stage Codes
Stages: 00 PRELIMINARY 10 PROPOSAL 20 PREPARATORY 30 COMMITTEE 40 ENQUIRY 50 APPROVAL 60 PUBLICATION 90 REVIEW 95 WITHDRAWAL Substages: 00 REGISTRATION 20 START OF MAIN ACTION 60 COMPLETION OF
Security Management Plan
A document (or part of a document) identified in the Information Particulars setting out the security requirements for carrying out the Works in a security-minded way, including any policies, protocols,

Electric Vehicle Charging Points
Active charging points are fully wired and connected, ready-to-use charging points.
A passive charging point, on the other hand, is the infrastructure without the final charging unit installed.
Adiabatic
Adiabatic checks are required to determine whether conductorsmight be damaged by the thermal effects resulting from the level of calculated fault conditions.

Organizational Information Requirements (OIR)
ELI5-S1: BIM Basics E7: OIR explained information requirements in relation to organizational objectives BS EN ISO 19650‑1:2018 (3.3.3)
minor change
change that does not affect the meaning, function or intended use NOTE 1 Definition applies to properties and groups of properties.NOTE 2 Examples of this type of change are new
Spacial Asset
A spacial asset can be defined as a specific location such as a zone, boundary, area, floor or room with a known location and extents.For most businesses, spacial assets usually

Separation Gap for Primary and Secondary Life Safety Cable Trays Roof Installation)
UK electrical and fire safety standards do not prescribe a fixed minimum separation distance for roof-mounted life-safety cable trays. However, BS 7671, BS 8519, and BS 5839 collectively establish that life-safety circuits must be installed on dedicated containment and be either separated by barriers or adequately distanced to ensure circuit independence.

jet reaction
nozzle reactionforce acting in the opposite direction to the water stream leaving the nozzle BS 4422 2005 “Jet reaction,” also known as “nozzle reaction,” is a fundamental concept in fluid
Information model
set of structured and unstructured information containers (3.3.12) [cited from ISO 19650-1:2018(en), 3.3.8] ISO 19650 framework concentrates specifically on the information model concept, a term that contains multiple types of information (geometrical
Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design
An internationally recognized green building certification system confirms the level of the sustainability performance of an asset. Confirming the level at which the asset was designed and built using strategies
Workset
A workset is a collection of elements in a work shared Revit project. The purpose of worksets is to enable multiple users to work on the same project and facilitate
Global Trade Item Number (GTIN)
Global Trade Item Number (GTIN) identifier for trade items used to look up product information in a database GS1 [1] 1 Online Browsing Platform (OBP) [WWW Document], n.d. URL https://www.iso.org/obp/ui#search
