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ELI5
Construction Products Regulation (CPR)
Construction Products Regulation (CPR) https://ec.europa.eu/growth/sectors/construction/product-regulation_en#:~:text=The%20Construction%20Products%20Regulation%20(CPR,the%20performance%20of%20construction%20products.
Construction Operation Building information exchange (COBie)
COBie is a non-proprietary data format for the publication of a subset of building information models (BIM) that focuses on delivering asset data rather than geometric information. It is formally
Plain Language Questions (PLQ)
The publication of ISO 19650 set of standards replaces use of PLQ and instead introduce the term with exchange information requirements (EIR) and project information requirements (PIR). Project information requirements
Miller’s law
Argument introduced by Miller, G. A., suggests that the number of objects an average human can hold in short-term memory is 7 ± 2.[1] From a practical standpoint, this means
Code of Conduct
Set of principles to be followed by people involved in ISO work, e.g. working within an international framework, upholding consensus, being ethical. https://www.iso.org/glossary.html
Fault
Acircuit condition in which current flows through an abnormal or unintended path. The fault current may flow from line to line (phase fault) or line to earth (earth fault).
IDM standard
BS EN ISO 29481-1 Building information models – Information delivery manual (IDM) PD ISO/TS 12911:201
National Annex (NA)
With reference to BS EN ISO 19650 Framework, the working group could not conclude on international codification and standardised conventions. Hence Paul Shillcock and David Churcher, the lead authors, came
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
UK National Annex 2021 Discipline vs Role
The field ‘Role’ has been renamed ‘Discipline’ in the most recent edition of BS EN ISO-2 19650-2:2018 NA February 2021. The previously used role codes, derived from BS 1192:2007, had
Navisworks file format (NWF)
When saving to a “Navisworks file format (NWF), only a list with pointers to the files currently loaded is saved, along with the scene’s environment, the current view, clash results,
Integrated Digital Delivery
History History’s Professor, Yuval Noah Harari, in his book Homo Sapiens reached a conclusion that humans developed an ability to transmit information about things that do not really exist (stories),
BIM Stages
ELI5-S1:BIM Basics: E13_Understanding BIM Stages Understanding BIM Stages: Transitioning from BIM Levels to a Modern Framework In the world of Building Information Modeling (BIM), we often come across terms like
Conformity Assessment Committee (CASCO)
Committee whose secretariat is provided by ISO/CS that deals with conformity assessment and is responsible for the development of conformity assessment standards. https://www.iso.org/glossary.html
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:
Heating, Ventilation and Air-Conditioning (HVAC)
Heating, Ventilation and Air-Conditioning (HVAC). All necessary heating, ventilation air-conditioning and specialty equipment, including air distribution ducts for supply, return, and ventilation and exhaust ducts, including control system, registers, diffusers,
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
buildingSMART Data Dictionary
PD 19650‑0:2019 In short, the BuildingSMART Data Dictionary is a library for everything to do with the building. NumberName is an int key and string value that can be stored
Model Production Delivery Table (MPDT)
An MPDT its old PAS 1192 term, the MPDT defines who produces what, when and to what level of detail. The recent publication of ISO 19650 standards does not include
Resources Description Framework (RDF)
Resources Description Framework (RDF) major component of the semantic web as they provide a means for identifying resources with Namespace (NS)
Value
What the customer wants from the process, and will pay for. [1] [1] The Massachusetts Port Authority, 2015. BIM Guidelines for Vertical and Horizontal Construction.
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
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
BIM Functions
ELI5-S1 BIM Basics E17_BIM Functions Understanding BIM Functions: A Simple Guide for Beginners Building Information Modeling (BIM) is transforming the construction industry by enabling better collaboration, design precision, and efficient
data
ELI5-S1 BIM Basics E18_data Understanding Data in BIM: The Foundation of Smart Asset Management When we think about Building Information Modeling (BIM), it’s easy to get lost in the complexity
Certification
Assurance given by an independent certification body (ISO does not perform certification) that a product, service or system meets the requirements of a standard. https://www.iso.org/glossary.html
information requirement
The information needed to support a business or other activity. specification for what, when, how and for whom information (3.3.1) is to be produced [cited from ISO 19650-1:2018(en), 3.3.2] Term directly related to:
risk appetite
amount and type of risk that an organization is willing to pursue or retain [cited from ISO 19650-5:2020(en), 3.5]
information delivery milestone
scheduled event for a predefined information exchange [cited from ISO 19650-2:2018(en), 3.1.3.2] Milestones act as signposts through the course of a project. An information delivery milestone is a point in
Work stages
A division of standardised process and activities into named stages during the life of a system or facility. The process and activities extending from the definition of its requirements to
Status
Identifier indicating the characteristic of an element of information for which at all times a value can be established. Word status has been included in ISO 19650 Framework meant to
Level of model definition
The PAS1192 term is replaced by ‘Level of information need’ an ISO19650 term Level of information need is a more generic term than any of the existing “Level of …”
Conditions of Satisfaction
An explicit description by a Customer of all the actual requirements that must be satisfied by the Performer in order for the Customer to feel that he or she received
Task Information Delivery Plan (TIDP)
schedule of information containers and delivery dates, for a specific task team [cited from ISO 19650-2:2018(en), 3.1.3.4] The Task Information Delivery Plan (TIDP) is defined by the ISO 19650 framework
Terminology and UK Contract Law
The use of terms such as Lead Appointed Party, Appointed Party and Task Team in lieu of terms: employer, supplier, contractor and subcontractor, require clarification to become legally binding. The
Employer
Appointing party ISO 19650 term depends on where in the hierarchy the employer is located.The BS EN ISO 19650‑2 appointing party (A) is the equivalent of the PAS 1192‑2:2013 top‑level
Work standards and workflows
Project management focuses on project completion by the execution of various processes. Most of the workflows comprising repetitive tasks can be optimised by applying workflow management systems. Automation-optimized business processes
cost plan
statement showing an apportionment of an estimate (3.7.9) or of an agreed budget between cost (3.7.1) headingsNote 1 to entry: For example, the cost plan might be broken down into building elements. [1] 1 Online Browsing Platform (OBP)
open interoperability
the meaning and benefits: single procurement of information that can be relied upon over time, removing the need for it to be repeatedly re-procured; a ‘Golden Thread’ of information to
UK Earthing & Bonding Design Reference
UK Earthing & Bonding Design Reference (Edition 2025 – aligned with BS 7671:2018+A2:2022, Amendment 3 (2024), and draft Amendment 4 (2026), also drawing from official UK Power Networks standards) Scope,
Golden thread
The (digital by default) record of predefined documents and building information required to ensure that the original design intent and any subsequent building changes are captured, preserved, and used to
Openness
in relation to data and information – also linked to interoperability means that it is provided or made available in a format that can be accessed and used withoutrecourse to
Technical Committee (TC)
a Technical Committee (TC), which develops standards in a certain sector or industry; https://www.iso.org/glossary.html
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
American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE)
American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) is a professional organization that develops and promulgates system, measurement, and product engineering standards to the industry.1 1 The Massachusetts
BS ISO 21500:2012
Guidance on project management ISO 21500 describes guidelines for managing projects and processes in project management, including standards, methods, and processes. The standard is intended to align with related international
breakdown structure
decomposition of a defined scope into progressively more detailed levels
digital built environment
The terminology such as digital built environment and smart asset management, often referred to as Digital Construction, encompasses multiple technologies and processes related to information or project management and the
