BIM is a process for creating and managing information on a construction project throughout its whole life cycle. Even though the earliest concept of BIM dates to the 1970’s, it is in the last decades that we have seen a more frequent use of BIM as a collaboration process in construction projects.

Today, most construction projects leverage the power of a 3D-model to visualise construction elements and share information. But by only having a 3D-model doesn’t make your project a BIM-project. If we look at the difference between working in a 3D-model and working in a BIM environment we can see that a BIM-file is much richer with information than a 3D CAD-model. It includes details such as performance characteristics, specifications, cost, and time related information. This type of information gives project managers, planners, installers, and maintenance teams the opportunity to plan and review cost and time estimation as well as material delivery all the way from the early design stage into the maintenance of the building.

Even though structural elements, interior design and mechanical services are designed, planned, and integrated into the BIM-model, the actual supports for pipes, cable trays and HVAC as well as firestop penetration solutions are sometimes left to be solved on site.


Fig.1 Even though services are included in the BIM-model, mechanical supports are sometimes missing.

To not proactively plan for mechanical supports and firestop solutions for penetrations can lead to unwanted and unexpected cost and delay in a project. At the point when the layout of the building services has already been set to “design freeze” it might be difficult to find not only space in the model but even more difficult, to find physical space later in the construction phase for adding mechanical supports.

With tight deadlines in the design stage, it can sometimes be challenging to ask for more time, but it is here, in the early stage where time can be saved.

Fig 2. To engage early and include MEP supports and firestop solutions in the early design pays off in the construction phase.

Without deeper experience in the topic, it can sometimes be easy to think that the MEP supports in a building don’t make up too much of the total volume of material, but looking at an isolated model of the MEP supports in an office building it becomes clear that the amount of steel is actually quite high, and that the implications of not considering those supports can be severe in terms of upcoming clashes.

Fig 3. A planned MEP-support design can mitigate the risk for clashes in the construction phase.

At Hilti, we have a long experience of proactive MEP & firestop design, and our BIM design services fit the purpose of safety, productivity, and sustainability very well. Our BIM team work in all markets throughout Europe with local teams in all countries. We believe in transparency from the start and our experienced BIM Project managers will play an important part through the whole project, from the design stage to the construction phase. In addition, our modelling services enables further collaboration such as prefabrication and robotics on site.

Our BIM Design Service offering comprises six use cases. All of them brings an added value to your project, and together they unlock the full potential of proactive MEP & Firestop BIM-design.

Starting with optimising your solutions with our value engineering approach, we can influence everything from material cost to your CO2 footprint on the project. Using our prefabrication services and advanced logistic services the time saving becomes even higher, and with the use of our drilling robot Jaibot together with our layout tool PLT300, the on-site work becomes more safer, more productive and less time consuming.



If you would like more information then reach out to your local Hilti representative or learn more about Hilti BIM services here.

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