BIM QA QC: Quality Assurance and Quality Control in BIM Models

The activities of coordination, verification, and quality control of the BIM model are fundamental aspects within the process.

Since project models must contain much more information than traditional deliverables report, and must also be used for different purposes, the quality of the models should be verified rigorously and continuously.

Let’s talk about Quality Assurance (QA) and Quality Control (QC).

What is Quality Assurance (QA) in BIM

Quality Assurance (QA) in BIM is a structured and systematic process aimed at ensuring the quality of the informational model and digital data throughout the project lifecycle. Unlike final quality control, QA focuses on preventing errors by introducing procedures and standards that ensure consistency, reliability, and regulatory compliance from the early stages of development.

In the BIM context, QA is not only about the technical verification of the model but also includes activities related to workflow organization, information management, and the application of shared rules in the BIM Execution Plan (BEP).

Thanks to this approach, the BIM model becomes a robust, interoperable tool ready to support advanced analyses such as Quantity Take Off, Building Energy Modeling, and construction simulations, reducing the risks of errors and unexpected costs.

Examples of QA activities in BIM projects

Quality Assurance activities in BIM projects cover technical, organizational, and documentary aspects. Some concrete examples include:

• Verification of compliance with standards and the BEP: checking file structure, naming conventions, and the use of classification standards (e.g., UniClass, OmniClass).
• BIM Validation: technical analysis of the model to ensure the correctness and internal consistency of the information.
• Clash Detection: proactive identification of interferences between disciplines (architectural, structural, MEP), reducing errors and changes on site.
• Code Checking: automatic checking of regulatory compliance, safety, and performance of the project.
• Control of geometry and LOD: verification of the dimensional correctness of objects and the level of detail required at each stage.
• Validation of informational data: checking that parameters and properties (materials, performance, costs) are consistent and complete.
• Monitoring of revisions: systematic tracking of changes to ensure transparency and constant updating of the model.

What is Quality Control (QC) in BIM

Quality Control (QC) in BIM encompasses the verification and inspection activities aimed at ensuring that the digital model and the data it contains meet project requirements, technical specifications, and regulations. Unlike Quality Assurance (QA), which has a proactive and preventive approach, QC is more reactive and inspection-oriented: it focuses on analyzing the final product of the BIM process to identify errors, inconsistencies, or defects that could compromise the quality of the project or the constructed work.

In other words, QC in BIM answers practical questions such as: “Does the model really meet the required standards?” or “Are there inconsistencies that need to be corrected before the execution or construction phase?“.

Thanks to this approach, QC ensures that the delivered model meets the client’s needs, reducing risks, changes during construction, and costly rework on site.

QC and automatic checks in BIM models

One of the main advantages of BIM is the ability to automate many Quality Control activities through Model Checking software, which allow for rapid and systematic parametric and rule-based checks. The most common automatic checks largely replicate those already mentioned earlier, especially regarding Clash Detection, Code Checking, and BIM Validation. Additional aspects that could be mentioned include:

• Verification of object properties – checking dimensions, classifications, and technical characteristics assigned to model elements;
• Consistency and completeness of information – identifying missing or inconsistent data that could compromise subsequent phases such as Quantity Take Off or Facility Management.

These activities, supported by specialized software like usBIM.checker and other validation tools, produce detailed reports that facilitate communication between project teams and the timely adoption of corrective actions.

In this way, QC in BIM becomes a strategic ally to ensure a solid, compliant model ready for use in all phases of the building lifecycle.

QA vs QC: differences and complementarity in BIM

The main difference between QA and QC can already be inferred from what we have discussed in the previous paragraphs, but the concept may not yet be very clear. Therefore, let’s summarize this topic briefly.

The main difference lies in the approach and the timing of their intervention:

• QA has a proactive and process-oriented approach, aimed at preventing errors and defects from the early design phases. It defines procedures, standards, modeling rules (such as those contained in the BIM Execution Plan – BEP), and organizational processes that ensure quality and consistency throughout the project lifecycle. It is the activity of “doing things right from the start“;
• QC adopts a reactive and product-oriented approach: it verifies whether the BIM model and the associated data meet the established requirements. Its activities include technical checks, clash detection, code checking, and information validation. It is, in fact, the activity of “checking if things have been done correctly“.

Although they have different roles, QA and QC are complementary: solid QA planning reduces the number of errors that QC will subsequently need to identify and correct. At the same time, the results of QC activities provide valuable feedback to improve QA processes, generating a virtuous cycle of continuous improvement.

Quality Assurance & Quality Control in the BIM process

Management and Quality Control in BIM Projects

Quality management is a critical aspect of project delivery, whether it is a BIM based project or one developed using traditional methods.

In a BIM context, the success of these activities depends on the ability to manage data and information produced by other participants and, of course, on the necessity for a high degree of accuracy from all stakeholders. If the received data is incomplete, inconsistent, or simply inaccurate, it could have repercussions in terms of productivity on all processes that depend on this information.

Paradoxically, this could mean producing a greater effort compared to managing a project with traditional methods.

At the same time, the use of new technologies offers the opportunity to perform quality checks with much more precision and speed than what has been done so far. The effort required to generate quality BIM data would be rewarded by the benefits guaranteed by the possible digitalization of the processes (partially semi-automatic) of coordination and analysis of project information.

usBIM.checker | BIM validation software

In the context of quality control of a BIM model, we can talk about high-quality data when it allows us to apply control logics and rules both on the geometric part and on the informational part.

Model Checking: proprietary formats vs open formats (IFC)

Coordination can be done on both native formats and IFC files. Many tools for modeling have proprietary functionalities or alternatively, through specific plug-ins, allow direct management of the Model checking activity on proprietary files.

As a rule, however, quality control within the BIM process should be conducted with specific software solutions that are based on the use of IFC files.

The IFC standard itself was established, among other reasons, for the coordination of models produced by different software solutions and for quality control of the project. In fact, even for the development of internal workflows, many design firms decide to generate IFC models to control the quality of the work performed.

This standard represents the new mode of delivery of project deliverables for all future public/private contracts within the construction world, therefore below I illustrate 3 good reasons to use the IFC file as a basis for managing these types of checks:

• firstly, an IFC model provides users with a “neutral” view of the model, outside the specific modeling environment, and brings to light any geometric and informational modeling errors that cannot be identified within the authoring environment;
• the export of the IFC file (or rather an appropriate Model View Definition) allows the user to filter and generate a model for a specific purpose. This allows focusing the Model checking activities on specific themes;
• lastly, but not least, performing quality checks on IFC models allows for the establishment of repeatable forms and control rules and includes all stakeholders to contribute to the generation of the project model.

Report, Issue Tracking and communication with BCF

The Issues encountered during quality control should be commented on to be subsequently resolved. Most BIM validation solutions have the ability to generate reports.

The Issues can be stored, commented on, and their resolution can be assigned to a specific person.

The creation of reports could be simply managed with screenshots of the problem detected within the Model Checking tool; this report could then be exported in Excel or PDF format. This way of managing reporting represents the minimum level for exchanging information among project stakeholders, and many of the more modern tools have more advanced functionalities for issue tracking.

In fact, the IDs of objects that do not meet the project information requirements can be stored through the IfcGlobalID as well as the model version or the author and the date of the verification activity.

In an ideal workflow, the issues encountered are recorded and managed using the BIM Collaboration Format, BCF.

The BCF is an open standard used to support communication between Model checking and BIM validation solutions and BIM authoring solutions. In particular, it allows leveraging the IFC models shared among project participants, avoiding proprietary formats for managing the lifecycle of Issues. It enables project participants to freely exchange all encountered issues.

The issues, within a BCF file, can be organized by author, discipline, type of problem, and date of identification. This allows for the creation of a well-documented and accessible history for project coordinators (BIM coordinator and Project manager) who can manage the resolution of identified problems in an agile and simple manner.

The BCF thus represents a powerful tool for the quality control of the BIM model, allowing for the rationalization of communication by centralizing it directly on the project IFC model.

More specifically, BCF works by transferring data formatted in XML: it contains snapshots of the models, identifying the objects involved, the status of the highlighted issue, and assigning responsibilities.

This collaboration can be realized:

• with a file exchange between different applications;
• through a BCF server that acts as a hub.

In the first case, a BCF file (.bcfzip) is transferred from one user to another, modified, and returned. BCF files can be used multiple times among multiple actors, as long as all maintain the integrity of the shared BCF file and no more copies of it are distributed.

In the second case, the implementation of a BCF server is required, which stores all data and allows project actors to synchronize the creation, modification, and management of BCF topics in a single centralized location.

BIM validation tools and clash detection

Discover usBIM.checker, the new tool developed by ACCA software for Model checking and BIM validation activities. The only Italian tool that fully supports openBIM workflows for the informational coordination of models.

Don’t forget usBIM.clash, another tool from the usBIM family that helps you with the coordination of geometric conflicts, IFC certified and capable of managing the BCF format.

FAQ on Quality Assurance and Quality Control

What is Quality Assurance (QA) in BIM?

Quality Assurance (QA) in BIM is a structured and systematic process aimed at ensuring the quality of the informational model and digital data throughout the project lifecycle. It focuses on preventing errors through procedures, standards, and rules defined in the BIM Execution Plan (BEP), ensuring consistency, reliability, and regulatory compliance from the early design phases.

What are examples of QA activities in BIM projects?

The main QA activities in BIM projects include: verification of compliance with standards and the BEP, BIM Validation, Clash Detection, Code Checking, geometry and LOD control, validation of informational data, and monitoring of revisions. These actions ensure a robust and reliable model for all design and execution phases.

What is Quality Control (QC) in BIM?

Quality Control (QC) in BIM is the set of verification and inspection activities aimed at checking that the model and data meet requirements, technical specifications, and regulations. Unlike QA, which is preventive, QC is reactive and focuses on analyzing the final product to identify errors, inconsistencies, or defects before the execution phase.

What QC activities can be automated in BIM models?

Many QC activities can be automated through Model Checking software, such as Clash Detection, Code Checking, and BIM Validation. These tools also allow for the verification of object properties, checking the consistency and completeness of information, and generating detailed reports for more efficient management of revisions.

What is the difference between QA and QC in BIM?

QA (Quality Assurance) is proactive and process-oriented: it defines procedures, rules, and standards to prevent errors from the early stages. QC (Quality Control), on the other hand, is reactive and product-oriented: it checks whether the BIM model and data meet the established requirements. The two activities are complementary: QA reduces errors and QC identifies and corrects them, generating a virtuous cycle of continuous improvement.

Why is quality management important in BIM projects?

Quality management in BIM projects is essential because models contain much more information than traditional deliverables and are used for different purposes. A low-quality model can compromise productivity, costs, and project timelines. The adoption of QA and QC allows for reducing errors, improving collaboration, and ensuring a solid model for the entire lifecycle of the building.

You might also be interested in usBIM.dataquality, the BIM quality management software