What is ISO 19650?

The ISO 19650 serie of standards supporting BIM management and ensuring quality in digital processes

The ISO 19650 standard is an international standard for managing information while supporting BIM methodology and encouraging its wider use.

In this article we’ll provide an overview of the ISO 19650 and cover some key concepts, benefits and scope of the standard.

What is ISO 19650?

ISO 19650 (Organisation of information about construction works – Information management using BIM) is an international standard that regulates the management of information across the full lifecycle of a built asset, using Building Information Modeling (BIM).

It defines collaborative processes for the effective management of information throughout the delivery and operational phase of assets.

It was initially introduced to foster a common BIM-based language and encourage construction professionals to implement BIM in their processes.

It supersedes, in fact, British PAS, especially PAS 1192 – 2: 2013, with references also to PAS 1192 – 3: 2014, and was created to unify the regulatory framework and ensure the best international cooperation in the construction industry.

This document is primarily intended for use by:

• those involved in design, construction and commissioning of built assets;
• those involved in management and maintenance of built assets once completed.

It consists of 5 parts:

• Part 1 – general concepts and principles;
• Part 2 – delivery phase of assets;
• Part 3 – operational phase activities of assets;
• Part 4 – information exchange;
• Part 5 – security-minded approach to information management.

Parts 1 and 2 were published in December 2018 and in the course of 2019, in accordance with the procedures set out by the Vienna Agreement, becoming a European (EN) and national standard for each member state (duly supported by the National Annexes).

It has been built on the same principles (closely aligned with ISO 9000-quality, 14000-environmental management, 55000-asset management, 31000-risk management, etc.) as BIM and digitisation of the construction industry and is now the reference standard for all others.

ISO 19650 maintains the approach and concepts consolidated over the years throughout the “BIM” world: information specifications (EIR, become Exchange Information Requirement instead of Employer), Information Management Plan (Bim Execution Plan, in Part 2), data sharing environments (CDE Common Data Environment), Level Of Information Need (LOIN), Project Information Requirements (PIR), etc.

What are the benefits of ISO 19650?

ISO 19650 is a set of rules created to ensure compliance with a certain quality standards for digital processes and data control in the process of designing, building and managing an asset.

The ISO 19650 series enables teams to minimise wasteful activities and increase the predictability of costs and time related to the execution of works. This is achieved through a common approach to information management and by adhering to the fundamental principles of the BIM methodology.

Here are some benefits of becoming ISO 19650 compliant:

• control over the information required by the client and methods for verifying this information, the definition of processes, deadlines and the financial and time resources to be invested for the construction/management/maintenance of works;
• correspondence between the requirements defined at the contract stage and the results achieved at the end of the process;
• exchange of information between the different figures involved in each phase of an asset’s life cycle.

Jøns Sjøgren, Chair of the ISO technical subcommittee, says that ISO 19650 has already contributed to a save up to around 22 % on construction costs.

What is the scope of ISO 19650 Part 2?

ISO 19650 Part 2 (Delivery phase of assets) was published in January 2019 and describes processes and principles relating to planning, information management and communication in project teams. It is developed as one large flowchart illustrating each point and step in the articulation of the contract.

The scope is to provide a framework of recommendations for everyone involved in the management of an asset.

Part 2 of ISO 19650, in fact, focuses on a very specific phase in the life cycle of an asset, namely the asset delivery phase.

The ISO 19650 workflow includes these 8 steps:

1. assessments and needs;
2. invitation to tender;
3. tender response;
4. appointment;
5. mobilization;
6. collaborative information production;
7. information model delivery;
8. and project closure.

Each step is connected to the next one, as each assignment must contribute to the next assignment.

How do I become ISO 19650 accredited?

There is no single way to get certified but there are many courses based on this standard and aimed at demonstrating that the person who has followed the course adopts an internationally recognized standard for Building Information Modeling. After all, ISO 19650 is a guideline that specifies how well digital processes need to work to maximise quality.

“Professional Certification-Foundation” courses developed by buildingSMART are among the most important ones.

The Professional Certification Program aims at supporting openBIM training and competency assurance and is based on standardized and internationally recognized content.

Here some requirements for companies wishing to obtain the certification:

• centralisation of project information and task management processes;
• compliance with file naming conventions;
• use of a centralised platform for collaboration and document management.

This type of certifications is not simply a requirement for working on public procurement or collaborating with already certified companies. Rather, it is a way to achieve a solid structure that improves all digital workflows and operations in general, ensures cost savings, a reduction in waste of resources and a reduction in the risk of contractual penalties.