All companies have different starting points and varying client expectations and project types and, therefore, potentially different routes to becoming BIM compliant.
LRQA recognises this and will help direct you towards your BIM compliant goal by performing a one-day gap analysis based on interviews and discussions with key team members. This process allows us to understand the context of your business and map across your descriptions of what you do and how you do it to establish potential BIM compliance.
The gap analysis is the starting point – no documentation is required. Depending on the maturity of your BIM processes and systems, a full implementation audit and certification may follow. An iterative gap analysis may be needed in the case of less mature systems, supporting your route to certification on a staged basis.
LRQA is the only Third-Party organisation offering BIM Business Systems Certification across the range of scopes of BIM involvement throughout the supply chain to facilitate ease of access to BIM projects.
LRQA is a global brand, and its certification represents international assurance and technical credibility recognition.
The LRQA BIM Certification Scheme was developed to balance the rigour of assessment and pragmatism. We require no documentation to be provided in advance of the assessment.
The assessment process is detailed in the LRQA BIM Guidance document, which can be found on our website, the link for which is www.lrqa.com/bim but the principle areas of capability assessment are as follows:
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BIM competencies;
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IT infrastructure and tools;
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BIM project risk management;
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ISO 19650-2 compliance;
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Documented processes and implementation against a live BIM project.
Gap Analysis
The initial stage of the LRQA assessment is the Gap Analysis. During this stage, one-to-one interviews with key people with responsibilities across the full spectrum of the required BIM scope of certification will be undertaken. It is the most effective and efficient means of understanding the context of the organisation's processes under assessment and culture, which helps build confidence, supporting our risk-based approach to certification.
The benefit of this approach is that it provides the freedom of the interviewees to explain their BIM management processes without concerning themselves with how the described system meets ISO 19650-2. The auditor maps across the described processes to the applicable standards.
The objective of the one-day Gap Analysis is to identify at a high level any significant gaps against the applicable standards and scheme principles and report any such gaps /identified weaknesses.
The Gap Analysis concludes with a report that initially takes verbal feedback, focusing on how the organisation can introduce changes that will take them closer to a potentially BIM compliant system. The Gap Analysis feedback is followed by a detailed report of the findings and discussions around measures to address the identified gaps.
Implementation Assessment
When the organisation under assessment is satisfied with the reported gaps/weaknesses closed, the next stage is the implementation assessment.
The implementation assessment will initially focus on the findings of the Gap Analysis and the associated closure of such identified gaps but will seek evidence that the BIM Management system fully conforms to scheme requirements, and this assessment is undertaken against a live BIM project. If a live appointment on a project is not available to be assessed, then, subject to confirmation of a compliant system, BIM Ready certification may be awarded (unaccredited service only). Then full certification is awarded once the effective implementation of the assessed systems could be verified against the appointment on a project.
An important area to be examined is the organisation's relationship under assessment with the supply chain. It ensures that the cultural shift from the traditional contractual adversarial relationship to collaboration is being progressed.
Provided that upon the conclusion of the implementation assessment against a live BIM project, no significant deficiencies are outstanding and that an action plan has been established to address any outstanding minor deficiencies, then BIM Business Systems Certification can be awarded.
An LRQA BIM certificate will be awarded upon successful conclusion of the assessment process and a listing on the LRQA website of the organisation. The scope of the award may comprise one of the following:
- Appointing Party/Lead Appointing Party
- Appointed Party
The validity of the awarded certificate is for a three-year term, during which a surveillance programme will be undertaken. The surveillance programme serves to verify the maintenance of the standards, competencies, and processes against which certification was awarded initially and verify management commitment to continuous improvement as measured against adherence to the action plan to close out the minor deficiencies agreed before award.
LRQA BIM Business Systems Certification represents independent confirmation of BIM Management systems conformity to recognised good practice leading to best practice through defined continuous improvement milestones, set over the three-year certification term. A confirmation delivered by a brand with global assurance credentials.
Questions about starting your BIM certification journey?
Let's talk. Contact us here and we'd be happy to start a conversation.