AIA Contract Documents BIM Series Part 5: New Terms in the 2022 BIM Documents

{"version":"0.3.0","atoms":[],"cards":[],"markups":[["a",["href","https:\/\/www.aiacontracts.org\/articles\/6500004-aia-contract-documents-bim-series-part-1-how-bim-exhibits-manage-risk"]],["a",["href","https:\/\/www.aiacontracts.org\/articles\/6502590-aia-contract-documents-bim-series-part-2-the-knowledge-divide"]],["a",["href","https:\/\/www.aiacontracts.org\/articles\/6514044-aia-contract-documents-bim-series-part-3-an-introduction-to-the-aias-new-bim-documents"]],["a",["href","https:\/\/www.aiacontracts.org\/articles\/6517505-aia-contract-documents-bim-series-part-4-bim-as-a-contract-document--can-it-be-done-"]],["u"],["i"],["a",["href","https:\/\/www.aiacontracts.org\/contract-documents\/6524283-bim-exhibit-for-sharing-model-solely-within-the-design-team","target","_new"]],["a",["href","https:\/\/www.aiacontracts.org\/contract-documents\/6524290-bim-exhibit-for-sharing-model-solely-within-the-construction-team","target","_new"]],["a",["href","https:\/\/www.aiacontracts.org\/resources\/6524822-2022-bim-documents-guide","target","_new"]],["a",["href","https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=IT3F6iO2C-s"]],["a",["href","https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=rlVKjTIwJJY"]],["a",["href","https:\/\/www.aiacontracts.org\/resources\/69541-guide-instructions-and-commentary-to-the-2013-aia-digital-practice-documents"]],["strong"]],"sections":[[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"June 30, 2022"]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"Later this year, AIA Contract Documents will unveil their\nnew digital practice documents that deal with the terms and concepts\nsurrounding the use of a building information model, or \u201cBIM.\u201d In the leadup to\nthis release, the AIA Contract Documents program is publishing a series of\narticles talking about all things BIM. This is Part 5: New Terms in the AIA\u2019s\n2022 BIM Documents."]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"As explained in "],[0,[0],1,"Part\n1"],[0,[],0,", BIM is increasingly being woven through the fabric of every design and\nconstruction project. Therefore, it is becoming progressively more important\nfor those who negotiate contracts to understand the nuances of BIM and \u2013 on the\nother side of the divide \u2013 for those who engage in modeling to understand the\nnuances of their contract terms. This, in essence, is the \u201cknowledge divide.\u201d "],[0,[1],1,"Part\n2"],[0,[],0," of our series dove deeper into this knowledge divide and provided some\nrisk management strategies to overcome it. "],[0,[2],1,"Part\n3"],[0,[],0," of our series explained how the AIA\u2019s new BIM documents are structured to\nfacilitate this risk management strategy. "],[0,[3],1,"Part\n4"],[0,[],0," took a deep dive into one important aspect of the new BIM documents: BIM\nas a Contract Document. This is Part 5, in which we will explain some new terms\nin the 2022 BIM documents."]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"There are many terms in the new BIM documents but of those\nnew terms, three are of upmost importance: Model Portion, Model Author, and\nModel Version. Each of these three will be discussed, in turn."]]],[1,"p",[[0,[4],1,"Model Portion or Portion"],[0,[],0,". In the new BIM documents, a\nModel Portion, or Portion, is typically defined as \u201ca subset of a Model as\ndesignated in Table 2.4 of [the] Exhibit. The Parties may designate a Model\nPortion by discipline, trade, area, location, phase, or other mutually\nagreeable distinction.\u201d ("],[0,[5],0,"Note: The "],[0,[6],1,"E401-2022"],[0,[],0," and "],[0,[7],1,"E402-2022"],[0,[],1," define the term\nslightly differently, but the difference in the definition in those two\ndocuments is outside of the scope of this article"],[0,[],0,".). The documents allow\nfor the terms \u201cModel Portion\u201d and \u201cPortion\u201d to be used interchangeably,\ndepending upon the structure of the sentence in which the term appears. A Model\nPortion is intended to be understood as a subset of a model, but is\npurposefully left open as to how the subset categories will be determined\nbecause different projects and models may require different categorizations.\nFor example, on one project it may make sense to break models down into\nPortions according to the trades \u2013 so there could be a mechanical Portion, a plumbing\nPortion, an electrical Portion, a structural Portion, and so on. However, in a\ndifferent project it may make sense for the model to be broken down into\nPortions according to the location \u2013 so there could be a foundation Portion, a\nfirst floor Portion, a second floor Portion, and so on. "]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"After the Portion categories have been decided, the parties\ncan then determine the appropriate level of sharing (i.e. the \u201cSharing Tier\u201d)\nfor each portion. For example, the parties may decide that the structural\nPortion will be shared with all project participants and can even be enumerated\nas a Contract Document, but the plumbing Portion might only be shared with a\nfew project participants and may only be used as a reference."]]],[1,"p",[[0,[4],1,"Model Author or Author"],[0,[],0,". In the new BIM documents, a\nModel Author, or Author, is defined as \u201cthe Project Participant responsible for\ndeveloping a Model Portion.\u201d Just like with \u201cModel Portion,\u201d the documents\nallow for the terms \u201cModel Author\u201d and \u201cAuthor\u201d to be used interchangeably,\ndepending upon the structure of the sentence in which the term appears. A Model\nAuthor is, simply, the project participant who creates a Model Portion."]]],[1,"p",[[0,[4],1,"Model Version or Version"],[0,[],0,". In the new BIM documents, a\nModel Version, or Version, is defined as \u201ca specific edition of a Model or\nModel Portion that is sufficiently identifiable as unique and unchanged as of\nthe time it is saved by its Author.\u201d Similar to \u201cPortion\u201d and \u201cAuthor,\u201d the\ndocuments allow for the terms \u201cModel Version\u201d and \u201cVersion\u201d to be used\ninterchangeably, depending upon the structure of the sentence in which the term\nappears. As explained in "],[0,[3],1,"Part\n4"],[0,[],0,", Model Version is a critical definition and concept in the "],[0,[8],1,"2022 BIM\ndocuments"],[0,[],0,". A Version is a \u201cspecific edition\u201d of a Model or Model Portion.\nThrough this concept, project participants can identify and reference (and even\npotentially rely upon) a specific Version of their model, while that same model\ncontinues to develop. Then, when the Author determines that the model is sufficiently\ndeveloped to meet the requirements of the next milestone, they can identify the\nnext Version, to be used for reference (and, again, potentially even reliance)."]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"An analogy to this process may aid in understanding the\ncontext: traditionally, project drawings can be developed through software and\nthen exported and shared with the other project team members as a PDF. The\nunderlying file may continue to change and be developed even after the PDF is\ndistributed. Then, if the author wishes to distribute an updated version of\nthose drawings, they can do so by saving it as a PDF and distributing that PDF.\nThe concept of a Model Version is intended to work the same way and, as a\nresult, can simultaneously facilitate model collaboration while also enabling\nmodel sharing with appropriate levels of use and reliance."]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"The AIA Contract Documents program recently presented\nmultiple 60-minute panel discussions about "],[0,[9],1,"the Knowledge Divide"],[0,[],0," and\n"],[0,[10],1,"the risks surrounding\nmodel sharing"],[0,[],0,". You can also read more about the AIA Contract Documents Digital\nPractice Documents in the "],[0,[11],1,"Guide,\nInstructions, and Commentary."]]],[1,"p",[[0,[12,5],2,"AIA Contract Documents has provided this\narticle for general informational purposes only. The information provided is\nnot legal opinion or legal advice and does not create an attorney-client\nrelationship of any kind. This article is also not intended to provide guidance\nas to how project parties should interpret their specific contracts or resolve\ncontract disputes, as those decisions will need to be made in consultation with\nlegal counsel, insurance counsel, and other professionals, and based upon a\nmultitude of factors. Any language quoting from AIA Contract Documents that\nhave not yet been released is subject to change before final publication."]]]]}