BIM file problem faced by manufacturers
If you treat BIM as another visual channel, similar to a catalog with beautiful renders, you fall into the trap which is called over-modeling (excessive geometric detail). This is a mistake that can cost you losing space in the specification, even if it is your product that is technically the best.
Imagine an office building or hospital project — it's a giant, digital BIM model of the entire building, containing thousands of elements: windows, doors, lighting fixtures, pipes and furniture. Design software (such as Revit or ArchiCAD) must process all this data in real time. If your object (for example, an office chair) weighs 50 MB, because the designer has modeled the seams on the upholstery and the height adjustment mechanism in it, then inserting 500 such chairs into the building model will “kill” the performance of the designer's computer. 3D model in the project will begin to freeze, and the time for opening documentation will increase to ridiculous values.
What will an annoyed designer do?
He will be ruthless.Probably, he will remove your detailed, but “heavy” object and insert in its place a generic cube or a lighter replacement from a competing manufacturer, which weighs 500 KB. In the description, he will enter only technical characteristics. In this way, your product disappears from the visualization and the chance of it staying in the specification decreases.
BIM objects are created for information, not decoration
In connection with the situation described above, it is worth going back to basics. The abbreviation BIM stands for Building Information Modeling. The key word is information. The architect does not need to see the thread on the heat pump mounting bolt at the construction or construction project stage. To design successfully, however, every engineer needs to know:
- What are its exact outline dimensions?
- Where are the connection points?
- What is its power, weight and electricity demand?
Therefore, in a well-prepared strategy (which we wrote about in more detail in the article about marketing campaigns in BIM), the geometry should only be the background for the data.
BIM modeling principle: light geometry, heavy data
A professionally prepared BIM library should be guided by the principle of geometric minimalism.
- Avoid unnecessary details: if the element is smaller than 2-3 cm and does not affect collisions in the model (e.g. handle, hinge, decorative strip), consider whether it needs to be 3D mapped. Often, a texture or a simplified shape is enough.
- LOD (Level of Detail): software such as Revit natively supports different levels of detail. Your object should look straight in plan view (2D symbol) and show the 3D solid only in 3D view. But even this lump should be properly optimized.
- Focus on the parameters: this is where the real battle for sales takes place. These are technical data, links to datasheets and classifications decide whether the product meets the requirements of the tender. Read more about how data supports salespeople in our article on BIM automation in sales: https://www.bimstreamer.com/en/blog/bim-automation-and-ai-in-sales
Is the “pretty” creation of BIM libraries necessary?
However, the above paragraph does not mean that your objects have to be ugly. They have to be smart. A good BIM library requires the art of compromise — properly prepared it looks aesthetically pleasing and recognizable, but it was created on a “grid” with a low number of polygons.
Remember: the designer will be more willing to use a “light” object that acts quickly than a photorealistic “brick” that paralyzes the work on the entire model. By making it easier, you increase the chance that your BIM objects will remain in the project and reach the construction stage.
Not sure if your libraries are correct?
The creation of BIM libraries is a specific part of the construction industry, combining engineering, programming and graphic knowledge. It is easy to make mistakes that disqualify materials in the eyes of professionals. Too heavy geometry, lack of key parameters or ill-considered LOD can cause the architect to simply remove your object from the project. If you want to make sure that your BIM libraries are light, functional and really support sales, it is worth verifying and optimizing them from the perspective of the designer, not just aesthetics.
If you're unsure whether your current assets are optimized for performance, or if you're just planning to digitize your products, we're here to help. At BIMStreamer, we not only deliver technology, but also share knowledge. What our BIM specialists can help you with:
- Audit and Optimization: we will review your current files and indicate areas for improvement.
- Creating Libraries: Our experts can prepare professional, lightweight and data-saturated objects for you from scratch.
- BIM training for manufacturers: we will teach your team how to independently create the correct objects and manage libraries so that they are willingly chosen by designers.
Contact us and make your libraries an effective tool for your work, not a hindrance to the model: https://www.bimstreamer.com/en/contact
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