Classification systems give every BIM object a structured code so cost, programme, and operations data can be aggregated consistently. ISO 12006-2 defines the FRAMEWORK; specific classifications (Uniclass, OmniClass, NRM, CCS) implement it. India has no published BIM classification — most Indian projects borrow Uniclass 2015 from the UK.
ISO 12006-2 Classification Tables
ISO 12006-2 defines 15+ classification table 'types'. Each implementing system fills these with codes.
| Item | Purpose | Uniclass | OmniClass | Example |
|---|
| Construction Entities | Whole assets | En | 11 | Hospital, school, office tower, bridge |
| Construction Complexes | Group of entities | Co | 21 | Hospital campus, residential township |
| Spaces / Functional Spaces | Rooms and activities | SL / Ac | 13 | Operating theatre, lecture hall, parking bay |
| Construction Elements | Functional building parts | EF | 21 | External wall, floor structure, roof |
| Systems | Subsystems within buildings | Ss | 22 | HVAC system, fire alarm system |
| Products | Manufactured items | Pr | 23 | Specific brand of tile, light fitting, pump |
| Activities | Construction activities / processes | Ac | 31 | Concrete pouring, painting, demolition |
| Work Results | Outcomes of construction processes | WR | 22 | Painted wall finish, tiled floor |
| Materials | Materials and substances | Ma | 41 | Concrete M30, steel Fe500, granite |
| Properties | Object property attributes | — | 49 | Fire rating, U-value, weight |
Uniclass 2015 (UK — most-used internationally)
Maintained by NBS (National Building Specification, UK). Free, frequently updated.
| Item | Purpose | Uniclass | OmniClass | Example |
|---|
| Origin | — | UK | — | Maintained by NBS (UK) |
| Update frequency | — | Quarterly | — | Most actively maintained system |
| Free download | — | Yes | — | uniclass.thenbs.com |
| Structure | Hierarchical | L1.L2.L3.L4 codes | — | Pr_30_59_98_25 = Wall finishes, paints |
| BIM tool support | — | Revit, Tekla, ArchiCAD | — | Native parameter or shared parameter |
| India usage | — | Most-used in India | — | Default when international consultants involved |
OmniClass (USA)
Maintained by CSI (Construction Specifications Institute, USA). Used widely in North American projects.
| Item | Purpose | Uniclass | OmniClass | Example |
|---|
| Origin | — | — | USA | Maintained by CSI (USA) |
| Update frequency | — | — | Less frequent than Uniclass | — |
| Structure | — | — | 47 numbered tables (11-49) | 23-13.35.12 = Cast-in-place concrete column |
| Tool support | — | — | Strong in Autodesk products | Revit native OmniClass parameter |
| India usage | — | — | Less common | Used when client is North American |
Other Classification Systems (less common in India)
| Item | Purpose | Uniclass | OmniClass | Example |
|---|
| CCS (Cuneco Classification System) | Denmark | — | — | Mandated for Danish public projects |
| Talo 2000 | Finland | — | — | Finnish national system |
| MasterFormat | USA — specifications | — | Numerical (00-49) | Used for project specifications, not modelling |
| UniFormat | USA — elements | — | Letter codes (A-Z) | Used for early-cost estimating |
Practical Choice for Indian Projects
| Item | Purpose | Uniclass | OmniClass | Example |
|---|
| Indian Standard? | — | — | — | NO — BIS has not published a BIM classification |
| Default recommendation | — | Uniclass 2015 | — | Most-used in Indian BIM projects, free, well-maintained |
| If client is North American | — | — | OmniClass | Match client expectations |
| If client is European | — | Uniclass / CCS | — | Depends on country |
| ONE per project | — | — | — | Pick one in BEP and stick with it. Mixing causes downstream cost/operations data issues |
Notes
• Classification = how every object in your BIM model is categorised so cost, programme, and operations can roll it up consistently
• Pick ONE classification system per project — defined in the post-appointment BEP
• Uniclass 2015 is the de-facto standard on most Indian BIM projects — free at uniclass.thenbs.com
• OmniClass is preferred when the client is North American or works with Autodesk products natively
• Embed classification codes as IFC properties so they survive export to other tools
• There is no Indian Standard for BIM classification — opportunity for BIS to publish one
• Don't 'invent' a classification mid-project — borrow Uniclass and tag any India-specific entries as custom
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