HandbookBIM Concepts & Terminology

BIM Concepts & Terminology

ISO 19650-1:2018 · ISO 19650-1 Cl 3 — Terms and definitions
Plain-English definitions for the BIM jargon that appears in every tender and BEP. Based on ISO 19650-1:2018 vocabulary. Use this page when reviewing your first BIM tender and you keep tripping on acronyms.
ISO 19650-1
23 items shown
Information Requirements (the hierarchy)
TermExpansionDefinitionExample
OIROrganisational Information RequirementsWhat the asset OWNER's business needs to know — the top of the requirements pyramid. Drives everything below.Energy consumption per m² for ESG reporting; preventive-maintenance trigger frequencies.
AIRAsset Information RequirementsWhat information is needed to OPERATE and maintain the asset day-to-day. Derived from OIR.Equipment make/model, warranty dates, spare-part numbers, preventive maintenance schedule.
PIRProject Information RequirementsWhat information is needed to DELIVER the project. Time-bound to construction milestones.Cost forecast, programme dates, RFI status, design approval status at each gateway.
EIRExchange Information RequirementsWhat each appointed party must HAND OVER at each delivery milestone — the contractual deliverable list. Derived from PIR.Architect issues IFC + DWG + room schedule at Concept Stage; structural engineer issues IFC + analytical model at Tech Design.
HierarchyOIR → AIR → PIR → EIREach layer is derived from the one above. EIR is what an appointed party actually contracts to deliver.On a hospital project: OIR (lifecycle cost) → AIR (HVAC efficiency) → PIR (HVAC layout by Stage 4) → EIR (IFC at LOIN level X by Apr 2026).
Roles (ISO 19650 vocabulary)
TermExpansionDefinitionExample
Appointing PartyThe CLIENT — the party that issues the appointment. Was 'Employer' in old PAS 1192 vocabulary.DDA, NHAI, MMRDA, the building owner, the developer.
Lead Appointed PartyThe principal contractor / lead consultant — directly contracted to the appointing party. Owns the project's BIM execution overall.Main contractor, lead architect, design-build consortium.
Appointed PartyAny party contracted (directly or via the lead) to deliver work — designers, contractors, subcontractors, manufacturers.Structural consultant, MEP consultant, façade subcontractor.
Information ManagerPerson in each appointed party responsible for BIM information management. Sometimes the same person as BIM Coordinator.Manages CDE access, runs clash detection, validates IFC exports.
Documents & Plans
TermExpansionDefinitionExample
BEPBIM Execution PlanThe contract document that says HOW BIM will be done on this project. Two versions: pre-appointment (in tender response) and post-appointment (signed after award).Lists CDE platform, file naming convention, LOIN per discipline, model federation strategy, software versions, clash protocol.
MIDPMaster Information Delivery PlanThe MASTER schedule of all information deliverables across all appointed parties. Owned by the lead appointed party. Aggregates all TIDPs.Spreadsheet listing every deliverable with due date, format, owner, recipient, reviewer.
TIDPTask Information Delivery PlanThe schedule of deliverables for ONE appointed party / ONE task. Multiple TIDPs roll up into the MIDP.Structural engineer's schedule of model issues, drawing issues, schedule of materials.
BIMForum LOD SpecLevel of Development SpecificationThe most-cited LOD reference document, published annually by BIMForum (USA). Defines geometric and information requirements per object type per LOD level.Concrete column LOD 300 = nominal size + position + concrete grade.
Information Containers & CDE
TermExpansionDefinitionExample
CDECommon Data EnvironmentThe single trusted repository for all project information. Hosts every information container.Autodesk BIM 360 / Construction Cloud, Aconex, ProjectWise, Asite, Dalux, Trimble Connect.
Information ContainerA discrete chunk of information with a unique ID — a model file, drawing, issue, schedule, anything. Each has a state, revision, classification.An IFC file, a Revit model, a PDF drawing, a clash report, a meeting minute.
WIPWork In ProgressFirst state of an information container — being authored, NOT yet shared with others. Author has full control.Architect's working Revit model — not yet pushed to the federated CDE.
SharedContainer has been checked, suitability assigned, and pushed for collaboration. Other parties can reference but not edit.Architect's IFC export pushed to CDE for structural and MEP coordination.
PublishedContainer has been authorised by the appointing party as a contractual deliverable. Read-only.Stage 3 Concept Design report — signed off and issued for client approval.
ArchivedContainer is preserved as a record (audit trail, project history). Read-only forever.All published containers are archived at project close-out.
Geometry & Information
TermExpansionDefinitionExample
LODLevel of Development (AIA)AIA-defined scale 100/200/300/350/400/500. Bundles geometric detail and information into one number. Most-cited globally.LOD 100 = symbolic; 300 = accurate dimensions + grade; 400 = fabrication-ready; 500 = as-built verified.
LOINLevel of Information NeedISO 7817-1 / ISO 19650-1 concept that REPLACES single-number LOD with three independent dimensions: Geometric (G), Alphanumerical (A), Documentation (D).A door might need rough geometry (G2) but rich properties (A4) and full warranty PDFs (D3).
AIMAsset Information ModelThe information model maintained during the OPERATIONAL phase of an asset. Built from the PIM at handover.Facility manager's BIM with live equipment, sensor data, maintenance history.
PIMProject Information ModelThe information model produced during the DELIVERY (project) phase. Becomes the AIM at handover.Federated model used by designers + contractors during design and construction.
Notes
OIR / AIR / PIR / EIR — memorise this hierarchy. Every BIM tender uses it.
If the tender doesn't define LOIN per object class per milestone, ask before quoting
Pre-appointment BEP is short (5-10 pages); post-appointment BEP is detailed (30-50 pages)
The CDE is mandatory under ISO 19650 — it's not optional collaboration software
Information Container states (WIP/Shared/Published/Archived) are also mandatory — your CDE platform must enforce them
ISO 19650 is global. India has not published an IS BIM standard. Indian projects reference ISO 19650 directly.
← Previous
Pile Bearing Capacity (IS 2911)
Next →
ISO 19650 Information Delivery Process
Generated by InfraLens · infralens.in