The BIM (Building Information Modeling) Protocol, developed by the UK's Construction Industry Council (CIC), is a standardized additional legal agreement to improve project collaboration and clarify the rights and obligations of all parties involved. This protocol is primarily used in BIM Level 2 and is expected to evolve with digital advances to support BIM Level 3.

The BIM Protocol was developed in response to the UK Government's BIM Strategy which aimed to improve efficiency and collaboration in public sector projects in 2016. This strategy required organizing project information and assets in electronic form, so a legal framework was needed to support this aim. Meeting BIM Level 2 requirements involves creating a structured 3D space with integrated data from multiple disciplines, which requires collaboration between stakeholders.

The BIM protocol has two main goals:

1. Promoting Collaborative Working: This is achieved by making the role of Information Manager mandatory, ensuring implementation of information management standards, and enabling collaborative working practices from the start of the project. Information Manager focuses on data management, aligning models with protocols, and ensuring data security without dealing with coordination or collision detection.
2. Clarify Rights and Obligations: This protocol is attached to contracts involving the exchange of information and data in BIM projects, ensuring consistent standards and practices among project team members. This creates a direct contractual relationship between the employer and the supplier, without adding obligations between the various suppliers.

A BIM protocol is not just a static document stuck on a bookshelf. Moreover, this protocol is a dynamic and flexible tool that drives digital transformation in the construction industry. Its implementation brings invaluable benefits, paving the way to:

• Harmonious Collaboration: BIM protocols act as a bridge connecting project teams from the start, ensuring all parties work together with the same goals in mind. This is achieved through establishing the role of Information Manager responsible for data and model coordination, as well as standardization of information exchange processes.
• Clear Rights and Obligations: This protocol is like a map that guides all parties involved in a BIM project, clearly defining their rights and obligations. This minimizes the risk of miscommunication and disputes, building trust and accountability between stakeholders.
• High Quality Data: BIM protocols set strict data quality standards, ensuring all models and resulting information meet the highest expectations. This ensures data reliability and integrity, thereby minimizing errors and inconsistencies in the design and construction process.
• Measurable Efficiency: Better collaboration, clear data standards and targeted role definition, BIM protocols contribute to the optimization of project workflows. This leads to savings in time, costs and overall increased efficiency. 
• Unlimited Innovation: The BIM protocol provides a flexible and adaptive framework, enabling the application of new technologies and innovative processes in construction projects. This drives industry progress and opens up opportunities for more effective and sustainable solutions.
  

To adapt standard documents to specific projects, the CIC BIM Protocol includes two editable appendices:

• Appendix 1 - Model Production and Delivery Table: This Appendix lists all Building Information Models required by the employer at each stage of the project.
• Appendix 2 - Information Requirements: This annex details the information management standards that must be adopted for the project.

When implementing the BIM Protocol, certain principles must be taken into account:

1. All parties producing BIM on behalf of an employer must include the protocol in their contracts.
2. The same version of the protocol and attachments must be used in all contracts.
3. The wording of the CIC BIM Protocol shall remain unchanged.
4. The protocol must detail all Building Information Models to be produced by the contracted party.
5. Attachments should be filled with project-specific information.
6. Any changes in protocols and attachments must be treated as variations to the contract, following appropriate change control procedures.

As the industry progresses towards BIM Level 3 and beyond, BIM protocols will need to continue to adapt and evolve to meet increasingly complex needs. Further research and development are needed to address the contractual and legal challenges that arise from increasingly intensive collaboration and the use of advanced technologies.

BIM protocols are a vital tool for enabling effective collaboration and increasing project efficiency in the construction industry. By providing a clear framework, defined standards, and the flexibility to adapt to technological advances, these protocols play a critical role in driving digital transformation and advancing the future of the construction industry

BIM protocols are the key to opening the door to a future where project teams work together in harmony, data is quality assured, projects run efficiently, and innovation thrives. In this digital era, BIM protocols are the bridge that connects teams, data, and technology, ushering the construction industry toward a brighter and more productive future.

Source: HERE