By AIA Contract Documents
July 19, 2022
Tomorrow, AIA Contract Documents will unveil their new digital practice documents that deal with the terms and concepts surrounding the use of a building information model, or “BIM.” In the leadup to this release, the AIA Contract Documents program is publishing a series of articles talking about all things BIM. This is Part 6: The AIA’S New Model Element Tables.
As explained in Part 1, BIM is increasingly being woven through the fabric of every design and construction project. Therefore, it is becoming progressively more important for those who negotiate contracts to understand the nuances of BIM and – on the other side of the divide – for those who engage in modeling to understand the nuances of their contract terms. This, in essence, is the “knowledge divide.” Part 2 of our series dove deeper into this knowledge divide and provided some risk management strategies to overcome it. Part 3 of our series explained how the AIA’s new BIM documents are structured to facilitate this risk management strategy. Part 4 took a deep dive into one important aspect of the new BIM documents: BIM as a Contract Document. Part 5 explained some new terms in the 2022 BIM documents. This is Part 6, in which we will look at the new Model Element Tables.
One of the foundational elements of BIM is the concept of Levels of Development, or LODs. Using LOD designations, Model Authors can convey the specificity and exactness of their Model Elements and, in turn, other Project Participants with access to the Model can determine an appropriate amount of reliance on those elements. In this regard, G204-2022 provides Project Participants with a table in which they can designate LODs for various Model Elements at different Project milestones.
G205-2022 Abbreviated Model Element Table
G205-2022 is one of the more unique and consequential documents in the new suite of Digital Practice Documents. The AIA Contract Documents Program received valuable feedback related to its 2013 documents that, while the Model Element Table contained therein was critical, it was occasionally burdensome to complete and sometimes created a hurdle to proper completion of the entire document set. As a result, the AIA Contract Documents Program created G205-2022, a Model Element Table that is abbreviated. The G205-2022 can facilitate the use of a Model Element Table by Project Participants who might otherwise not be familiar with Model Element Tables.
Excel-Based Tables
Both G204-2022 and G205-2022 are now offered as free downloadable Excel files, and can both be used in conjunction with G203-2022 BIM Execution Plan. Basing these tables in excel gives users greater functionality and adaptability to account for the unique demands of every construction project.
The AIA Contract Documents program recently presented multiple 60-minute panel discussions about the Knowledge Divide and the risks surrounding model sharing. You can also read more about the AIA’s Digital Practice Documents in the Guide, Instructions, and Commentary.
AIA Contract Documents has provided this article for general informational purposes only. The information provided is not legal opinion or legal advice and does not create an attorney-client relationship of any kind. This article is also not intended to provide guidance as to how project parties should interpret their specific contracts or resolve contract disputes, as those decisions will need to be made in consultation with legal counsel, insurance counsel, and other professionals, and based upon a multitude of factors. Any language quoting from AIA Contract Documents that have not yet been released is subject to change before final publication.