BIM-MEPAUS develops best practice digital information standards for the Australian construction and building services industry.

Building Information Modelling (BIM) uses a digital, three-dimensional model to collect, store and share information throughout the design and construction process. At building handover, the model serves a databank for building owners and operators to manage buildings more efficiently throughout the asset life.

This process depends on a deliberate and structured approach to the creation and maintenance of digital information throughout the cycle.

Putting members at the forefront of Building Information Modelling (BIM)

Recognising the importance of data standards for a digitally enabled construction approach, the Air Conditioning and Mechanical Contractors’ Association (AMCA) established the BIM-MEPAUS initiative in 2010. 

The BIM-MEPAUS initiative—focusing on mechanical, electrical and plumbing standards—aims to ensure that pre-defined parametric data fields used in digital models accurately represent the physical, spatial and performance characteristics of a building.

This allows practices and workflows to be developed to ensure that information is shared and applied routinely and consistently throughout the entire construction process, whilst maintaining the integrity of the design.

BIM-MEPAUS also fosters the development of BIM skill capabilities and hosts an annual Construction Innovation Forum to promote information sharing and industry adoption. 

Please visit the BIM-MEPAUS website for further information.

Objectives

The goal of BIM-MEPAUS standards is to deliver:

  • A structured and consistent approach to modelling practices and data management
  • Reliable workflows covering key activities
  • Supply chain collaboration and integration

Deliverables

Our approach focuses on four key deliverables:

  • Guidelines provide a compendium of protocols (metrics, naming conventions, etc.) that support the use of other BIM-MEPAUS standards
  • Workflows provide a clear pathway for the transfer of BIM models throughout the project lifecycle.
  • Specifications detail explicit sets of requirements to be satisfied by a design model
  • Models are data rich three-dimensional representations of the functional and spatial characteristics of plant, equipment and fitting.

Benefits

Adoption of BIM-MEPAUS standards has the potential to deliver:

  • Improvements in firm productivity
  • Improved workplace practices and reduced onsite conflict
  • Reductions in reworks and material wastage
  • Better health and safety design and performance
  • Environmentally sustainable design and operations
  • Reduction in schedule overruns
  • Improved building operability and energy-efficiency
  • Cost reductions and improvements in competitiveness
  • Improved business-to-business relationships
  • Simplified maintenance of assets

Please visit the BIM-MEPAUS website for further information.