The Advantages of Pre-Bid Clash Resolution

Clash Resolution is a critical, but often overlooked step in the construction planning process. When clashes arise during construction, they can significantly delay a project and drive up costs dramatically. They also pit the design professionals against the contractors in a struggle to determine who is at fault. Building Information Modeling (BIM) can help identify and resolve clashes before they become an issue; however, we contend that most clash resolution is completed far too late in the process to offer the maximum benefit.

In this blog post, we will take a closer look at how BIM can be used prior to bidding the project to prevent conflicts and streamline construction planning and execution.

What is BIM Clash Detection?

BIM clash detection is the process of identifying potential conflicts in a construction project electronically, before anything is built on the job site. These conflicts can arise from clashes between architectural and structural elements like walls, floors and beams with other building services systems, particularly the mechanical, electrical and plumbing (MEP) systems.  However, clashes can also arise between architectural and structural, or even within the occupied spaces themselves.  Incorrect information contained in the model can be another source of clashes that will cause undesirable compromises as the building is constructed. Clash detection is an essential part of quality control in construction projects and can help to ensure that everything goes according to plan.

As construction projects increase in size and complexity, the potential for clashes between different elements increases. If not detected and corrected early on, clashes can lead to expensive rework later in the project and design compromises along the way. Building Information Modeling (BIM) is a powerful tool that can help identify clashes before they become problems in the field.

What are the Advantages of Pre-Bid Clash Resolution?

The Current Status Quo

On a typical large scale project, the design professionals have most likely used some form of BIM based modeling design software, most prevalently Revit. However, even when using Revit as the design platform, a true clash detection and resolution process has typically not taken place when the drawings are handed off to the contractors and subcontractors for bidding and construction.  This leads to a long, laborious process for the subcontractors to bring all of the models together, search for clashes and resolve them one-by-one.  Typically, after the contracts have been awarded, all trades gather in a room and over the course of several weeks or months, hash out any conflicts they find in the models using an agreed upon clash detection program, usually Navisworks. 

As the systems are modeled to an increasing level of detail, it is the intent of these sessions to come up with a mutually agreeable set of shop drawings that reflect how they intend to actually construct the systems set forth in the design documents. During this process, errors are found in the design and changes are made that frequently lead to Change Orders to the owner, increasing the cost of the building over the contractors’ original bid amounts. 

Then, the design professionals review and redline the proposed shop drawings, for further review and coordination by the contractors and subcontractors.  These issues are rarely resolved with fewer than 2 rounds of back-and-forth comments between the design professionals and the subcontractors, adding even more time and money to the process.

All of this adds up to weeks or months of delays, thousands of man-hours spent, increasing friction between the design and construction teams, and ever increasing costs to the owner.  

We believe it does not have to be this way.

Quicker Into Construction

Building a successful construction project is all about managing expectations, maintaining schedules and avoiding surprises. One way to do this is by resolving potential clashes between the various systems before the bidding process even starts. 

Pre-bid clash resolution is an excellent way to avoid costly and time-consuming issues during the construction phase of a project. By resolving clashes before bids are submitted, projects can move more quickly into construction and experience fewer interruptions. The endless back and forth of the BIM coordination and shop drawing process can be completely eliminated if the contractors and subcontractors are handed a set of documents that have already been clash detected, resolved and prepared to a shop drawing level.

Problems are Resolved Before Bidding Begins

When BIM clash detection and shop drawing preparation is employed before bidding, the process can help identify potential problems with the project’s design that could lead to increased costs and delays in advance of the pricing process. Problems can be avoided by resolving these clashes before bidding begins and the entire project can proceed more smoothly.

Pre-bid BIM clash detection and resolution is important to ensure that projects are completed as efficiently as possible. When clashes are identified and resolved before the field work begins, costly delays are minimized and everyone involved in the project clearly understands what needs to be done. This can save both time and money for everyone involved.

More Accurate Bids

When completed prior to bidding, clash detection can save substantial money on construction projects. The bid prices are more reliable, and budgets are easier to maintain and control throughout construction.  Design professionals who utilize the full BIM coordination technique prior to bidding can greatly reduce the number of potential problems during the life of a project, providing a better reflection on the quality of their services. This, in turn, results in fewer surprises once construction begins and more repeat business.

Fewer Change Orders Post-Bid

Attempting a major construction project without thorough Building Information Modeling (BIM) and clash detection would be like trying to build a car without any blueprints or prototypes. Sure, you could probably manage to do it, but the end result is going to be a lot messier and expensive than if you had just fully developed the plan in the first place. The same is true for construction projects – using BIM can help identify clashes and problems pre-bid so that there are fewer change orders post-bid.  In addition to reducing costs, the pre-bid BIM coordination technique improves safety and communication on construction projects. Managers who use pre-bid BIM techniques experience less rework and better overall outcomes. By employing these clash prevention methods, everyone avoids the uncomfortable discussions regarding Change Order responsibility, which create discord and conflict during the construction process.

The Design Team Maintains Control of the Design Throughout

Clashes between design elements are bound to happen in any construction project. With traditional design and construction methods, these clashes would often not be identified until after the bidding process was complete, which can lead to costly mistakes and rework as noted above.

With pre-bid BIM clash detection, the design team can identify potential conflicts before the drawings even go out for bid, ensuring that the final product is exactly what they and the owner intended. Resolving any conflicts prior to bidding leaves the design team in control of the entire design process.  When clash detection and resolution are left to the installing subcontractors, compromises must be made that may adversely impact the architecture, aesthetics, or functionality of the facility.

Less Friction Between All Stakeholders in the Project

When constructing a new building or renovation, cooperation between all stakeholders is the key to a successful project. Friction or strained relationships can lead to poor decision-making or even costly litigation. Pre-bid BIM coordination and clash detection can help identify potential conflict areas before bids are submitted, reducing friction between architects, engineers, contractors and their clients.

Conclusion

BIM offers many advantages in preventing clashes and streamlining construction planning. BIM can help identify potential clashes and problems before they happen. This saves time and money during the construction process, making it an invaluable tool for any contractor or construction manager.  

BIM coordination after the bids have been received often causes even more conflict and strife between the stakeholders on a project, resulting in a difficult construction process and unnecessary compromises to the building. With Pre-Bid Building Information Modeling (BIM) and clash resolution, everyone has a more accurate view of what the end product will look like, minimizing misunderstandings and ensuring that the project stays on schedule and within budget.

If you are looking to make your next job as smooth running and efficient as possible, contact us today! With our help, you could save time and money by choosing the most cost-efficient solutions for your project from start to finish.