Mandatory BIM in Public Procurement: What Changes in Modena

Mandatory BIM in public procurement introduces a more structured approach to designing, coordinating, and delivering information relating to a project. For public authorities, designers, and contractors, it does not simply mean moving from two-dimensional drawings to 3D, but organizing data, responsibilities, and deliverables within a shared digital process.

Understanding the scope of this requirement is also important for private clients in Modena: the same methods can, in fact, be applied—with a proportionate level of detail—to renovations, industrial buildings, and projects involving multiple disciplines.

Mandatory BIM in Public Procurement: An Overview

In public procurement, BIM is required by the Public Contracts Code for projects above certain thresholds, with progressively broader application. The requirement concerns the information management of the project, not merely the use of 3D, and requires coordinated models, shareable data, and deliverables consistent with the applicable requirements.

Building Information Modeling is a methodology in which walls, structures, systems, finishes, and other elements are represented in a three-dimensional digital model. Each object can contain technical information, quantities, and characteristics useful during the different project phases.

The model therefore becomes an information database for the project, accessible to the professionals involved. Architects, structural engineers, building systems designers, and contractors can work from a coordinated basis rather than managing independent deliverables that are difficult to compare.

The actual applicability of the requirement must be assessed in relation to the characteristics and value of the project, the procurement documentation, and the legislation in force. It is not advisable to determine whether BIM is mandatory based solely on the public nature of the client: the specific case and the required information requirements must be examined.

Even when BIM is required, the level of development is not the same for all projects. A preliminary representation may focus on volumes and spatial requirements, while an executive design phase normally requires more detailed elements that can be used for coordination and quantity take-offs.

What Changes for Contracting Authorities, Designers, and Contractors

The introduction of BIM shifts the focus from merely producing drawings to the coordinated management of information. The intended outcome is not a simple three-dimensional image, but a consistent set of models, data, and deliverables that can be checked and used by the various parties.

For those commissioning the project, it becomes essential to clearly define what must be modeled, the required level of development, and the formats in which the files must be delivered. For designers, interdisciplinary coordination becomes increasingly important: every architectural modification may affect structures, systems, and quantities.

For contractors, a properly organized model provides a clearer basis for analyzing construction activities, spatial requirements, and potential issues. It is nevertheless necessary to verify that the data are up to date, consistent with the approved deliverables, and appropriate for the work phase.

In operational terms, the transition to BIM requires attention to several aspects:

• Information objectives: it is necessary to establish which information is actually required for design, procurement, construction, or subsequent management.
• Level of development: the level of detail in the model must be proportionate to the phase and objectives of the assignment.
• Roles and checks: responsibilities for producing, updating, and verifying content must be clearly defined.
• Delivery formats: files must be shareable with the professionals involved and comply with the applicable requirements.
• Document consistency: models, drawings, quantities, and other deliverables must be derived from coordinated information.

The quality of the process therefore depends as much on organization as on the tools used. BIM software used without shared criteria and checks does not automatically eliminate inconsistencies or incomplete information.

Mandatory BIM and design error control

One of the main advantages of BIM is the ability to compare architectural, structural and building services designs before construction work begins. In traditional workflows, these disciplines may be developed in separate drawings: a beam could interfere with a building services duct, or a pipe could occupy the space intended for an opening.

With clash detection, elements from the different models are compared to identify geometric clashes. Issues can thus be examined during the design phase, when solutions can still be modified without affecting work that has already been completed.

This control does not replace the expertise of technical professionals. A geometric clash detected by the software must be interpreted, classified and resolved in relation to architectural, structural and building services requirements. Likewise, some design issues do not arise from a physical overlap and still require professional assessment.

The model also makes it possible to extract quantities directly from the objects represented. If the elements are modelled and classified consistently, quantity take-offs can be based on more readily verifiable data. However, the reliability of the quantities remains dependent on the quality of the survey, the completeness of the model and the level of development adopted.

For existing buildings, the starting point is particularly important. Incorrect measurements or unsurveyed areas are transferred to the model and may affect all subsequent outputs. Studio Tecnico Peluso begins with verified survey data and integrates surveying and modelling to create a reliable representation of the as-built condition.

The benefits of BIM for private projects as well

BIM is not mandatory for private construction work, but it can offer tangible benefits when the project is complex, includes numerous building services systems or involves multiple professionals. Its use must be proportionate: not every project requires a complete, information-rich model.

In renovation projects, overlaying the as-built condition and the proposed design helps verify spatial requirements, dimensions and the compatibility of new works. In industrial buildings, the model can be useful when machinery, load-bearing structures and technical systems must coexist within limited spaces. In complex properties, it facilitates coordination between the different disciplines.

BIM can remain useful even after construction. An organised document repository makes it possible to retrieve information about the building for maintenance, technical inspections or future alterations, avoiding, as far as possible, the need to reconstruct the information framework from scratch each time.

For minor projects, a complete model may be disproportionate to the objectives. It may be more cost-effective to adopt a simplified model of the as-built condition, sufficient to verify dimensions and prepare more reliable quantity take-offs. The surface area, complexity of the building services systems and required level of detail affect the work involved and must be assessed before defining the deliverables.

It is therefore not a matter of choosing between “BIM yes” and “BIM no” in the abstract. It is more useful to determine which information is required, who will use the model and up to which phase it must be updated.

BIM design in Modena: survey, model and sharing

In Modena and the surrounding municipalities, including Formigine, Castelfranco Emilia, Nonantola, Carpi and Sassuolo, BIM can support public works, civil engineering projects and industrial projects. In every situation, the first step is to clarify the objectives, the condition of the property and the delivery requirements.

Studio Tecnico Peluso oversees the process from the survey through to the construction of the information model, providing a single technical point of contact. The level of detail is assessed according to the design phase, avoiding both insufficient models and an excess of information that is not useful to the project.

Sharing is another essential element. Studio Tecnico Peluso works with the leading software available on the market and can deliver models in IFC format, an open standard that promotes interoperability between the software used by professionals, as well as in the native formats requested by the client.

Before beginning the modelling process, it is advisable to define:

1. the purposes for which the model will be used;
2. the disciplines to be coordinated;
3. the required level of development;
4. the expected deliverables and formats;
5. the quality and completeness of the available survey data.

For further information on the method, applications and delivery options, please refer to the dedicated BIM - Building Information Modeling service. A preliminary consultation makes it possible to determine whether BIM is required, cost-effective or should be applied in a simplified form.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is BIM mandatory for all public contracts?

No. The Public Contracts Code requires it for works above certain thresholds, as part of a progressively broader implementation. The actual obligation must be verified based on the characteristics of the contract award, the available documentation, and the applicable regulatory requirements.

Is BIM also mandatory for a private renovation project?

It is not mandatory for private works. However, it may be useful for comparing the as-built condition with the design, coordinating structures and systems, or obtaining quantities based on the modeled elements, selecting a level of detail proportionate to the project.

How much does it cost to create a BIM model?

The cost depends on the surface area, the complexity of the building systems, and the required level of detail. After an initial discussion of the project, Studio Tecnico Peluso can prepare a clear quotation specifying the deliverables and delivery formats.

To assess mandatory BIM requirements for public contracts or the application of the methodology to a private project in Modena, contact Studio Tecnico Peluso at 351 5697612.