Building Information Modelling data is shaping door hardware specification, says Consort

Building information modelling requirements and product data

Consort Architectural Hardware Director Daniel May has published commentary on the growing demand for Building Information Modelling (BIM) and its influence on design, specification and compliance processes.

Digital product data is now expected from early-stage design through to compliance, maintenance and product lifecycle management.

Since 2016, UK central government clients have required collaborative digital information management on centrally procured projects, commonly referred to as BIM Level 2.

These requirements are now set out through the UK BIM Framework and BS EN ISO 19650 standards, which expect construction partners to provide accurate, structured and accessible digital information for their products.

How digital workflows are changing specification

Architectural hardware, historically underrepresented in digital planning, is increasingly supported by 3D models, certification and performance data across expanding product libraries.

Project teams are moving away from paper-based resources such as brochures, PDF catalogues and basic CAD line drawings toward integrated digital workflows using platforms including Revit and NBS.

Forthcoming Digital Product Passports (DPP), expected to be mandated by the EU, are likely to further embed this approach.

BIM product data is now being used to support UK Government mandates for digital construction and the ‘Golden Thread of Information’, fire safety regulations that require verifiable product information and sustainability reporting that relies on accessible Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) and lifecycle data.

Products that cannot be represented accurately in a digital model risk being excluded from project specifications.

Fire doorsets, traceable data and access to files

May’s commentary highlights that door hardware, while a small proportion of overall project value, has an outsized role in safety, performance, accessibility and compliance.

For fire doorsets, the effectiveness of the assembly depends on the performance of individual hardware components.

Within BIM, parametric data attached to items such as door closers can be used to validate fire ratings, confirm accessibility and identify coordination issues with ceilings, frames or other adjacent elements.

The commentary links post-Grenfell regulatory and cultural expectations to a stronger demand for traceable, verified product information, and references Martyn’s Law as an example of emerging legislation likely to shape how public spaces are designed and secured.