IFSEBIM: setting standards
Collaborating with a range of industry experts, EFCEM has been influential in the development of a unified, international platform for the seamless exchange of Building Information Modeling (BIM) data and additional resources related to the foodservice design of professional kitchens. Using International Food Service Equipment (IFSE) BIM standards, the IFSEBIM website serves as a central hub for all BIM-related parameter information relevant to the global commercial kitchen industry, which are continuously updated and maintained to ensure accuracy and relevance.
Alongside fellow key EFCEM members, Andy Threlfall, technical and policy director, Foodservice Equipment Association (FEA), and Luca Salomoni, of H4I by Luca Salomoni, have been key drivers for the development of the platform, alongside Fabian Anzman (HKI), and numerous EFCEM colleagues.
"IFSEBIM is very important for our members because it links all the associations together, worldwide. It was a combined effort to get a common focus and common goals that support the foodservice industry," says Threlfall.
Initially, the EFCEM BIM parameters were developed by Salomoni. A portal platform was built, which held BIM data and all the adjacent parameters for every files. “This developed naturally into the IFSEBIM parameter group, which is an open-source document,” adds Threlfall. “Anybody can join the group who's got an interest in Revit files and CAD [computer aided design] drawings, particularly manufacturers and foodservice design consultants. It all interlinks together because there has been a specific focus to align the parameters, so they all blend in naturally with each other into the whole building structure.”
Most equipment manufacturers, says Salomoni, sell their equipment globally, meaning they receive requests for opportunity to install equipment for project managed by foodservice consultants or operators, directly. “Having a central hub where members can find clear and updated information and create or update their BIM files through a BIM library offers huge value for them,” he says.
Getting aligned
EFCEM members can get involved in the group: any members with a special interest in using Revit files to do CAD drawings and CAD Blocks, says Threlfall. "The group is for people that have the benefit of the experience and knowledge to build Revit files to get new criteria together for equipment. The beauty with the group is that they realize that the information they get from manufacturers is not all the same. IFSEBIM is focused on getting everybody aligned to make sure that all the applicable fields are filled in. The group is very focused on future proofing as well," he adds.
"We put together parameters for embodied carbon calculations. If members have an embodied carbon footprint calculation for their products, there's room in the parameter group to accommodate that, and to identify the method they've used for calculating it in Europe, so they can get comparability figures."
The benefit for EFCEM members is they can all make the system better, adds Threlfall. The IFSEBIM group meets twice per year and has a special task force taking on particular projects. "The work is linked to the importance of certain parameters. It identifies 'must haves' and 'nice to haves'. We can quantify what we believe to be almost mandatory data, as well as the optional extras," he says.
The platform contains additional resources, such as an IFSE Parameter Data Dictionary and the Revit Guide. “There's guidance on the platform that tries to align people as to how they should build Revit files up from a user's perspective,” says Threlfall. “Some people can get set in their ways with how they do things and might miss future development. So, it's a way that people can keep up to date with what's going on and what they need to be doing. It's just about making sure they remain applicable for the foodservice industry, and future proofed.”
The site also includes a standardized library for the rendering materials, adds Salomoni. “Equipment is mostly made in steel, but there is also glass material or the materials used for knob, handles, and so on. This is always a nightmare for the designer when they want to make a rendering of a kitchen. So, we standardize every material on IFSEBIM.”
EFCEM members – from BIM experts to new-starters – can contribute to the platform. “It's very easy to get involved,” says Threlfall. "The IFSEBIM team are very knowledgeable, but the beauty of it is that it is like a group of friends and colleagues that can give people advice and help where they need it. Everybody can put their inputs into the platform for the common good. You might be steering away over something that's not quite working correctly, but you'll probably find there is someone else in the world with exactly the same problem."
Members looking to join the working group can either send an email to nominate an expert. “Everybody that would like to help our industry is absolutely welcome,” says Salomoni. “Just write an email directly to Andy or me to join.”
The IFSEBIM working group meet to evaluate “every single improvement or requirement coming from each EFCEM unit,” says Salomoni. "I feel that 90% of the job has already done – or we have at least we have created a good path to do the rest of the job, but the experience contained within IFSEBIM – we've been working on this for more than 12 years – is very important. This is about fostering collaboration and an open discussion between the manufacturer and the consultant. We also hope to enlarge the guidelines and all the documentation that we have produced to different BIM software used in the market, whether that's Autodesk, Revit, or whatever,” he adds.
"We cannot oblige the market to use a single platform. We just provide a solution as to how they could work, following our rules, and help to provide tricks to the content creators as to how they can convert the BIM files to different software. It's important to be opensource and have a solution for all software."
Further details:
Please visit ifsebim.org for more information.
To inquire about joining the IFSEBIM Working Group, please email: