Collaborative Public Works Contracts using BIM – An Opportunity for the Irish Construction Industry?

In Ireland, large and progressive contractors are claiming significant benefits in construction management efficiency through the implementation of BIM (Building Information Modelling). While these contractors note that the cost benefits to the project budget alone justify the implementation of BIM in the field, they are acutely aware that in 2011 the UK Government has mandated the construction industry in the UK to use BIM on all public projects by 2016. In the Republic of Ireland however, in 2007, the Government introduced the Public Works Contracts (PWC) suite for the procurement of all public sector works. After 8 years of working with the PWC suite of contracts, these contracts have now been widely identified as being unfairly balanced in favour of the Employer and as being a barrier influencing the prospect for recovery of the construction industry in Ireland. A recent Irish Government agency report recommended a review of the current contract for Public Works by both Government and Industry stakeholders with a view to implementing any changes required to ensure fair and reasonable terms for all parties involved. This review has called for the PWC to be revised to include a more collaborative and co-operative approach. This paper will consider the experiences of other jurisdictions in adopting collaborative construction contract practices through BIM and will propose how the industry in Ireland can leverage BIM to create a more integrated and collaborative environment for the purpose of delivering better project outcomes for the key stakeholders involved in construction projects.