Eric Spooner

BIM is changing the building landscape, bringing with it improvements in design, specification, delivery and asset management. According to NBS’ National BIM Report 2019, 96% of contractors plan to use BIM in the next five years, but there is a frustration over the lack of adoption from other stakeholders in the supply chain. Openings Studio software Openings Studio can drive efficiencies in creating door schedules by linking to fire certifications  When it comes to doorsets and ironmongery in particular, using tools such as Openings Studio from ASSA ABLOY Opening Solutions UK & Ireland Door Group, can truly unlock the potential of BIM. The software, suitable for all building projects and applications, provides product information and performance data to comply with budgets and ensure building regulations are adhered to, while 3D views guarantee full design integration. Openings Studio can drive efficiencies in creating door schedules by linking to fire certifications and energy performance documents. Contractors can then view this information to assess precise quantities, pricing, compliance, links to supplier websites and installation instructions. In addition, contractors are also able to track the status of installations across the project much more effectively. Building management software Openings Studio also ensures post-construction processes – such as environmental accreditations and handovers to facilities managers – are managed effectively. The ongoing performance and maintenance of the building may also be monitored via QR codes and a weblink to where all documents and certificates are located. This means that when a site gets audited, all information is easily accessible. Eric Spooner, BIM Manager at ASSA ABLOY Opening Solutions UK & Ireland, says “Openings Studio has been designed to help minimise costs and streamline the data sharing process throughout the entire project lifecycle, by acting as a collaborative tool for all project stakeholders involved – from the initial design, through to construction, delivery, and asset management and beyond.” Door Group Door Group can support customers at every stage, from design and specification, to installation and ongoing maintenance. With such a wide range of capabilities, Door Group can source and supply all door and ironmongery requirements, seeing a project through from start to finish.

ASSA ABLOY Project Specification Group, a unit of ASSA ABLOY Opening Solutions UK & Ireland, has partnered with ColladoCollins Architects to leverage the benefits of its Openings Studio BIM software to make significant time and cost savings on the former Shredded Wheat factory project. The project, a thriving new commercial and residential development based in Welwyn Garden City in Hertfordshire, will consist of over 643 units and more than 7,100 doorsets. Encompassing a sensitive refurbishment of former Shredded Wheat factory buildings, the project is part of a huge development that includes over 1,200 units in total. Opening Studio BIM software Openings Studio is a BIM software tool that was developed to significantly improve the process of door scheduling Using ASSA ABLOY’s Openings Studio software, ColladoCollins has been able to save weeks of time and manpower when specifying and managing ironmongery schedules for the project. Openings Studio is a BIM software tool that was developed to significantly improve the process of door scheduling, visualisation and more. Users are able to focus on the design, installation and management of door openings – all within an information-rich environment. Easy door installation and management Specifying as many as 7,100 doorsets can be an extremely time-intensive task. Using traditional methods, information would be provided in countless separate schedules and documents, which would require a Revit operator to manually create and update, with someone else to then check for errors. Then, as the project develops, information may become out of date and therefore require individual doors to be flagged up and re-sent for advice. The time and manpower that goes into this process is not only inefficient, but also ineffective, with the prospect of human error still a prominent possibility. Software integration For these reasons, ColladoCollins began to work closely with ASSA ABLOY Project Specification Group to integrate Openings Studio with their own Revit model, allowing the firm to be able find all the relevant information and ironmongery schedules in a single place, delivered in one document. Martin Russell, Project Leader at ColladoCollins, comments: “Moving to BIM was a natural progression for us, and as market leaders, ASSA ABLOY was the obvious choice to assist us.” Integration of door hardware ASSA ABLOY's inputs have vastly improved the integration of door hardware within the former Shredded Wheat Factory project"“Utilising the advice from Eric Spooner, BIM Manager at ASSA ABLOY, as well as the Openings Studio software itself, we have managed to free up our team from tirelessly working through door hardware schedules. This means we can focus on architecture and aesthetics, knowing the specification and integration of the ironmongery is in hand and will seamlessly feedback into the project within the allotted timescales. “The information and advice provided by ASSA ABLOY has vastly improved the integration of door hardware within the former Shredded Wheat Factory project. With a project of this size, sharing information can be quite a task – from large file sizes to sourcing relevant information. The prompts from Openings Studio make transforming information clear, concise and generally easy to follow. BIM software tools “At ColladoCollins, we pride ourselves on designing and delivering high quality buildings with a sensitive, sustainable approach, utilising a strong design ethos with a strong technical background whilst understanding the commercial challenges facing our clients. Openings Studio enhances our ability to provide this service and we would seize the opportunity to work with ASSA ABLOY on similar projects in the future.” Eric Spooner, BIM Manager at ASSA ABLOY, adds: “As Openings Studio flags up any queries and automatically updates in live time, it is easy to see any discrepancies and changes within the schedules. By re-sharing the model information, it then also allows us at ASSA ABLOY to view the changes and feedback to architects – allowing us to work in close collaboration at every stage of a project.”