New CESABIM database makes BIM easy for catering equipment manufacturers and kitchen designers
The UK government has legislated that, by 2016, all public-funded projects must be undertaken using BIM (Building Information Modelling) software. The problem is that manufacturers, designers and suppliers of catering equipment will have to produce BIM-compatible 3D models of their products in order to have them specified. The solution is CESABIM. Developed by CESA, the Catering Equipment Suppliers Association, in partnership with BIM specialist Schematic Ltd, CESABIM will make it easy to produce BIM models that can be uploaded into any BIM software format.
Chair of CESA Nick Oryino explains: “Catering equipment manufacturers have been concerned by the huge potential cost of creating these models, the more so since there are several BIM softwares available. At the same time, designers and equipment suppliers have been agonising over the lack of BIM models and easy to use BIM software.
“CESA has been developing CESABIM over the past 12 months. We believe it’s a complete solution for the catering equipment industry.”
The basic version of CESABIM is free and includes access to simple BIM models, which can be uploaded into any BIM software format or into AutoCAD. There is also free access to a price checker app, featuring manufacturers’ list prices and basic product information, as well as live 24/7 quotation compilation.
A more advanced version of CESABIM offers dynamic BIM models which can be configured with optional extras then uploaded to all major BIM softwares. It features easy to use BIM-compatible kitchen, bar and restaurant design software, for 2D and 3D designs, and simultaneously produces itemised quotations. The product’s BIM model data can be extended to include, for example, operation and maintenance manuals and spares catalogues.
“CESABIM makes it easy to create BIM models and also to generate CAD blocks,” says Oryino. “This means it can replace the current CESACAD library.”
CESABIM will be launched officially in November at the 2013 CESA Conference, which is run in association with the FCSI and BHA. (cesaconference2013.co.uk).
The Catering Equipment Suppliers Association (CESA) is the authoritative voice of the catering equipment industry, representing over 170 companies who supply, service and maintain all types of commercial catering equipment – from utensils to full kitchen schemes. For more information on CESA visit www.cesa.org.uk
BIM (Building Information Modelling) software creates building designs in 3D, achieving economies by minimising errors in construction. The design is hosted in the Cloud. This allows all members of the project team to access it simultaneously, speeding up the design process. 3D models of products which are used in the design are encrypted with data such as specification, services, price, etc.
The 2013 CESA conference, in association with the FCSI and BHA, is on 13th and 14th November at the Savill Court Hotel, Windsor. A strong speaker platform includes Alastair Campbell and Dennis Turner. www.cesaconference2013.co.uk.