Stelrad Radiators is embracing Building Information Modelling (BIM) and now has a number of products on BIMStore ready for architects, engineers and contractors to integrate into future projects.

By 2016, all public government buildings must comply with a mandatory regulation enforcing the use of collaborative 3D electronic models for all projects. BIM has been developed to support architects in complying with the regulations.

Stelrad has invested in several core ranges designed in the format for BIM with the aim of becoming shared knowledge resources for architects, contractors, designers and engineers, to support decision-making about a facility from earliest conceptual stages, to design and construction, through to its operational life and eventual demolition.

Stelrad will continue to invest heavily in turning specification and product information into digital objects in anticipation of the widespread adoption of BIM. According to the company, architects and building designers simply select the product they want to use, ‘drag it’ into their design document and ‘drop it’ in place.

Stelrad will be providing a number of its products that currently feature heavily in commercial projects, including its Concord, Column and Low Surface Temperature (LST) radiator ranges which will be hosted at www.bimstore.co.uk and www.stelrad.com.

“It clearly makes huge sense to utilise this technology so that architects and contractors can produce real-time 3D models of how rooms and areas of a planned new building will look once everything has come together at the construction phase,” said Stelrad’s marketing communications manager, Sarah Baker.

“Architects have been providing CGI for several years to give an impression of how buildings will look, but to be able to utilise accurate 3D images of real products that provide an extremely precise rendering of how that building will really look offers huge benefits to them and to the building’s owners and funders. For the first time, it will be possible to visualise a building that hasn’t moved off the ‘drawing board’ in its final state, and to switch finishes in real time to include specified products that are on the system.

“We feel this is an exciting move for us as a business and we look forward to possibly expanding the range of options available in the months ahead.”