The information was translated using the ChatGPT service.
This decision comes after amendments were approved to the Cabinet of Ministers' Regulation No. 529 "Building Regulations" from September 2, 2014. As of January 1, 2025, BIM will be implemented in the construction of new third-group buildings funded by public persons.
The use of BIM, as evidenced by the experience in the United Kingdom, can lead to savings of up to 30% in construction costs and ensures that construction work is completed on time. The extensive application of BIM in public third-group new building construction projects is a step towards promoting the digitization of the construction sector, improving construction process quality and efficiency, and boosting the industry's productivity. "The public sector must set an example in leveraging these digital opportunities, making effective investments, and promoting higher quality construction," emphasizes Economics Minister Viktors Valainis.
Currently, the application of BIM has been voluntary, but it is already widely used in new third-group building construction, especially in private sector construction plans. With the amendments approved today, the requirement to develop a BIM model as a mandatory component of the construction project will apply to the construction of new third-group buildings financed by public legal entities from 2025. Therefore, the building information model will be part of the project composition for new third-group buildings – architecture, building constructions, and internal engineering systems.
The building information model is a digital three-dimensional representation of the building and contains information (e.g., textual, graphical) about the physical and technical properties and functions of the building. It significantly enhances the quality of the construction project and reduces risks in the subsequent construction process, as it can identify all "collisions" and inconsistencies between project sections. The use of BIM in the construction process creates an optimal order for organizing and performing construction work, helping to avoid downtime. BIM is an effective tool within the framework of building operation; it establishes an optimal operation model (technical maintenance order, helps to navigate the building structure).
In cooperation with other state institutions, capital companies, representatives of the construction industry, educational institutions, and construction clients, the Ministry of Economics developed a roadmap for the introduction of Building Information Modeling in Latvia in 2019. This roadmap was created to promote a unified understanding of achievable goals and necessary tasks for the implementation of BIM. One of the tasks included in the roadmap is to introduce BIM as a mandatory requirement in construction plans implemented by public clients starting in 2025. To prepare the industry for the use of BIM and to ensure its introduction does not complicate matters, the ministry has been providing quality and free training on BIM and its use for several years. Additionally, skills to work with BIM are included in the descriptions of the profession of construction engineers and their educational programs.
Details of the amendments to the Cabinet of Ministers’ Regulation No. 529 "Building Regulations" from September 2, 2014, can be found on the Legal Acts Portal.
Economics Ministry Public Relations Department Email address: prese@em.gov.lv Phone: 67013193