In the ever-evolving fire safety engineering world, Jensen Hughes is proud to announce a significant stride forward with incorporating BIMfire into our project workflows. At the forefront of this initiative is fire safety engineer Juho Pussinen, whose commitment, along with the rest of the Jensen Hughes Finland team, has played a pivotal role in BIMfire’s successful integration and utilization. Juho delves deeper into the significance of BIMfire, the opportunities presented by its adoption and Jensen Hughes' implementation of this cutting-edge technology in our projects.
What is BIMfire?
BIMfire is more than just software; it's a game-changer in the world of Building Information Modeling (BIM) for fire safety. BIMfire is a Revit add-on designed to seamlessly integrate fire strategy components into the BIM workflow. From fire compartmentations to evacuation routes, smoke extraction systems and beyond, BIMfire allows us to create comprehensive BIM-based fire strategies that are accessible to all stakeholders, including architects, engineers, contractors and building owners.
So, where do we stand in terms of integrating BIMfire into our projects?
The journey began when we invested in the software and embarked on a "proof of concept" phase with BIMfire in early 2023. Over the course of the year, our team delved into the intricacies of the software, exploring its capabilities and refining our workflow to maximize its potential. We’re looking to expand our portfolio and apply this tool to different challenging projects.
What are the main benefits of using BIMfire?
One of the key advantages of BIMfire lies in its ability to bring fire safety considerations to the forefront of the design process right from the initial stages of a project. Traditionally, fire safety strategies are presented in PDF format, leading to potential discrepancies and inefficiencies during the transition to BIM models. With BIMfire, we can seamlessly integrate fire safety data into the BIM environment, minimizing human error and ensuring consistency throughout the design process.
Moreover, BIMfire opens up a world of possibilities that were previously inaccessible or underutilized. By defining key attributes such as fire compartmentation classes, door specifications and evacuation routes early in the design phase, we can streamline procurement and improve quality control and overall project efficiency. The cross-referencing of information within the BIM environment facilitates better coordination among design disciplines, leading to smoother project execution and reduced risks during construction and occupancy.
While we are working on incorporating this new technology into our workflow, our team is benefitting from enhanced communication with different parties. From improved collaboration among project stakeholders to enhanced fire safety management for building occupants, our team is adapting this new system of fire safety engineering and design.
What are your expectations regarding the impact of BIMfire on your project?
Integrating BIM-based fire safety design with building management systems allows for the seamless transfer of fire safety information, enhancing the overall management of facilities and ensuring ongoing compliance with safety standards. We can now provide vast amounts of information in digital format for building users and maintenance to help them during the building’s lifecycle. Additionally, the software seamlessly integrates data provided by engineers, enabling it to track changes and detect any clashes in the 3D models during the early stages of design. It’s been our experience that this functionality ultimately reduces the time and costs associated with making alterations during the later stages of the project.
What’s next?
As we continue to push the boundaries of innovation in fire safety engineering, Jensen Hughes remains steadfast in our commitment to delivering solutions that prioritize safety, efficiency and excellence in every endeavor. Collaborating as a team to integrate this new tool has been a rewarding journey, drawing us closer to meeting our clients' demands and exceeding their expectations.
