New Consensus DOCS Contract First to Address BIM

ALBANY, NY (07/23/2008)(readMedia)-- ConsensusDOCS^TM has released a groundbreaking Building Information Modeling (BIM) Addendum which marks a significant step forward in utilizing BIM as a collaborative tool. This new document will bring the construction industry's future into reality. The ConsensusDOCS 301 BIM Addendum is the first and only industry standard document to globally address the legal uncertainties associated with utilizing BIM.

ConsensusDOCS, an industry-wide collaboration of 22 leading construction associations, is dedicated to publishing best practice contracts that allocate risk fairly among all parties. ConsensusDOCS published the construction industry's first consensus standard contracts and forms on September 28, 2007. The BIM Addendum is the first addition to the ConsensusDOCS' comprehensive catalog of contracts and forms.

BIM is the process of generating and managing computerized, multi-dimensional models linked to databases that house the design specifications, schedules and other documents related to a construction project. BIM provides all parties involved on a project with shared, up-to-date project data, subsequently allowing for a richer design process, increased budget control through predictions about the project's construction process and fewer surprises with respect to potential design and scheduling conflicts among trades - long before ground is even broken.

"The BIM Addendum shows that there is actually less legal risk in moving from the 2-D world to the 3-D world," said Richard Lowe of Duane Morris LLP, who chaired the ConsensusDOCS BIM Taskforce. "Introducing the ConsensusDOCS 301 BIM Addendum does much to allay these fears, by providing a balanced, fair and practical way for all in the industry to proceed with a project using BIM. Now, hesitating to act may actually pose a greater legal risk."

Visit www.ConsensusDOCS.org for more information and to purchase and download ConsensusDOCS.

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