EN ISO 23386:2020 PDF

Overview

EN ISO 23386:2020 - Building information modelling and other digital processes used in construction - defines a methodology to describe, author and maintain properties in interconnected data dictionaries. Published by CEN and identical to ISO 23386:2020, the standard specifies how properties and groups of properties used in BIM and digital construction workflows should be represented, governed and mapped so stakeholders can confidently share metadata across tools and organisations.

Key topics and requirements

• Property and group definitions: rules for representing properties as a list of attributes, and full definitions for each provided attribute.
• Authoring and maintenance process: roles and responsibilities for applicants, experts, and commissions of experts; defined attributes for requests and experts.
• Management rules for mapping: requirements to interconnect data dictionaries via mapping of properties and groups of properties to enable reuse and harmonization.
• Governance prerequisites: presupposes an established governance model for each data dictionary and a framework for a network of data dictionaries.
• Operational controls: processes for handling requests, naming reference documents (standards, regulations, other sources), managing duplicates, and exchanging change information among connected dictionaries.
• Informative guidance: annexes with implementation examples (e.g., manufacturer queries related to regulations), commission composition examples and quantity examples to support practical adoption.

Practical applications

• Improves BIM interoperability by standardizing how product and element properties (metadata) are described and shared across software and organisations.
• Enables manufacturers, asset owners and BIM managers to author authoritative property definitions that can be mapped to other national or sector-specific data dictionaries.
• Supports software vendors and platform providers in implementing consistent property schemas, mapping services and validation workflows.
• Helps regulators and clients reference unambiguous property definitions for compliance, procurement and asset information handover.

Who should use this standard

• BIM managers and information managers
• Data dictionary authors and administrators
• Product manufacturers and specifiers
• Software developers and BIM platform providers
• Standards bodies, expert commissions and regulatory authorities

Related standards

EN ISO 23386:2020 is part of the wider set of BIM and digital construction standards developed by ISO and CEN (prepared by ISO/TC 59 and CEN/TC 442). It complements other BIM metadata, exchange and governance standards by focusing specifically on the methodology for property description, authoring and maintenance.

Keywords: ISO 23386:2020, EN ISO 23386:2020, BIM, building information modelling, data dictionary, property definitions, metadata, interoperability, governance, mapping.