Overview
ISO 7817-1:2024 - Building information modelling (BIM): Level of information need - Part 1: Concepts and principles defines a consistent methodology for specifying the level of information need and information deliveries when using Building Information Modelling. Published in 2024, this first-edition International Standard sets out concepts and principles to describe the required detail and extent of information (geometrical, alphanumerical and documentation) exchanged across the whole life cycle of built assets - from strategic planning and design through construction, operation, maintenance, refurbishment, repair and end-of-life.
Key goals:
- Provide a common framework for BIM information exchange
- Prevent over-delivery of unnecessary information
- Support both human-readable and machine-interpretable information requirements
Key topics and technical requirements
- Framework elements: considerations for purposes, information delivery milestones, actors (providers/receivers), and objects organized in one or more breakdown structures.
- Information categories: clear subdivisions of the level of information need into:
- Geometrical information (detail, dimensionality, location, appearance, parametric behaviour)
- Alphanumerical information (identification, information content)
- Documentation (collections of documents tied to deliverables)
- Information delivery: guidance for specifying exchange information requirements that result in defined information deliveries and milestones.
- Verification and validation: requirements to confirm that delivered information meets specified requirements and is fit for intended use.
- Information containers and models: definitions for named, persistent sets of information within files, systems or applications to support interoperable BIM exchange.
Practical applications and who uses it
ISO 7817-1 is intended for any stakeholder involved in the built-asset lifecycle who needs to specify, request, provide or verify BIM information:
- Asset owners and operators
- Clients and asset managers
- Design and construction teams
- Equipment manufacturers and technical specialists
- Regulatory authorities, investors and insurers
Practical uses:
- Preparing Exchange Information Requirements and Information Delivery Milestones
- Defining what geometric and alphanumeric detail is needed for a given project phase
- Structuring BIM procurement and collaboration to reduce ambiguity and excess data
- Enabling consistent, machine-readable specifications that support verification/validation workflows
Related standards
- ISO 19650 series (BIM information management concepts and requirements)
- ISO 29481-1 (Information delivery manual - methodology and format)
- ISO 6707-1 (Vocabulary for buildings and civil engineering works)
ISO 7817-1 complements these standards by focusing specifically on how much and what type of information should be exchanged, enabling interoperable, efficient BIM workflows and clearer specification of information delivery across the lifecycle of built assets.