What is ISO 19650?
ISO 19650 is the international standard series for managing information in construction with BIM. It answers not "which software" but how information is organised, requested, delivered and handed over across a built asset's life cycle. It superseded the older UK "BIM Level 2" and is now the global reference framework — including in markets where BIM is mandatory (UK, Singapore, the Gulf and more).
The parts of the standard
- Part 1 — concepts and principles (the vocabulary & logic).
- Part 2 — delivery phase of a project (design & construction).
- Part 3 — operational phase (asset management, FM).
- Part 4 — information exchange.
- Part 5 — security-minded approach.
The key terms
- CDE — Common Data Environment (states WIP → shared → published → archived).
- PIM & AIM — Project Information Model (during the project) and Asset Information Model (in operation).
- OIR / AIR / PIR — information requirements at organisation, asset and project level.
- EIR — the client's requirement; BEP — the delivery team's response.
- LOIN — Level of Information Need per element.
The roles
- Appointing party — the client (orders information).
- Lead appointed party — the lead contractor (coordinates delivery).
- Appointed party / task team — the teams that deliver.
The thread: requirements (OIR→AIR/PIR→EIR) flow down, the response (BEP→TIDP/MIDP) plans delivery, the CDE governs exchange. This chain is the ISO 19650 document cascade.
In practice
Instead of "read the standard and hope", you create the documents guided — each in plain language with the normative reference. Not sure where you stand? The free self-check places you in 2 minutes.