 SMARTcodes
Frequently Asked Questions
The purpose of this document is to answer questions about
SMARTcodes and the SMARTcodes project of ICC. Terms applicable
to SMARTcodes and used within this document are identified
below.
- AC3 - automated code compliance checking
- BIM - building information model
- BIM ASW - BIM authoring software
- IFC - industry foundation class
- MCS - model checking software
- NBIMS- national BIM standard
SMARTcodes
What is a SMARTcode?
A SMARTcode is the provisions of any code in an interoperable
format that provides a rule set from or limitations based
on criteria in the code that can be used by Model Checking
Software (MCS) to identify items in a design represented
by a Building Information Model (BIM) that are outside the
bounds established by the code. Note that any documents
that presented as "smart".
Is there a universal or standardized computer language used
for this project?
Yes. Industry Foundation Classes (IFCs) as developed and
maintained by the International Alliance for Interoperability,
a global collaboration in which a number of US interests
are involved and that develops open standards for application
and use by all. IFCs allow various data when in IFC format
to be accessed and used for many purposes transparently
and by multiple users.
Why SMARTcodes?
Without SMARTcodes it is not possible to fully automate
code compliance checking (AC3) or other related activities
in a manner that is interoperable or collaborative with
other initiatives that support buildingSMART. ICC recognizes
that code checking software products are currently available.
Unless they are interoperable or IFC compliant then they
are stand alone and cannot be integrated with other software
that uses BIMs to automate any number of building related
activities (e.g. cost estimating, scheduling, fabrication
layout, etc.).
What is buildingSMART?
buildingSMART is an international initiative to automate
the building industry following on similar initiatives by
the automotive and aerospace industries. buildingSMART provides
the framework with which all parties having any stake or
interest in buildings can concurrently share data, act on
those data and participate transparently as a team to address
all issues associated with building design, construction,
operations and maintenance.
What is the origin of SMARTcodes?
ICC created the name because the work ICC is doing with
the ICC codes is a key building block to support buildingSMART.
The origin of SMARTcodes is the ICC code provisions, which
remain unchanged from their published and adopted form but
became "smart" due to the integration of relevant
schema and tags so MCS can understand and appropriately
apply them.
How are SMARTcodes applied?
SMARTcodes are applied by MCS as a set of rules or limitations
to a building design as represented by SMARTcodes the MCS
can identify when that occurs and provide graphic and print
information to users so they can understand why the design
does not comply and correct the design so it does comply.
How would SMARTcodes handle non-standard designs?
Initially SMARTcodes are being developed for those code
provisions that lend themselves to simple compliance checking.
Then those criteria that are performance oriented would
be addressed, some of which are likely to need some calculational
support within the MCS or SMARTcodes. The end goal would
be that if a design did not comply with the code because
it was unique or non-standard that the MCS could rely on
building performance simulation programs such as fire and
smoke modeling, energy modeling, egress modeling, structural,
etc., input the BIM data and then evaluate the design as
represented by the BIM for code compliance on a performance
equivalency basis.
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Model Checking Software
Will I as a code official be restricted to using the MCS
that the design professional used to check their design as
represented by their BIM, or will I be able choose to use
a different MCS to apply SMARTcodes and verify code compliance?
There should be no restriction on use of any MCS as long
as the MCS has been through a QC check to ensure it is appropriately
reading and applying the rule set from SMARTcodes to the
BIM to deliver accurate code compliance output. ICC is developing
a QC process to
I know and trust the ICC and may not necessarily have the
same level of confidence in MCS vendors. Why doesn't the ICC
create model checking software?
The effort needed to create SMARTcodes is significant and
will take considerable resources of ICC. With that said,
ICC recognizes that users of MCS must have confidence in
the output provided. For that reason ICC will be developing
a QC program to not only validate the accuracy of the SMARTcodes
but also the MCS and the correct application and use of
the SMARTcodes by the MCS. Also recognize that MCS developers
will also have an opportunity to be certified as meeting
a much broader international standard that will further
reinforce MCS accuracy. Given all of this, ICC could still
partner with an MCS developer or move forward on its own
to develop MCS.
What would the cost of the code checking software be to
ICC governmental members?
The code checking software is really the MCS. ICC's SMARTcodes
are not a software product per se. The cost of access to
the SMARTcodes and availability of MCS could be part of
a governmental membership for instance; however it is up
to the ICC Board of Directors to address the cost and access
issues for ICC governmental members.
What would the cost of the code checking software and SMARTcodes
be to ICC non-governmental members?
The cost of MCS would be determined by the MCS developer
and/or supplier, although ICC could work with MCS developers
and suppliers on reduced costs for ICC non-governmental
members. The cost for access to and use of SMARTcodes would
be determined by the MCS developer and/or supplier in consideration
of the arrangements ICC would make with them for access
to and use of SMARTcodes.
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BIMs
What is a BIM?
A building information model is a digital representation
of all the details and information associated with a building.
BIM is intended to be an open standards based repository
of information for the facility owner/operator to use and
maintain throughout the life-cycle of a facility.
Is there a national BIM standard?
Yes. One is under development under the National Institute
of Building Sciences (NIBS) at www.nibs.org
and will be out for public review in the spring of 2007
with a mid-2007 finalization date. The NBIMs would be dynamic
and regularly updated by NIBS.
We currently work with BIMs in other software like BuildingSpec
and use it to interface between tools. Being able to talk
to the code in the same way would be great.
The intent with SMARTcodes is to allow MCS to understand
and apply the code provisions as a sort of invisible stop.
When the design as represented by a BIM wants to do something
beyond that stop then the MCS can show the design as represented
by the BIM, identify the compliance issue and explain why
the design does not comply. It can also be enhanced to provide
suggestions to the designer for solutions to address the
issue creating the non-compliance.
What can a BIM do for my small jurisdiction?
With respect to public buildings owned by the jurisdiction
it provides a uniform, transparent and dynamic repository
for information about the building during its entire lifetime
that any user can access and apply for any purpose (e.g.
operation and maintenance scheduling, cost estimating, etc.).
For private sector buildings the information on the building,
site access, storage of hazardous materials, etc. (both
design, as initially occupied and as currently occupied
and used) would be available for access and use by the fire
service for instance in addressing manmade or natural disasters
associated with the building.
Can existing paper plans be converted to BIM?
Yes, through manual entry of the data through BIM software.
Not only could the building information as represented by
the plans be put into a BIM but other operations and maintenance
related information, operational manuals, etc. can also
be included in the BIM.
Will a BIM work with a GIS or GPS system?
Yes. Site related data would be part of the BIM and could
be read by MCS for instance to show not only the building
but how it is located on the site and in relation to other
sites. Creation of a “smart” zoning code could
allow for compliance checking against zoning codes.
What is the current percentage of buildings that are applying
BIMs?
About 2% have all or part of their data represented in
a BIM. It should be noted that a number of Federal agency
building owners such as the General Services Administration,
US Department of State and US Coast Guard and others as
federal sector building owners are driving this evolution
towards BIM and may require design submittals as a BIM in
2008.
Who will set the standard for a BIM?
Will the minimum elements of a BIM be set forth in the
ICC codes? The National BIM standard that is currently being
developed. ICC will work through NBIMS and BIM ASW developers
to ensure that the information needed to perform code checking
is available in a BIM. There is really no such thing as
a universal BIM; there will eventually be multiple BIM standards,
depending on their specific purpose (i.e. code checking
vs. structural analysis, etc.)
If a jurisdiction cannot provide its own BIMs for code checking,
will there be an extra charge if BIMs must be made?
Jurisdictions won’t be providing their own BIMs; BIMs
will be provided by the architect or designer to the governmental
agencies for review. Governmental agencies will not need
to worry about their own BIMs, unless they are also the
building owner.
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Automated Code Compliance Checking (AC3)
What is AC3?
AC3 is simply the application of SMARTcodes
by MCS to a building design as represented by a BIM to automatically
identify, describe and show graphically and in print form
areas in the building design that do not comply with established
codes as represented by SMARTcodes.
What if I do not have a BIM or MCS available?
While you would not be able to do AC3, ICC
is working on a manual code search capability that will
allow access directly to SMARTcodes for the purpose of identifying
and addressing code compliance on an item by item basis.
Through one’s computer screen the manual code search
would prompt the user for specific information about their
building and then provide code compliance information relevant
to the input provided by the user.
Will other information be available besides an identification
of code compliance?
Yes. In its demonstration of AC3 late in 2006, ICC also
demonstrated a “drill down” capability wherein
one could access a wealth of code-related information. For
instance a drill down could lead a user to standards referenced
in the code, commentary and interpretations on the code,
a listing directory of code complying products, product
literature, test reports and installation manuals. This
drill down capability would also be available through a
manual code search.
How does the drill-down tie to the BIM?
Through the MCS one doing AC3 would be able to secure
additional information that augments the code (e.g. reference
standards, listing directories, manufacturer’s information,
code commentary, etc.) for the purpose of making more informed
design or approval decisions when using the MCS. It is also
likely that BIM ASW will be directly linked to data such
as manufacturer’s specifications to assist designers
as they use the BIM to create the design and make design
decisions.
Will the drill-down generate a BIM?
It is possible that a manual code search could be used
as a basis for initiating some BIM development following
the track that as code questions are asked and answered
one could automatically use the input data to begin to populate
the BIM with data. The drill down itself would not generate
a BIM, although information gathered from the drill down
might be relevant to and included in the BIM (e.g. operations
and maintenance instructions on installed mechanical equipment).
What percentage of the code review is anticipated (to identify
value and reduce fear of job elimination) through SMARTcodes?
Approximately 80% of the code review will be possible
in the next three to four years as SMARTcodes are developed,
validated and made available through MCS. As some code provisions
are performance-based, the current MCS and BIMs may not
yet support those provisions. What is initially covered
in that 80% will address a majority of the mundane aspects
of code review in the short term, and allow further time
for SMARTcode development to focus on the more complicated
issues needing considerable attention over the longer term.
What about the application and use of SMARTcodes to designs
that are evaluated as alternate methods and materials?
Beyond what is addressed in the question above, if a design
is submitted under the alternate methods and materials provisions
in Chapter 1 of the code it is likely that the design would
have to be evaluated as it currently would today. Once that
design were evaluated and approved the BIM that outlines
the design and building specifications would be available
to augment field inspection as noted in the question below.
Is this a tool for plan check only? How will it impact
construction / inspection activities?
No. SMARTcodes will have a direct impact on construction/
inspection activities by freeing up some current plan review
resources for application in the field. Beyond the manpower
resources that AC3 would make available, there are future
opportunities associated with field inspection and post
occupancy operation. Inspectors for instance could also
take pictures in the field during the construction/inspection
phase to enhance information contained in BIMs; perhaps
charging a fee for this from building owners as an a la
carte inspections feature. As required post occupancy inspections
are made or information about hazardous storage is collected
and put in the BIM the fire service could also access and
apply that information. Most importantly, during field inspections
all information about the building as contained in the BIM
and as enhanced by available “drill down” support
information would be available to field inspection staff
via the Internet directly in the field. Such information
availability would have a positive impact on the quality
of field inspection and consequently building safety and
performance.
How does this impact the role of the code official? Do
we still need to check anything? Will a computer eliminate
the need for plan reviewers?
The code official will still have authority for code compliance
checking. On the assumption that designers submit BIMs with
their permit applications that have been checked by MCS
then the code official is more likely to get complete design
documentation that complies with the code. In one sense
the code official may not have to spend as much time addressing
designer questions related to applying the code as submittals
will have a higher probability of compliance and designers
can interact with the MCS. This will save time, but the
code official will still have to run an AC3 on the submittal
or check MCS output submitted by the designer and in the
near term there will continue to be a number of code issues
that will still have to be checked by hand. SMARTcodes and
MCS should in the near term eliminate some of the more routine
checking associated with prescriptive provisions in the
codes. There will always be a need for plan reviewers and
as construction volume increases then it may be possible
for government agencies to handle increased workload without
having to add more staff. Whatever resources are saved in
plan review could be transitioned over time to conducting
field inspections, which would further enhance building
safety, or applied to addressing performance based designs,
which can be superior in terms of cost and performance to
designs following more prescriptive criteria.
What does this mean for PDAs? We have heard about barcodes
on insulation components before.
PDA’s could store inspection guides created by MCS
that would identify for the field inspection staff what
they should be looking for in the field. The PDA could also
be used to enter information from the field, including digital
photos of inspections, and that information could be placed
into the BIM to support the concept of turning over an as-built
BIM to the building owner at time of initial occupancy.
Barcodes on products and materials could be read and the
results transmitted to the BIM, or the PDA could be used
to call up relevant information about the item that is the
subject of the bar code.
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Availability of AC3
How will ICC make this tool available to small government
agencies, since they are the ones who will have the most difficulty
paying for a complex program? Will this be software which
is run locally, or will it be housed on a server maintained
by ICC and accessed via the web? Or would this be run by the
designer (on the ICC system) with a report submitted to the
government agency?
We hope to make this available as part of ICC governmental
membership. The server and MCS will hopefully be accessible
via the Internet, so there should be no need to download
software applications to a desktop.
This tool is most valuable when widely used by design professionals.
How is ICC going to make it available to them, at a cost which
both small (especially) and large A&E's can justify in
their project budgets?
ICC is currently conducting market research work that
will drive business development decisions such as these.
SMARTcodes would likely be available for use through MCS
and it is the MCS that would then pass along costs AC3 to
those using their software. One scenario is to charge designers
a nominal fee for access and use of SMARTcodes each time
a code check is done on a project. Another is to allow unlimited
use of SMARTcodes during a project or over a set time period
for a set fee.
How will this influence the ICC’s plan review services?
ICC would likely use SMARTcodes to conduct plan review
for those not wanting to get MCS and learn how to use MCS.
The availability of SMARTcodes to ICC would also allow ICC
to more effectively serve existing clients in addition to
opening new opportunities. For instance using SMARTcodes
ICC would be able to take the standardized plans from a
national account (e.g. Target, Marriott hotel, etc.) and
locate them in various federal, state and local regulatory
conditions and develop a report to the client on how they
could standardize their design to satisfy numerous adopted
codes based on the ICC Codes.
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Federal, state and local codes and regulations
How will SMARTcodes be modified to reflect amendments on
a local or state level? Will it take a rocket scientist, or
will local staff or consultants be able to adapt it to local/state
amendments?
The caveat to this question is that one must understand
the codes; then it should be a straightforward process to
create SMARTcodes that represent the amendments or unique
new criteria adopted by any entity. ICC will have software
and a protocol available for application by others to create
SMARTcodes for their amendments to the codes and other regulatory
criteria such as zoning regulations.
How will SMARTcodes be modified to address federal agency
requirements?
ICC will work with federal agencies as described above
for state and local agencies. Where the federal agencies
have amendments to the ICC codes they have adopted then
ICC would assist them in creating SMARTcodes to represent
their amendments. Where they have unique provisions developed
by the agency then ICC would assist them in creating SMARTcodes
for those provisions.
What if the regulations are based on other documents developed
outside the adopting agency?
ICC has initiated contact with other standards developers
to provide information on buildingSMART and ICC’s efforts
to make AC3 a reality with the hope they will participate
with ICC in the SMARTcodes project.
How will the ICC address the local code requirements for
different states and smaller jurisdictions?
ICC will obtain hard copies of the amendments and collaborate
with them as they create SMARTcodes for their amendments
and other regulatory criteria and place them on an ICC server
for access and use by MCS.
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SMARTcodes, AC3 - Administrative Issues
Will ICC track the data that is entered in the system?
If so will they make it available somehow - the information
about building trends would be very useful.
In hosting the SMARTcodes and making them available to
MCS for application and use for AC3 it would be possible
for ICC to monitor SMARTcode use and application and in
so doing secure information on trends in building design,
specification, construction, etc. That is more likely to
be a longer term issue because even though SMARTcodes may
be available, until MCS and BIMs become the routine and
are used, the usage of SMARTcodes which drives the availability
of information would not be sufficient enough to yield any
meaningful trends about building design, construction, product
specification, etc.
Would any of the data be public? Could someone look up a
building on the Internet and see BIM information?
Only to the degree that information submitted as part of
a building permit application would be public knowledge
today or the degree to which a regulatory agency wanted
to make certain of the building information available for
application and use. The use of MCS with a BIM for the purpose
of AC3 checking would in and of itself not make the information
in the BIM public.
What skill level would be necessary to use the software
for entering local amendments into the database (SMARTcodes)?
Do you anticipate this task being done by a computer programmer,
code official, or clerical staff?
From a computer standpoint the skill level should be no
different than using any standard Microsoft Office program.
However, one will need knowledge of the code and be able
to apply a protocol that covers how to process code provisions
to make them “smart”.
This task should be done by someone familiar with the code
provisions. It will not be so complicated as to require
a programmer to operate the software. Clerical staff, while
not being familiar with the code provisions, may be able
to provide some administrative assistance in the production
phase in terms of organizing the files and adding unique
identifiers to each of the SMARTcode items created. Clerical
staff could also assist in creating and making available
any code files that are unique to the federal, state or
local amendments or additions to the ICC codes.
What is the estimated time that a municipality will need
to devote someone to enter local amendments into SMARTcodes?
One issue is becoming familiar with the software, protocol
and process for creating SMARTcodes. This will probably
take about a day including ICC training and guidance. After
that the time to create “smart” versions of federal,
state or local amendments depends on the number of amendments
and their nature. For instance, if an adopting entity has
20 amendments to provisions of the codes that are simple
changes in some technical values or deletions, or maybe
addition of a few exceptions to the code, it would take
about one to two hours to create SMARTcodes for them. If
the adopting entity has more of the same types of amendments
then about five minutes per amendment would be the norm
(a simple number change would be less than a minute and
addition of a new exception or new paragraph of code text
would be 15 minutes). If the amendments include brand new
material such as a 10 page chapter on building security
then four hours per page of new and unique code text is
a reasonable estimate. Note that ICC would then QC these
SMARTcodes and test them for accuracy, and once finalized
they would not need to be changed until the adopting entity
changed the adopted codes. Note also that such smart versions
of the amendments can fulfill any publishing needs as well
so in the future creating smart versions of amendment files
will not only support automated code compliance checking,
but will also fulfill the need to compose, print and make
available an official hard copy of the amendments.
What level of computer knowledge will a code official need
to incorporate and use SMARTcodes in their municipality?
It should take a day to learn how to use, apply and navigate
MCS. Then it should be as simple as turning on the software,
uploading the supplied BIM file (e.g. the new submittal
from the permit applicant in electronic format) and making
a key stroke to run a code check. The computer does the
work and the code official would review the output, make
notes directly in the output file, etc. The level of computer
knowledge should be comparable to using any Windows based
application.
How long will it take a municipality to fully incorporate
SMARTcodes into their existing workflow?
This will be driven by the number of submittals that include
a BIM for the proposed building. If there is no BIM then
there is no AC3; so a model checking application is not
of value nor are the SMARTcodes. Some federal agencies are
moving to require BIM submittals and whether municipalities
request BIMs or not they will likely start showing up as
part of submittals in a few years. If ICC waited to create
SMARTcodes until then everyone would not be able to reap
the benefits associated with buildingSMART, SMARTcodes,
BIMs, etc. From the time that a municipality decides to
move toward AC3, and assuming BIMs are available for the
projects, it would probably take two to three months to
transition from the current way of doing plan review to
an enhanced way using SMARTcodes and MCS unless the municipality
did not want to run MCS but simply took a designer supplied
MCS output with the design submittal. ICC’s approach
to developing and releasing SMARTcodes over the next two
years for the various ICC codes ensures that municipalities
can start looking at this now using the IECC (the first
SMARTcode) and as all of this matures, simply grow as this
technology and SMARTcodes grow. By the time BIMs become
the norm, SMARTcodes are available for the ICC codes, etc.
the municipality working in parallel with all of this will
already have this integrated into their workflow.
Will the ICC continue to update the code checking criteria
as new codes are promulgated by a jurisdiction and/or when
the national model codes change?
Yes. ICC will continuously support and maintain any code
updates (approximately 75% of the codes do not change from
edition to edition, and ICC will simply need to identify
and update the remainder that does change). ICC does the
base ICC codes, government agencies will either send updated
files of their smart amendments for QC or hard copies of
amendments for ICC to address as time permits.
How long will ICC continue to support previous editions
of the codes? Will government agencies be forced to adopt
newer versions of the code in order to be able to use SMARTcodes?
Everything should be accessible at any point in time;
there will be a historical library of all previously SMARTcodes
created. MCS vendors must also do the same, as there is
a dual dependency between the MCS and SMARTcodes; this would
not be a problem, as it does not cost anything to retain
old versions of the SMARTcodes.
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Technical requirements and support for
SMARTcodes
Will there be any sort of live online help accessible by
internet or phone if one has any problems using SMARTcodes?
There will be arrangements made between MCS developers/servers
and ICC to handle any problems or issues that might arise.
What are the technical requirements (i.e. internet bandwidth,
Windows version, internet browser, etc.) needed to use SMARTcodes?
If you have access to MCS you can do AC3. You would likely
need a high quality broadband internet connection for best
results.
How often will workshops (live and/or internet) be available
to jurisdictions to help in authoring SMARTcodes? Will there
be a standard curriculum available through ICC’s training
and education initiatives?
ICC will look into hosting “webinars” and workshops.
Will there be a charge for any workshops or classes offered
by ICC on creating SMARTcodes? Will they be general to the
I-Codes, or specific by code?
There should be no charge for these training workshops,
which will be general to all codes and amendments. All one
needs to make SMARTcodes are the software to build SMARTcodes,
the protocol on use of the software with the code provisions
and guidance from ICC.
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