Automating the Information in BIM Objects

As industries move towards a more digital and sustainable future, the role of Building Information Modelling (BIM) continues to evolve.

At SPC, the company has advanced this technology further with Active BIM Objects, designed to enhance efficiency, accuracy, and sustainability in building projects. SPC manufacture heating and cooling products, which work perfectly with low water temperature systems such as heat pumps. These include Heating & Cooling Coils, Fan Convectors, Radiant Panels, Trench Heaters, Air Curtains and Unit Heaters.

What Are Active BIM Objects?

Traditional BIM objects provide useful geometric objects with basic data but often require manual input of project-specific information. SPC’s Active BIM objects go beyond this by linking directly to our product selection programs, automatically embedding key product and project data into the model. This means project teams get access to vital details such as:

By reducing the need for manual data entry, Active BIM Objects save time, improve accuracy through software validation, and help projects meet BIM Level 2 compliance, ensuring consistency and accuracy in digital information.

Active BIM Objects for SPC Products

SPC provides Active BIM objects for a range of heating and cooling solutions, enabling design teams to easily integrate these products into their BIM models:

• Coil Heat Exchangers – A key component in HVAC systems, with Active BIM data including bespoke data such as air flow, air pressure drops and more.
• Belgravia Fan Convectors – Energy-efficient heating solutions with options for low water temperatures. BIM Objects include dimensions, options and selection data to support project planning
• Thermatile TEN/TWELVE Radiant Panels – Efficient, heat pump ready, LTHW heating and cooling solutions suitable for offices, schools, and healthcare environments. Active BIM data ensures correct heating and cooling outputs, flow rates, water temperatures. All factored in from the product selection program.
• Metropolitan Trench Heating & Cooling – Ideal for modern office spaces and commercial buildings, with Active BIM ensuring seamless integration of performance data into design specifications.
• CIRRUS Unit Heaters – Industrial and commercial unit heaters which include both air and water side control. Active BIM data allows designers to include CIRRUS Unit Heaters in their model with drag and drop capabilities, with almost no further data to add manually.
• Forcefield & iForce Air Curtains – Designed to improve energy efficiency by reducing heat loss at entrances, Active BIM objects allow engineers to easily insert project data with the air curtain object.

The Role of Active BIM in Sustainable Construction

Sustainability is at the forefront of modern building design and the choice of heat emitters. Active BIM Objects support this goal by promoting energy efficient options and supporting them in BIM by integrating project specific performance data into models, designers can:

• Optimise energy efficiency – Ensuring heating and cooling systems are specified correctly from the outset, reducing energy waste
• Minimise material waste – Accurate data helps prevent over-specification and unnecessary material use
• Streamline project planning – Reducing errors and rework, leading to faster project completion times

Bringing Digital Innovation to the Industry

SPC is committed to making BIM more powerful, practical, and accessible. Their Active BIM objects meet industry standards (BS 1192:4), and are created by Autodesk-certified engineers, and are fully compatible with Autodesk Revit 2025, ensuring high-quality digital integration. For more information on Active BIM Objects or to explore how they can benefit your project, get in touch with SPC today.

This article featured in the Spring '25 edition of BIMCRUNCH. Enjoy the full magazine here. To explore further or to download BIM objects from SPC, simply join Bimstore for free access to their products and accompanying literature. For additional insights, visit their manufacturer profile on Bimstore, their company website or socials.