Building Information Modelling changes how information is produced and shared. The contract still needs to identify who delivers each model, what others may rely on and who is responsible for coordination and errors.
Define information deliverables
Specify the employer’s information requirements, BIM execution plan, model purposes, delivery dates and acceptance criteria. A visually detailed model is not necessarily suitable for fabrication, quantity measurement or operation. State the authorised uses and required level of information.
Allocate responsibility at interfaces
Model coordination does not automatically transfer all design liability to the BIM coordinator. Define discipline responsibilities, clash-detection processes, approvals and the hierarchy between models, drawings and specifications. Record which version supports an instruction or construction release.
Protect access, rights and evidence
Address licences, permitted reuse, confidentiality, platform access, data export and retention. Plan for the departure or insolvency of a participant. For disputes, preserve version histories and approvals rather than relying only on the latest exported model.
Four practical examples
Illustrative scenarios: the appropriate steps depend on the contract, evidence and applicable law. These are not reports of client matters.
A clash remains undetected
Two services occupy the same space. Examine the coordination obligations and release procedure rather than assuming the software provider is responsible.
The model conflicts with drawings
Site staff use a different detail from the model team. Apply the agreed document hierarchy and investigate version control.
Access ends after termination
A departing designer controls the platform. Check the agreed handover and licence rights needed for completion.
A model is reused for operation
The owner expects an as-built asset model. Define verification and updating responsibilities before treating design data as operational evidence.
Documents that help us assess your position
Information requirements, BIM execution plan, appointments, licence terms, model registers, approvals and platform access rules.
Discuss your project or dispute
Tell us where the project is located, who is involved and whether a deadline is approaching. We can then clarify the scope of the proposed engagement and the next steps.
Related construction law services
Legal framework & further reading
Reviewed: 12 November 2026. Statutory references are to German law unless stated otherwise.