Common Issues in Federated BIM Models – and How to Solve Them
September 3, 2025 at 1:01 pm
Even if BIM models are federated into one file, that doesn’t mean everything works perfectly.
In real projects, there are common roadblocks that can make the model difficult to use:
- Misaligned coordinates – models open in different locations and don’t line up.
- Missing models – a discipline hasn’t created their model or is unwilling to share it.
- Missing elements – for example, sockets, switches, or other “small” but important details are not modeled.
How to fix it?
The first step should always be talking to the model authors – many issues can be solved quickly if spotted early. If that’s not possible:
- Realign models in the viewer – if coordinates don’t match, shift and adjust them so they align spatially.
- Have a third party create the missing model – if a discipline’s model is essential, it can be built from 2D drawings (we do this regularly).
- Find out why elements are missing – was it intentional (not required in the spec) or simply forgotten?
- If intentional, the same approach applies – create them from 2D.
- If forgotten, notify the responsible modeler to add them.
BIM federation isn’t just a technical process – it’s also about communication and collaboration. The sooner issues are spotted and discussed, the fewer surprises at project handover.