Building information modeling (BIM)-based model checking to ensure occupant safety in institutional buildings

Occupant safety is pivotal in building designs. The present study developed a building information modeling (BIM)-based methodological framework and rule set for occupant safety-focused design checking for institutional building designs in Ontario, Canada. A comprehensive review was conducted to determine safety-related regulations, standards, and best practices included in the Ontario Building Code (OBC) and Canadian Standards Association (CSA) guidelines. Identified safety standards were defined in a BIM model checking software as a ruleset. A case study was conducted to demonstrate the proposed ruleset for an institutional building in Windsor, Ontario, Canada. The case study demonstrated that the intended ruleset did not contain errors and effectively performed the rule check. The proposed rule set prevents safety hazards for building occupants by accurately identifying building elements that do not comply with the safety guidelines and codes. Furthermore, the proposed approach promotes BIM adaptation in the Canadian construction industry.