Setting a new industry standard — VHBA adopts VBIS Standard for major health sector construction across Victoria
The $1.1B Frankston Hospital in Melbourne’s southeast was the first VHBA project to utilise the VBIS Standard asset information classification. The VBIS Standard is now mandatory to meet the requirements of the new Digital Engineering Framework. (Image supplied by Victorian Health Building Authority 2024.)
In a significant moment for the Victorian health sector and the construction industry, the Victorian Health Building Authority (VHBA) – part of the Victorian Infrastructure Delivery Authority – has released the Digital Engineering Framework as an extension to the whole-of-government’s Digital Asset Policy.
Outlining the digital future of health sector infrastructure in Victoria
The framework provides a structured approach to using emerging digital technologies to improve the design and construction of Victorian health infrastructure. It represents a holistic and strategic approach for the application of digital engineering to physical assets, outlining all data requirements for future healthcare infrastructure builds. It includes step-by-step details of what tools and technology needs to be implemented by contractors to be eligible to tender for health infrastructure projects – such as hospitals and medical facilities.
A key component of the Digital Engineering Framework and a mandated deliverable for any firm submitting a project tender is the standardisation of information classification for building assets and equipment.
VHBA has adopted the Virtual Buildings Information System (VBIS) Standard as a required classification standard for all future $20M+ health sector construction projects in the state. The VHBA Project Director can also request the application of the Digital Engineering Framework apply to projects under $20M.
Mandating the use of the VBIS Standard is establishing a common digital classification base that will underpin the ability to readily verify, contextualise and fully leverage its data.
A clear technology roadmap for asset classification standardisation
“The VBIS Standard is the simplest and most efficient asset classification system to standardise data capture and support the ready handover of new asset information to VHBA requirements,” commented Nathan Semos, VBIS Executive Manager.
“With a current pipeline of 60+ projects, the Victorian Health Building Authority is responsible for some of the most complex infrastructure projects in the state of Victoria and this is a significant step for VBIS in becoming the common industry standard for asset classification.”
The VBIS Standard’s alphabetic asset tagging system is downloadable via the VBIS website, making it easily accessible and ready to use. Being software platform-agnostic, it seamlessly links and integrates with any digital ecosystem or as-built asset dataset.
The VBIS Standard is applicable throughout a building’s life cycle beyond construction – streamlining information exchange, improving decision making and ensuring greater consistency and clarity across a building’s entire lifecycle from construction and commissioning through to operations and maintenance.
Already in use by multiple government agencies and building asset owners and operators Australia wide the VBIS Standard is updated and expanded regularly incorporating feedback from industry partners and users.
“The implementation of this new framework highlights the great work that the VHBA has done to recognise the importance of standardised data classification in asset management and digital information management across health sector infrastructure,” said Nathan.
“The Digital Engineering Framework will create uniformity across asset classification and standardise critical building data throughout the health sector to deliver better outcomes,” he added.