OmniClass
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| OmniClass | |
|---|---|
| Name | OmniClass |
| Developer | Construction Specifications Institute; Construction Specifications Canada |
| Released | 2004 |
| Latest release | 2012 (Tables are periodically updated) |
| Genre | Construction classification system |
| License | Public domain (some tables) |
OmniClass is a multi-faceted classification system designed to organize information about the built environment, including facilities, products, activities, spaces, and project management. It provides a systematic framework for categorizing construction-related entities to support documentation, procurement, design, construction, and facilities management across projects such as those by United States Army Corps of Engineers, GSA, and international firms. Developed through collaboration between North American standards bodies, OmniClass interlinks with building information modeling and product libraries used by organizations like Autodesk and BuildingSmart International.
Overview
OmniClass groups construction information into a suite of interrelated tables covering different conceptual facets: objects, products, processes, people, and spaces. The system complements standards such as ISO 19650, IFC schemas, and MasterFormat taxonomies while providing mapping to classification schemes like Uniformat and York when used in facility management and digital asset management by entities including AECOM, Turner Construction Company, and Skanska. It is intended for broad use across domains including architecture firms like Foster + Partners, engineering consultancies such as Arup, and public agencies similar to Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.
History and development
OmniClass was initiated in the early 2000s by the Construction Specifications Institute (CSI) and Construction Specifications Canada (CSC) to fill gaps between existing systems like MasterFormat and Uniformat II. The project drew on input from standards organizations such as American Institute of Architects and industry partners including National Institute of Building Sciences and software vendors such as Bentley Systems and Graphisoft. Key milestones included the initial publication of draft tables, public review periods involving stakeholders like Royal Institute of British Architects, and revisions aligning OmniClass with international efforts exemplified by buildingSMART and the release of aligned resources during conferences like World Congress on Engineering.
Structure and Tables
OmniClass is organized into multiple numbered tables, each targeting a different information facet: table 11 for construction entities, table 21 for elements/functional spaces, table 23 for products, table 31 for activities, table 33 for phases, table 41 for agents/people, and table 45 for materials. The tables are intended to be combinable so that a facility component can be classified by product Gaudí-style projects, by activity like renovation undertaken by firms such as Jacobs Engineering Group, and by responsible agents including contractors like Bechtel. The table numbering and codes enable interoperability with classification resources used by institutions such as National Aeronautics and Space Administration for building inventories.
Applications and use cases
OmniClass is applied in project documentation, procurement, specifications management, cost estimating, and facilities management by organizations including Microsoft campus planners, university facilities departments like those at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and health system owners such as Mayo Clinic. It supports integration with BIM workflows for projects delivered under frameworks like Design-Bid-Build or Integrated Project Delivery and is used in asset registers maintained by authorities like Metropolitan Transportation Authority. Users apply OmniClass to tag elements in digital models, link specifications to product libraries maintained by manufacturers such as Kohler or Siemens, and to create searchable metadata in enterprise systems like IBM Maximo and SAP.
Implementation and software support
Software vendors and open-source projects have implemented OmniClass mappings and lookup tools to facilitate adoption. Platforms from Autodesk (Revit), Bentley Systems (AECOsim), and plugin developers provide table lookups and classification assignment tools; asset management systems like FM:Systems and CAFM solutions integrate OmniClass codes. Tools from organizations such as National BIM Standard-US and libraries maintained by BuildingSMART International assist migration from systems like MasterFormat. Implementation often requires mapping exercises by consultants from firms like Deloitte or specialist vendors offering classification services.
Comparison with other classification systems
OmniClass complements and contrasts with other systems: MasterFormat focuses on specifications and work results, Uniformat emphasizes functional elements, COBie captures handover data, and IFC provides geometric and semantic exchange. Compared with international schemes such as Uniclass (United Kingdom) and CI/SfB (historical European usage), OmniClass aims for North American applicability and crosswalks to support interoperability among entities such as National Grid and multinational contractors like VINCI. Mapping tables and cross-references help translate between classifications for tendering and facilities management across organizations like Siemens Healthineers.
Criticism and limitations
Critics note OmniClass can be complex to implement at scale and requires substantial governance to maintain consistent tagging across projects led by organizations such as Lendlease or Balfour Beatty. Limitations include incomplete international coverage relative to models like IFC and the need for frequent updates to reflect evolving products from manufacturers such as Honeywell; this can complicate use in long-term assets managed by transit agencies like Transport for London. Other concerns involve ambiguity in table application for interdisciplinary projects executed by teams including specialists from AECOM and HDR, Inc., and the resource burden for SMEs to adopt the full table suite without external consultancy.