If you work in the UK construction industry, you have almost certainly encountered both terms. BIM Level 2 was the framework that drove the industry’s adoption of Building Information Modelling over the past decade — the government mandate, the PAS standards, the CDE requirements. ISO 19650 is the international standard that has now effectively superseded it. The relationship between the two is one of the most common sources of confusion for SME clients, contractors and consultants trying to understand what is actually required of them on a given project.

BIM Level 2 was a UK government mandate introduced in 2011 and fully implemented across all centrally procured government projects by April 2016. It required project teams to produce and exchange 3D information in a structured, collaborative way, using a defined set of standards and protocols — primarily PAS 1192-2 — and to deliver project data in a format that could be used for facilities management. The intention was to improve efficiency, reduce errors and build a richer information base for the operation of built assets.

What Was BIM Level 2?

ISO 19650 is the international standard for managing information over the whole life cycle of a built asset using BIM. It was developed by the International Organization for Standardization and supersedes the PAS 1192 suite of standards that underpinned BIM Level 2 in the UK. ISO 19650 consists of multiple parts: Part 1 covers concepts and principles; Part 2 covers the delivery phase of assets; Parts 3 and 4 address operational and asset management phases. The terminology shifts slightly from PAS 1192 — the Employer Information Requirements (EIR) becomes the Exchange Information Requirements; the BEP becomes the BIM Execution Plan — but the underlying concepts are broadly similar.

What Is ISO 19650?

ISO 19650 does not replace BIM Level 2 — it builds on and formalises it. Many of the same principles apply: structured information, clear naming conventions, formal review and approval workflows. The main difference is that ISO 19650 provides a more rigorous and internationally consistent framework, with defined stages (Appointment, Need, Creation, Production, Exchange, Endorsement, Archive) and more explicit requirements around the Appointing Party’s responsibilities. In practice, a BIM Level 2-compliant project delivered under the PAS 1192 suite is likely to meet most of the substantive requirements of ISO 19650 — the main differences are terminological and process-level.

How Do They Relate to Each Other?

For most SME contractors and consultants, the practical answer is: focus on the basics. That means understanding the information requirements your client or employer has set out in their Exchange Information Requirements (EIR). It means knowing how to structure and name files consistently so that information can be found and used. It means using a Common Data Environment — whether that is Autodesk Construction Cloud, Aconex, or a simple SharePoint setup — and understanding the approval statuses and workflows within it. You do not need to be an ISO 19650 expert to work effectively within a BIM project. You do need to understand your obligations and how your deliverables fit within the wider information management process.

What Do SMEs Actually Need to Do?

JC Virtual PMs provides BIM and information management support to SME construction firms across the UK. Whether you need help producing a BIM Execution Plan, setting up a Common Data Environment, or simply understanding what your client’s EIR is asking for, we can help you respond effectively and proportionately.

How JC Virtual PMs Can Help