Digital specification is becoming the standard workflow for facade projects in Australia. BIM (Building Information Modelling) allows architects and engineers to embed product data, compliance information, and installation details directly into the design model - replacing the traditional cycle of specifications written in one place, drawings produced in another, and schedules maintained separately. For aluminium facade systems, this means material properties, fire classifications, and dimensional data travel with the model from design through to construction documentation.
Here is a practical overview of how BIM applies to aluminium facade specification and what digital product data Valmond & Gibson makes available.
How does BIM apply to facade specification?
In a BIM workflow, every product in the model is more than geometry. A facade panel object carries material properties (alloy, density, thermal conductivity, fire classification), dimensional data (panel sizes, tolerances, weight per square metre), finish specifications (coating type, colour reference), and compliance references (test report numbers, applicable standards).
This information flows through to schedules, documentation, clash detection, and quantity takeoffs automatically. When the architect selects an aluminium rainscreen panel in the model, the downstream documentation reflects the actual product data rather than generic placeholders that need to be manually coordinated later.
For facade projects specifically, BIM reduces a common source of delay: the gap between what the specification says and what the drawings show. When both draw from the same model, inconsistencies are caught earlier.
What product data is available for digital workflows?
Each V&G product line has different levels of digital data available, reflecting where each system sits in terms of design complexity and fabrication integration.
interloQ - CAD files (.dwg) are available for standard profiles and junction details. The key material properties for BIM object creation are:
- Alloy: extruded aluminium 6060/6063, T5 temper
- Density: 2,680 kg/m3
- Thermal conductivity: 205 W/mK
- Thermal expansion: 23 um/m/K
- Non-combustible to AS 1530.1 (CSIRO Report FNC12595)
These properties allow BIM managers to create parametric objects that carry accurate thermal and structural data through the model.
element13 - Standard panel sizes (1250mm or 1500mm wide, 3200mm or 4000mm long, 3mm thick) and a weight of 8.13 kg/m2 provide the core data for BIM object creation. The defined tolerance ranges and PVDF coating specifications support accurate scheduling and procurement documentation.
165CW - This is where V&G’s digital integration runs deepest. The 165CW unitised curtain wall has a purpose-built LogiKal database developed specifically for the system. LogiKal by Orgadata is the industry-standard software for curtain wall and window fabrication, and having a dedicated database means fabricators can model, estimate, optimise cutting, and generate CNC programs directly from the digital model.
What does the LogiKal database do for 165CW projects?
The LogiKal integration for 165CW is a significant digital asset, particularly for fabricators and facade engineers. It provides:
- Estimating - accurate material quantities and costing from the model, based on the actual profile library and connection details
- Cutting optimisation - minimises waste by calculating optimal bar lengths and nesting across the full order
- AutoCAD export - generates fabrication drawings directly from the LogiKal model
- CNC machine control - outputs cutting and machining programs that drive production equipment
This closes the loop between design and manufacture. A fabricator working with 165CW can go from the engineer’s design to CNC-ready output within a single software environment, reducing the transcription errors that occur when data is manually transferred between design, estimation, and production systems.
Why does clash detection matter for facades?
Including facade products in the BIM model early allows clash detection with structure, services, and other trades before construction begins. This is particularly valuable for curtain wall systems like the 165CW, where the facade zone is tightly integrated with the building structure.
Common clashes that BIM identifies early include slab edge setbacks that conflict with bracket zones, service penetrations through the facade plane, and structural steel that interferes with curtain wall framing at corners or setbacks. Identifying these in the model costs a fraction of what they cost to resolve on site.
For rainscreen systems like interloQ, clash detection picks up conflicts between the subframe zone and services, and ensures adequate clearance for the ventilated cavity behind the panels.
Where should V&G products appear in digital specification platforms?
Architects increasingly source products through digital specification platforms rather than traditional catalogues. Platforms like NBS Source Australia, ArchifySpec, and NATSPEC allow specifiers to search for products, access technical data, and insert specification clauses directly into their project documentation.
Having structured, accurate product data available on these platforms means V&G products are discoverable during the specification stage, when product selection decisions are being made. Platforms that carry verified test reports, accurate material properties, and current technical documentation are more useful to specifiers than those carrying only marketing content.
What is coming next in digital specification?
AI-assisted specification tools are emerging across the construction industry. These tools search product databases, match performance requirements to available products, and flag compliance gaps. The foundation for being discoverable in these systems is the same as for BIM: structured, accurate product data in digital formats.
Having CAD details, verified material properties, and comprehensive compliance documentation in machine-readable formats positions products to surface in these new workflows as they mature.
Need CAD files, product data sheets, or LogiKal database access for a 165CW project? Contact our team and we will get you set up.
Related Reading
- Writing Facade Specification Clauses: A Practical Guide
- 165CW Curtain Wall System: Australian-Designed Specification Guide
- Panel Sizes and Module Planning for Aluminium Cladding
- Facade Documentation Pack Guide
Last updated: 4 April 2026