Information standards: A hinder or an enabler for innovation?

The potential of cost reduction with efficient digital communication in building processes in Sweden has been investigated to be 15-25% of the building sum. An important part of this potential is by using building information standards, such as Omniclass and IFC. This research has aimed at evaluating the use of building information standards and its impact on innovation. Standards are understood as classification of information and rules for building processes. A literature study revealed the multiple character of relevant standardization in building and the effects on innovation.Three national longitudinal case studies of hospital projects in Scandinavia were carried out. Many barriers for innovation using standards were found. The regional public authorities decided adoption of standards locally and in two out of three cases they did not adopt (!) For the companies this is a business consideration: In the Norwegian case, the proactive adoption of the architect, meant benefits for the client and contractor. However, other actors did not follow. In the Swedish case, BIM coordination was hampered by incompatible design systems. In the Danish case, the client demanded use of Cuneco Classification System, a Danish information standard.  Due to the passivity of some companies, the classification was done in a reactive manner at a late stage. The Danish and the Norwegian case were innovative, whereas the Swedish exhibit less innovation. Standard-enabled innovations were mixed with other innovations. The three most remarkable were the Danish reverse innovation, the Norwegian shift of structural concept and the Swedish improved daylight access. The information standards and BIM are closely intertwined in use practices.  A common FM system database of coded objects in the Danish case is a strong innovation enabled by standards. The use of TFM, a Norwegian standard, in the Norwegian architect project and its subsequent use in site BIM is remarkable.