ROCKVILLE, Md. - As the use of building information modeling (BIM) continues to grow, the Mechanical Contractors Association of America (MCAA) is expanding its course offerings on the topic. MCAA said the latest in its series of BIM courses, BIM Contracts & Risk Allocation for Mechanical Contractors, has been developed to explore the legal liabilities and contractual quicksand mechanical contractors can encounter on BIM projects and how to avoid both.

The day-long course will be held Monday, Oct. 17, 2011, in Baltimore. Among other things, the course will assist contractors in learning how to manage the emerging risks associated with the electronic representation and transmission of project data.

David Morris, director of virtual construction for EMCOR, is the lead instructor. He has over 30 years of experience performing and directing all phases of piping and mechanical systems. His current duties include improving BIM processes and sharing best detailing and virtual design practices across the 80 EMCOR Group companies.

He will be joined by Frank Musica, a senior risk management attorney for Victor O. Schinnerer & Company Inc., which he joined in 1991 to assist the program in identifying the transformations in construction-related professional services, the liability exposures created by contractual language, legislation, regulations and court rulings, and management processes and procedures to reduce the risk profiles of firms. He crafts risk management and serial publications and website information for Schinnerer design professionals insurance programs and contractors design liability insurance programs with CNA, which is sponsoring the program as part of their extensive, ongoing support for MCAA.

MCAA noted that BIM Contracts & Risk Allocation for Mechanical Contractors is appropriate for mechanical contracting professionals who are or should be involved in project issues such as standard of care, intellectual property rights, and insurance and surety bonding coverage.

It is assumed that all participants will have had exposure to basic BIM concepts and terminology (such as through MCAA’s introductory BIM for Mechanical Contractors course) as BIM Contracts & Risk Allocation for Mechanical Contractors relies on a highly participatory learning environment including activities, classroom discussions, and instructor-led discussions.

For more information and online registration, visit www.mcaa.org/education/mcaa/bim. Questions about the course should be directed to Dennis Langley at 301-869-5800 or dlangley@mcaa.org.

Publication date: 06/13/2011