ISO 19650 BIM Governance Guidance (free download)

What this guidance helps you do?

This guide supports organisations and project teams to:

• Clarify Information Management roles and authority under ISO 19650

• Align job titles, IM functions, and contractual responsibility

• Prepare for procurement, appointments, and mobilisation

• Support BEP development and review through clear governance boundaries

• Improve audit readiness by identifying gaps early

• Establish a shared understanding of who reviews what, and when

It is particularly useful where BIM governance is unclear, disputed, or inconsistently applied across projects.

What’s included?

This guidance is structured as a governance reference pack, covering:

• Information Management (IM) functions explained

  Plain-language explanations of ISO 19650 roles (Appointing Party, Lead Appointed Party, Appointed Parties).

• IM Functions & job title mapping

  Indicative mapping between ISO 19650 functions and commonly used industry job titles.

• BIM Responsibilities & Authorities

  High-level responsibilities and decision-making authority for each BIM function.

• Typical BIM governance reviews (Who & When)

  A governance-oriented overview of common BIM reviews, including:

  • who typically carries them out

  • when they usually occur across project stages

All content is indicative, governance-focused and aligned with ISO 19650 principles.

What this guidance is and is not?

✔ What it is

• A governance reference, not a delivery manual

• A decision-support aid for roles, authority, and accountability

• A shared language for clients, consultants, and project teams

✖ What it is not

• A BIM Execution Plan template

• A workflow or process prescription

• A software, Common Data Environment, or tool guide

• A replacement for professional Information Management advice or formal audits

Contractual agreements and Information Requirements always take precedence.

Who this is for?

• Clients, owners, and developers adopting ISO 19650

• Procurement and commercial teams preparing tenders

• BIM and Information Managers setting up governance structures

• Consultants supporting appointments and mobilisation

• Project teams needing clarity on roles and review responsibility

If your organisation works with ISO 19650 but still asks “who actually owns this?”, this guidance is for you.

Why BIM KARELA created this?

Across many ISO 19650 projects, governance issues don’t come from tools or technology, they come from unclear authority, overlapping roles and misunderstood responsibilities.

This guidance exists to:

• remove ambiguity

• reduce friction

• support better decision-making before problems become contractual or audit issues

This BIM Governance Guide reflects real-world practice!

Download the ISO 19650 BIM Governance Guide

You may use it within your organisation or project team & share it internally for review and discussion