Comparing building classification systems III – Logic

After looking at the structure of popular building classification systems, now let’s look at their logic and internal consistency. For illustration, I’ll consider how they handle 4 different building elements.

First – what do you get when you search the different systems for a door?

OmniClass

Searching for “door” gives 192 results.

OmniClass – Door

In the “Doors” subgroup of the “Openings, Passages and Protection Products” group. They’re classified based on their material (Metal Doors, Wood Doors) or function (Traffic Doors, etc.). At a deeper level of the table, doors are divided into more precise classes based on type of material or function: sliding, rotating, etc. But since wood doors, for example, are only classified based on how they open, it’s not clear how to specify an oak, pine or birch-wood door. Plastic doors, though, are classified based on coating, consistency and function. In short, the criteria for identifying objects and putting them in classes are not clear.

23-17 00 00

Openings, Passages, and Protection Products

 

 

 

 

23-17 11 00

 

Doors

 

 

 

23-17 11 11

 

 

Door Components 

 

 

23-17 11 11 11

 

 

 

Door Frames

 

23-17 11 11 13

 

 

 

Preassembled Door and Frame Units

 

23-17 11 11 15

 

 

 

Door Fanlights

 

23-17 11 11 17

 

 

 

Door Sections

 

23-17 11 11 17 11

 

 

 

 

Structural Door Sections

23-17 11 11 17 13

 

 

 

 

Door Cladding Sections

23-17 11 11 19

 

 

 

Door Linings and Boards

 

23-17 11 11 21

 

 

 

Door Renovation Sets

 

23-17 11 11 23

 

 

 

Door Sidelites

 

23-17 11 11 25

 

 

 

Door Accessories

 

23-17 11 11 25 11

 

 

 

 

Door Peep Holes

23-17 11 11 25 13

 

 

 

 

Door Buffers

23-17 11 11 25 15

 

 

 

 

Door Stops

23-17 11 11 25 17

 

 

 

 

Door Mail Openings

23-17 11 11 25 19

 

 

 

 

Door Mail Slots

23-17 11 11 25 21

 

 

 

 

Door Louvers

23-17 11 11 25 23

 

 

 

 

Door Lights

23-17 11 13

 

 

Metal Doors

 

 

23-17 11 13 11

 

 

 

Hollow Metal Doors

 

23-17 11 13 13

 

 

 

Aluminum Doors

 

23-17 11 13 13 11

 

 

 

 

Aluminum Screen Doors

23-17 11 13 13 13

 

 

 

 

Aluminum Storm Doors

23-17 11 13 15

 

 

 

Steel Doors

 

23-17 11 13 15 11

 

 

 

 

Steel Screen Doors

23-17 11 13 15 13

 

 

 

 

Steel Storm Doors

23-17 11 13 17

 

 

 

Bronze Doors

 

23-17 11 13 19

 

 

 

Sliding Metal Doors

 

23-17 11 13 21

 

 

 

Folding Metal Doors

 

23-17 11 13 23

 

 

 

Revolving Metal Doors

 

23-17 11 13 25

 

 

 

Overhead Metal Doors

 

23-17 11 13 25 11

 

 

 

 

Roller Shutter Overhead Metal Doors

23-17 11 13 25 13

 

 

 

 

Sectional Overhead Metal Doors

23-17 11 15

 

 

Wood Doors

 

 

23-17 11 15 11

 

 

 

Carved Wood Doors

 

23-17 11 15 13

 

 

 

Flush Wood Doors

 

23-17 11 15 15

 

 

 

Clad Wood Doors

 

23-17 11 15 17

 

 

 

Prefinished Wood Doors

23-17 11 15 19

 

 

 

Stile and Rail Wood Doors

23-17 11 15 21

 

 

 

Wood Storm Doors

 

23-17 11 15 23

 

 

 

Wood Screen Doors

 

23-17 11 15 25

 

 

 

Sliding Wood Doors

 

23-17 11 15 27

 

 

 

Folding Wood Doors

 

23-17 11 15 29

 

 

 

Revolving Wood Doors

 

23-17 11 15 31

 

 

 

Overhead Wood Doors

 

23-17 11 15 31 11

 

 

 

 

Roller Shutter Overhead Wood Doors

23-17 11 15 31 13

 

 

 

 

Sectional Overhead Wood Doors

23-17 11 17

 

 

Plastic Doors

 

 

23-17 11 17 11

 

 

 

Laminated Plastic Doors

 

23-17 11 17 13

 

 

 

Solid Plastic Doors

 

23-17 11 17 15

 

 

 

Plastic Storm Doors

 

23-17 11 17 17

 

 

 

Plastic Screen Doors

 

23-17 11 17 19

 

 

 

Sliding Plastic Doors

 

23-17 11 17 21

 

 

 

Folding Plastic Doors

 

23-17 11 17 23

 

 

 

Revolving Plastic Doors

 

23-17 11 17 25

 

 

 

Overhead Plastic Doors

23-17 11 17 25 11

 

 

 

 

Roller Shutter Overhead Plastic Doors

23-17 11 17 25 13

 

 

 

 

Sectional Overhead Plastic Doors

23-17 11 19

 

 

Composite Doors

 

 

23-17 11 19 11

 

 

 

Fiberglass Composite Doors

 

23-17 11 19 13

 

 

 

Sliding Composite Doors

 

23-17 11 19 15

 

 

 

Folding Composite Doors

 

23-17 11 19 17

 

 

 

Composite Hinged Doors

 

23-17 11 19 19

 

 

 

Revolving Composite Doors

 

23-17 11 19 21

 

 

 

Overhead Composite Doors

 

23-17 11 19 21 11

 

 

 

 

Roller Shutter Overhead Composite Doors

23-17 11 19 21 13

 

 

 

 

Sectional Overhead Composite Doors

23-17 11 21

 

 

Glazed Doors

 

 

23-17 11 21 11

 

 

 

Glazed Hinged Doors

 

23-17 11 23

 

 

All Glass Doors

 

 

23-17 11 23 11

 

 

 

Swinging All Glass Doors

23-17 11 23 13

 

 

 

Sliding All Glass Doors

 

23-17 11 23 15

 

 

 

Folding All Glass Doors and Grilles

 

23-17 11 23 15 11

 

 

 

 

Accordion Folding All Glass Doors

23-17 11 23 15 13

 

 

 

 

Panel Folding All Glass Doors

23-17 11 23 15 15

 

 

 

 

Bifold All Glass Doors

23-17 11 23 17

 

 

 

Revolving All Glass Doors

 

23-17 11 23 19

 

 

 

Balanced All Glass Doors

 

23-17 11 25

 

 

Passage Grilles

 

 

23-17 11 25 11

 

 

 

Sliding Passage Grilles

 

23-17 11 25 13

 

 

 

Folding Passage Grilles

 

23-17 11 25 13 11

 

 

 

 

Accordion Folding Passage Grilles

23-17 11 25 15

 

 

 

Rolling Grilles

 

23-17 11 27

 

 

Access Doors

 

 

23-17 11 27 11

 

 

 

Trap Doors

 

23-17 11 27 13

 

 

 

Access Doors

 

23-17 11 27 15

 

 

 

Floor Hatches

 

23-17 11 27 17

 

 

 

Roof Hatches

 

23-17 11 27 19

 

 

 

Security Floor Hatches

 

23-17 11 27 21

 

 

 

Security Roof Hatches

 

23-17 11 27 21 11

 

 

 

 

Forced Entry and Ballistic Resistant Roof Hatches

23-17 11 27 21 13

 

 

 

 

Ballistic Resistant Roof Hatches

23-17 11 27 23

 

 

 

Man Hole Accesses

 

23-17 11 29

 

 

Access Panels

 

 

23-17 11 29 11

 

 

 

Equipment Access Panels

23-17 11 31

 

 

Fire Doors

 

 

23-17 11 31 11

 

 

 

Fire Rated Doors

 

23-17 11 31 11 11

 

 

 

 

Fire Rated Overhead Doors

23-17 11 31 11 13

 

 

 

 

Fire Rated Rolling Doors

23-17 11 31 11 15

 

 

 

 

Fire Rated Sliding Doors

23-17 11 31 11 17

 

 

 

 

Fire Rated Hinged Doors

23-17 11 31 11 19

 

 

 

 

Fire Rated Revolving Doors

23-17 11 31 13

 

 

 

Temperature Rate of Rise Fire Doors

 

23-17 11 31 13 11

 

 

 

Temperature Rate of Rise Fire Rated Overhead Doors

23-17 11 31 13 13

 

 

 

Temperature Rate of Rise Fire Rated Rolling Doors

23-17 11 31 13 15

 

 

 

Temperature Rate of Rise Fire Rated Sliding Doors

23-17 11 31 13 17

 

 

 

Temperature Rate of Rise Fire Rated Hinged Doors

23-17 11 31 13 19

 

 

 

Temperature Rate of Rise Fire Rated Revolving Doors

23-17 11 35

 

 

Fire Shutters

 

 

23-17 11 37

 

 

Controlled Environment Doors

 

 

23-17 11 37 11

 

 

 

Cold Storage Doors

 

23-17 11 37 13

 

 

 

Sound Control Doors

 

23-17 11 37 15

 

 

 

Radiation Protection Doors

23-17 11 37 15 11

 

 

 

 

Electromagnetic Shielding Doors

23-17 11 37 15 13

 

 

 

 

Radio Frequency Protection Doors

23-17 11 37 15 15

 

 

 

 

BO Shielding Doors

23-17 11 37 15 17

 

 

 

 

X Ray Protection Doors

23-17 11 37 15 19

 

 

 

 

Nuclear Radiation Protection Doors

23-17 11 37 15 21

 

 

 

 

High Energy Magnetic Pulse Protection Doors

23-17 11 39

 

 

Detention Doors

 

 

23-17 11 41

 

 

Hanger Doors

 

 

23-17 11 43

 

 

Lightproof Doors

 

 

23-17 11 43 11

 

 

 

Revolving Darkroom Door

23-17 11 45

 

 

Traffic Doors

 

 

23-17 11 45 11

 

 

 

Flexible Traffic Doors

 

23-17 11 45 13

 

 

 

Flexible Strip Doors

 

23-17 11 45 15

 

 

 

Rigid Panel Traffic Doors

23-17 11 45 17

 

 

 

Rapid Opening Doors

 

23-17 11 47

 

 

Pressure Resistant Doors

 

 

23-17 11 47 11

 

 

 

Airtight Doors

 

23-17 11 47 13

 

 

 

Watertight Doors

 

23-17 11 49

 

 

Security Rated Door

 

 

23-17 11 49 11

 

 

 

Blast Resistant Doors

 

23-17 11 49 13

 

 

 

Forced Entry Door

 

23-17 11 49 13 11

 

 

 

 

Multi Forced Entry Lock Door

23-17 11 49 13 13

 

 

 

 

Single Forced Entry Lock Door

23-17 11 49 15

 

 

 

Forced Entry and Ballistic Resistant Door

 

23-17 11 49 17

 

 

 

Ballistic Resistant Door

 

 

Uniclass 2015

Searching for “door” gives 102 results, within the openings group of elements. In Uniclass 2015, just like in OmniClass, multiple different classification criteria are used in the table: doors are classified according to the material they’re made of, how they work, their purpose, etc. So it’s hard to follow the classification logic and structure.

Pr_30_59_24

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Doorsets

Pr_30_59_24_04

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04

Automatic revolving doorsets

Pr_30_59_24_14

30

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14

Collapsible gate and grille sets

Pr_30_59_24_15

30

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24

15

Combination doorsets

Pr_30_59_24_16

30

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24

16

Composite doorsets

Pr_30_59_24_28

30

59

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28

Fire doorsets

Pr_30_59_24_30

30

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30

Flexible doorsets

Pr_30_59_24_34

30

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34

Glass reinforced plastics (GRP) doorsets

Pr_30_59_24_37

30

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37

High security doorsets

Pr_30_59_24_38

30

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38

High speed doorsets

Pr_30_59_24_48

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48

Loading bay doorsets

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49

Louvre doorsets

Pr_30_59_24_50

30

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50

Manual revolving doorsets

Pr_30_59_24_52

30

59

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52

Metal doorsets

Pr_30_59_24_64

30

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64

Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) strip curtain sets

Pr_30_59_24_75

30

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75

Sectional overhead doorsets

Pr_30_59_24_80

30

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80

Sliding door and partition sets

Pr_30_59_24_81

30

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81

Sliding folding doorsets

Pr_30_59_24_83

30

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83

Sliding folding shutters

Pr_30_59_24_92

30

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92

Unplasticized polyvinyl chloride (PVC-U) doorsets

Pr_30_59_24_93

30

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93

Up-and-over doorsets

Pr_30_59_24_97

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97

Wood doorsets

 

ISO 81346

Searching for “door” in the 3rd table of ISO 81346-2 yields only 2 results: “doors” and “large doors”. This classification system does not apply any criteria for materials, function or operating principle. A door is simply a door.

In the ISO 81346 classification methodology, the properties of elements are taken out of the classification system. Things like type of material, fire-safety requirements, or manner of opening are traits of a door that make the element unique. Specifying an element’s traits as properties offers more freedom. There’s no limit to the number of properties, so defining them all in a classification system is impossible. But properties are easy to specify in your BIM software, where every element of a structure has its standard attributes (material, function, density, energy efficiency parameters, etc.). That data gets included in specification tables, and thus the element types are classified.

The second object for review is a window:

OmniClass

Windows, like doors, are part of the “Openings, Passages and Protection” group of elements in the table’s first level. Windows, too, are classified on the basis of the material they’re made of, their purpose, and functional criteria.

23-17 13 00

Windows

 

 

 

 

23-17 13 11

 

Window Components 

 

 

23-17 13 11 11

 

 

Window Sections

 

 

23-17 13 11 13

 

 

Window Linings and Boards

 

 

23-17 13 11 15

 

 

Window Vents

 

 

23-17 13 11 17

 

 

Window Frames

 

 

23-17 13 11 19

 

 

Transoms

 

 

23-17 13 11 21

 

 

Sidelites

 

 

23-17 13 11 23

 

 

Retractable Screens

 

 

23-17 13 13

 

Metal Windows 

 

23-17 13 13 11

 

 

Metal Fixed Windows

 

 

23-17 13 13 13

 

 

Metal Horizontal Sliding Windows

 

 

23-17 13 13 15

 

 

Metal Single Hung Windows

 

 

23-17 13 13 17

 

 

Metal Double Hung Windows

 

 

23-17 13 13 19

 

 

Metal Triple Hung Windows

 

 

23-17 13 13 21

 

 

Metal Awning Windows

 

 

23-17 13 13 23

 

 

Metal Casement Windows

 

 

23-17 13 13 25

 

 

Metal Hopper Windows

 

 

23-17 13 13 27

 

 

Metal Vertical Pivoted Windows

 

 

23-17 13 13 29

 

 

Metal Jalousie Windows

 

 

23-17 13 15

 

Wood Windows

 

23-17 13 15 11

 

 

Wood Fixed Windows

 

 

23-17 13 15 13

 

 

Wood Horizontal Sliding Windows

 

 

23-17 13 15 15

 

 

Wood Single Hung Windows

 

 

23-17 13 15 17

 

 

Wood Double Hung Windows

 

 

23-17 13 15 19

 

 

Wood Triple Hung Windows

 

 

23-17 13 15 21

 

 

Wood Awning Windows

 

 

23-17 13 15 23

 

 

Wood Casement Windows

 

 

23-17 13 15 25

 

 

Wood Hopper Windows

 

 

23-17 13 15 27

 

 

Wood Vertical Pivoted Windows

 

 

23-17 13 15 29

 

 

Wood Jalousie Windows

 

 

23-17 13 17

 

Plastic Windows 

 

23-17 13 17 11

 

 

Plastic Fixed Windows

 

 

23-17 13 17 13

 

 

Plastic Horizontal Sliding Windows

 

 

23-17 13 17 15

 

 

Plastic Single Hung Windows

 

 

23-17 13 17 17

 

 

Plastic Double Hung Windows

 

 

23-17 13 17 19

 

 

Plastic Triple Hung Windows

 

 

23-17 13 17 21

 

 

Plastic Awning Windows

 

 

23-17 13 17 23

 

 

Plastic Casement Windows

 

 

23-17 13 17 25

 

 

Plastic Hopper Windows

 

 

23-17 13 17 27

 

 

Plastic Vertical Pivoted Windows

 

 

23-17 13 17 29

 

 

Plastic Jalousie Windows

 

 

23-17 13 17 31

 

 

Plastic Jalousie Awning Windows

 

 

23-17 13 19

 

Composite Windows

 

23-17 13 19 11

 

 

Composite Fixed Windows

 

 

23-17 13 19 13

 

 

Composite Horizontal Sliding Windows

 

 

23-17 13 19 15

 

 

Composite Single Hung Windows

 

 

23-17 13 19 17

 

 

Composite Double Hung Windows

 

 

23-17 13 19 19

 

 

Composite Triple Hung Windows

 

 

23-17 13 19 21

 

 

Composite Awning Windows

 

 

23-17 13 19 23

 

 

Composite Casement Windows

 

 

23-17 13 19 25

 

 

Composite Hopper Windows

 

 

23-17 13 19 27

 

 

Composite Vertical Pivoted Windows

 

 

23-17 13 19 29

 

 

Composite Jalousie Windows

 

 

23-17 13 19 31

 

 

Composite Jalousie Awning Windows

 

 

23-17 13 21

 

Projecting Windows

 

23-17 13 21 11

 

 

Bay Windows

 

 

23-17 13 21 11 11

 

 

 

Angles Bay Windows

 

23-17 13 21 11 13

 

 

 

Box Bay Windows

 

23-17 13 21 13

 

 

Bow Windows

 

 

23-17 13 23

 

Roof Windows

 

23-17 13 25

 

Masonry Windows

 

23-17 13 25 11

 

 

Glass Masonry Unit Windows

 

23-17 13 27

 

Special Purpose Windows

 

 

23-17 13 27 11

 

 

Fire Rated Windows

 

 

23-17 13 27 13

 

 

Detention Windows

 

 

23-17 13 27 15

 

 

Pass Windows

 

 

23-17 13 27 17

 

 

Controlled Environment Windows

 

 

23-17 13 27 17 11

 

 

 

Sound Control Windows

 

23-17 13 27 17 13

 

 

 

Radiation Protection Windows

 

23-17 13 29

 

Security Windows 

 

23-17 13 29 11

 

 

Ballistic Resistant Windows

 

23-17 13 29 11 11

 

 

 

Teller Forced Entry and Ballistic Resistant Windows

 

23-17 13 29 13

 

 

Blast Resistant Windows

 

23-17 13 29 13 11

 

 

 

Blast Resistant Structural Muntin Windows

 

23-17 13 29 13 13

 

 

 

Blast Resistant Window Frames

 

23-17 13 29 15

 

 

Impact Resistant Windows

 

23-17 13 29 17

 

 

Forced Entry Resistant Windows

 

23-17 13 29 19

 

 

Radio Frequency Shielding Windows

 

 

23-17 13 29 21

 

 

Security Window Films

 

23-17 13 29 21 11

 

 

 

Shatter Resistant Security Window Films

 

23-17 13 29 23

 

 

Security Window Curtains

 

23-17 13 29 23 11

 

 

 

Security Window Blast Curtains

 

Uniclass 2015

Unlike for doors, for windows the only main classification criteria is the material they’re made of.

Pr_30_59_98

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Window units

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02

Aluminium window units

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03

Aluminium frame roof window units

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15

Composite window units

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34

Glass louvre window units

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72

Rigid polyurethane frame roof window units

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Steel window units

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84

Steel frame roof window units

Pr_30_59_98_92

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92

Unplasticized polyvinyl chloride (PVC-U) window units

Pr_30_59_98_93

30

59

98

93

Unplasticized polyvinyl chloride (PVC-U) roof window units

Pr_30_59_98_96

30

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96

Wood window units

Pr_30_59_98_97

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97

Wood frame roof window units

 

ISO 81346

Here too a search of the system gives us only 2 results: “window” and “window unit”. As noted, their properties (material, function, manner of operating) are assigned using BIM software.

Next we’ll consider a beam:

OmniClass

Beams are spread out over various groups. They are classified on the basis of their purpose and their type.

Uniclass 2015

Beams are found in the “Structure and general products” group, in the “Support and restraint products” subgroup. As with windows, the main classification criteria for beams is the material and beam type.  

ISO 81346

Searching for “beam” in the third table here gives only 1 result: “beam”. Since in this classification system property criteria are not used, classification becomes simpler and at the same time clearer.

Finally, for more variety, let’s take an engineering element, say a pipe:

OmniClass

Most relevant elements are in the “General facility services products” group’s “Piping” subgroup. The main criteria for grouping is whether pipes are single- or double-walled, and classification at the 4th level is for use aboveground or underground.

Uniclass 2015

In the U.K. classification system almost all pipes are classified on the basis of two criteria: material and manner of use. But the mixing of these criteria creates more confusion than clarity.

ISO 81346

Searching for “pipe” in the third table of the international standard gives 2 results: an open-ended channelling element, or “drainpipe”, and a closed-ended channelling element – simply a “pipe”.

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