Today, BIM (Building Information Modeling) plays an essential role in architecture and construction projects across Brazil.
But it wasn’t always like that. For this technology to become widely adopted, several standardization efforts had to take place.
One of the most significant was NBR 15965, known as Brazil’s first official BIM standard.
This standard, developed by the ABNT (Associação Brasileira de Normas Técnicas), created a unified information classification system that helped drive BIM adoption across the country.
In this article, we’ll explore what NBR 15965 is, how it works in practice, where it came from, the challenges it faced, and how you can apply it to your daily BIM workflow with the Blocks Plugin.
Enjoy the read!
What is NBR 15965?
NBR 15965 is Brazil’s first technical standard focused on BIM methodology, developed by ABNT to standardize information classification within the construction industry.
Its goal is to establish a common language, using standardized codes and terminology, to identify elements, processes, and components in BIM projects throughout the country.
It marked a major milestone, being the first regulation specifically created for BIM in Brazil, among more than 900 construction-related standards published by ABNT.
The standard is made up of 13 main tables, based on the 15 tables of the OmniClass system, widely used in the United States and Canada.
However, the NBR 15965 tables were adapted to Brazil’s construction reality, incorporating local terminology and practices.
Each table contains two columns: one with hierarchical classification codes and another with the corresponding standardized terms.
NBR 15965: The 7 parts of the standard
NBR 15965 is divided into seven parts, each focusing on how information is classified in construction projects.
Here’s how they work:
1. Terminology and structure
Part one defines the terminology, principles, and classification framework that give coherence to the rest of the standard.
Its purpose is to organize construction information so that disciplines, phases, resources, and outcomes can be combined seamlessly at any stage of a project’s life cycle.
This structure aligns with ISO 12006-2, the international reference that outlines how to develop classification systems for the built environment and how tables relate to each other.
In practice, this part serves as the foundation for creating consistent BIM templates and validation rules, such as minimum parameters by object type, and for linking classifications to fields like Assembly Code and Keynote in Revit.
2. Characteristics of construction objects
Part two addresses the core data of construction objects: materials and properties.
Put simply, it defines what information needs to be provided and how to name each property when describing elements like doors, light fixtures, furniture, ducts, and so on.
For Revit users, this means mapping NBR 15965 terminology and codes to shared parameters, as well as type and instance parameters.
By linking “Material,” “Finish,” “Thermal/Acoustic Performance,” “Manufacturer,” and other properties to a standardized vocabulary, the model becomes more consistent, reliable, and easier to audit.
If your team is still organizing families, this is a good time to review your standards based on Part 2 and check out our article Parametric Families: A Complete Guide in Revit.
3. Construction processes
Part three defines how the work is organized: disciplines, phases, and services.
This ensures clearer communication, allowing architects, engineers, and other professionals to specify who performs each task, when, and during which phase.
In BIM coordination, modeling, documentation, and construction activities can be linked to standardized phases, which simplifies 4D schedules, deliverables, and responsibilities across disciplines.
The practical benefits include clearer planning, better risk management, and more consistent quality checks throughout each project stage.
4. Construction resources
Part four classifies resources: products, components, organizational functions, and equipment.
Think of it as a catalog that assigns names and codes to the inputs that make the processes defined in Part 3 possible.
In practice, it helps align specifications, purchasing, and planning. For example, when classifying a chiller, an electrical panel, or a countertop, you can associate that item with its function (who uses or installs it) and its related support equipment, improving traceability and measurement.
In Revit and Navisworks, combining Part 4 with WBS or LOIN helps speed up quantity takeoffs and 5D workflows.
5. Construction results
If Part five describes what goes in, Part 5 focuses on what comes out: elements (systems and subsystems such as walls, roofs, and floors) and work results (the executed tasks).
Correct classification here allows you to connect the BIM model with cost estimation (5D), quantity takeoffs, specifications, and accounting systems.
In practice, it means linking walls, ceilings, or finishes with standardized codes, which reduces duplication, streamlines documentation, and improves project comparability .
Part 5 is especially useful for teams that need to break down the model into specification sheets or construction packages without losing the link to the modeled elements.
6. Construction units and spaces
Part six organizes units (land parcels, buildings, or real estate fractions) and spaces (functional environments such as classrooms, laboratories, or hospital rooms).
This helps standardize zoning, capacity studies, and post-occupancy evaluations (FM/POE). By properly tagging spaces, you can generate consistent reports on area, density, and occupancy throughout design, construction, and operation.
In Revit, this becomes useful when linking Rooms and Areas to NBR 15965 codes, streamlining everything from room data sheets to facility management integrations.
In educational or healthcare projects, Part 6 provides the framework for comparing layouts and functional flows.
Brazilian technical studies emphasize that this part connects territorial planning with asset operation — an essential aspect for professionals focused on full life-cycle management.
7. Construction information
Part seven structures the information itself: what to document, how to reference it, and how to maintain data traceability throughout the asset’s life cycle — from requirements to as-built documentation.
Practically speaking, it supports audits, data governance, regulatory compliance, and integrations with CDEs (Common Data Environments).
When connected with Parts 2 through 6, this information layer helps verify whether each object, space, element, and process is properly documented and version-controlled.
How does NBR 15965 work in practice?
NBR 15965 works mainly by bringing standardization and integration to BIM projects.
Thanks to its classification tables and unified terminology, architecture, engineering, and construction firms can “speak the same language” within a project.
In practical terms, a single construction element keeps the same standardized code and name across all software and documentation, eliminating ambiguity.
As a result, different teams can collaborate within a BIM model much more easily, since everyone follows the same references and classifications.
Why is NBR 15965 important?
NBR 15965 is a cornerstone in turning BIM from “just a technology” into a management framework and public policy tool.
With a national classification system aligned to ISO 12006-2, it creates a common language that ensures interoperability between disciplines, software, and project phases.
This technical foundation gives the public sector the ability to require BIM in procurement processes, as defined in Decree No. 10.306/2020, and ties into the BIM BR Strategy (Decree No. 9.983/2019), which promotes BIM implementation throughout Brazil.
The result is more transparent, auditable, and efficient workflows in both public and private projects.
Practical Benefits:
- Unified language and fewer ambiguities: NBR 15965 standardizes terms and codes for objects, processes, resources, and results, reducing miscommunication between teams and improving model data quality. This follows the framework of ISO 12006-2, the global reference for classification systems in the built environment.
- True interoperability between software and teams: Consistent classification makes data exchange smoother throughout the project life cycle, enhancing collaboration and traceability.
- Regulatory foundation for public contracts: With the standard and related decrees, public agencies can standardize requirements, define adoption phases, and gradually require BIM deliverables in procurement processes.
- Higher productivity and less rework: Standardization improves specifications, coordination, and quantity generation (4D/5D), reducing errors and manual adjustments.
- More consistent budgeting and measurement: By linking elements and work results to standardized codes, the model aligns better with budgets, specifications, and accounting plans, strengthening auditing and comparability between projects.
- Data governance and compliance: The classification structure established by NBR 15965 supports requirements, deliverables, and revisions, making audits and CDE integrations easier,especially in public programs such as FNDE or DNIT.
- Alignment with international standards: The ISO 12006-2 framework was designed precisely to harmonize national systems and enable data exchange with other standards like IFC, opening doors to global collaboration.
By organizing “who does what, with which resources, and to produce which results,” NBR 15965 turns BIM into a fully standardized process.
This benefits everyone, from students just starting out in Revit to public managers who need to compare proposals and measure performance.
How did NBR 15965 originate?
NBR 15965 was developed to prepare Brazil’s construction industry for the innovation that BIM represented.
In 2009, the Ministry of Development, Industry, and Foreign Trade (MDIC) established the Special Study Commission on Building Information Modeling (ABNT/CEE-134) to develop BIM-related technical standards.
At that time, Brazil followed international standardization trends: in 2010, ABNT published ISO 12006-2:2010, which defined the principles for developing construction classification systems.
This international reference served as the foundation for NBR 15965.
Work began in 2011 to create Brazil’s first BIM technical standard. The process was divided into stages, with publication planned in seven parts.
The first three were released shortly after: Part 1 in 2011, Part 2 in 2012, and Part 3 in 2014, each focusing on a specific section of the classification framework, while the remaining parts were finalized through public consultations.
From the start, the main goal, as explained by Wilton Catelani, coordinator of the ABNT committee, was to ensure that all project professionals used standardized terminology, so information could flow clearly from one phase to another.
In short, NBR 15965 was created to ensure effective and integrated BIM use in Brazil, preventing information loss throughout project stages.
This standardization effort took several years but built the foundation for BIM’s consistent growth across the country.
Challenges of implementing NBR 15965
Implementing NBR 15965 came with significant challenges, especially in its early years.
One of the main hurdles was the lack of familiarity with its concepts and classification tables.
As a new framework, many architects and engineers had to adapt to classifying each project element by standardized codes, something very different from their traditional workflows.
The learning curve made it harder for some to fully embrace BIM methodology, as Brazil was still moving toward full digitalization in construction.
There was also cultural and technological resistance, similar to the transition from hand drawing to CAD.
While Europe and North America adopted digital workflows in the 1980s, Brazil only caught up in the 1990s.
Many firms stuck to traditional processes and struggled with communication between teams, the opposite of BIM’s collaborative mindset.
There was also often a lack of multidisciplinary perspective and limited 3D modeling expertise, both essential for leveraging BIM to its fullest.
The good news is that over a decade later, many of these initial challenges have been overcome.
Digital transformation has advanced, new BIM guides and standards have complemented NBR 15965, and much more training and educational material is now available.
Both companies and universities are increasingly focused on training professionals fluent in BIM and its standardization.
There’s still room to grow, but progress has been steady.
NBR 15965 remains a core reference for professionals aiming to work with BIM in a structured and reliable way in Brazil.
Bárbara Pavanello
CEO | Blocks®
“When we talk about BIM in Brazil, NBR 15965 is the foundation of everything. Without a shared grammar, each team names and measures things differently, leading to rework, information loss, and budgets disconnected from the model. The standard does the opposite: it unifies terms, codes, and relationships between processes, resources, and results. This brings traceability, facilitates audits, and enables interoperability across software and contracts. In practice, it helps everyone, from the student modeling a door to the manager overseeing a project. With clear classification, BIM becomes a true management method, not just nice-looking technology on a screen.”
Simplify your work in Revit with the Blocks Plugin
After understanding NBR 15965 and its importance, you might be wondering how to apply all of this in your daily workflow.
After all, managing standardized BIM family libraries, organizing models, and ensuring project quality can be demanding.
That’s where the Blocks Plugin comes in, a tool built to optimize your Revit workflow and make BIM processes faster and easier.
Imagine having thousands of ready-to-use, fully parametric components available directly inside Revit, saving hours of searching online. Sounds good, right?
With the Blocks Plugin, that’s exactly what you get. It acts as an integrated Revit extension, offering over 7,000 high-quality parametric families you can drag and drop straight into your model.
Need to furnish an interior, add light fixtures, or equip a technical space? Just search the plugin’s library and insert the element directly into your project, quickly, easily, and professionally.
Ready to boost your productivity? Download the Blocks Plugin for free today.
Conclusion
NBR 15965 marked a turning point for BIM in Brazil, providing a unified classification system that brought structure and consistency to digital construction.
Thanks to it, BIM could grow nationally, connecting professionals from multiple disciplines through a shared language.
Today, as digital transformation continues to reshape the construction industry, understanding and applying NBR 15965 is more relevant than ever to ensure efficient, well-coordinated projects.
Adopting standards may seem like extra work at first, but the gains in productivity, coordination, and traceability make it worthwhile.
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