The Rosetta Stone for Digital Construction: Why PAS 1958 is the Standard You Can’t Afford to Ignore
- Yoshi Soornack
- Sep 22
- 4 min read
With the public consultation now open, a new standard is set to unify the chaotic world of built environment data. For project managers drowning in a sea of conflicting information, this is the lifeline you’ve been waiting for.
For years, the promise of a truly digital built environment has felt like a distant dream. We’ve been sold a vision of seamless data exchange, of intelligent assets, and of projects delivered with clockwork precision. The reality, for most of us on the front lines of project delivery, has been a chaotic mess of conflicting standards, incompatible software, and fragmented information. It’s a digital Tower of Babel, and it’s costing us dearly in rework, delays, and lost value. But that may be about to change.
A new standard, PAS 1958, has emerged from the British Standards Institution (BSI) with a bold and desperately needed ambition: to create a unified framework for data and information management across the entire built environment. Currently open for public comment, this isn’t just another piece of esoteric guidance. It’s a potential Rosetta Stone, a guide designed to translate the cacophony of existing standards into a single, coherent language. For project managers, this is a landmark development that could finally unlock the true potential of digital construction.
Taming the Standards Jungle
The problem that PAS 1958 sets out to solve is one every project professional knows intimately. We have standards for BIM (Building Information Modelling), standards for data security, standards for asset management, and a dozen others in between. We have BS, EN, ISO, and a host of other acronyms, each with its own requirements and recommendations. The result? Confusion, contradiction, and a massive barrier to entry, especially for the small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that form the backbone of our industry.
PAS 1958 doesn’t seek to replace these existing standards. Instead, it aims to be a ‘guide to the guides.’ Its official scope is to provide guidance on how existing standards “can be unified to establish a holistic framework.” It will act as an index, mapping out the key concepts, showing how they connect, and identifying where the gaps are.
“This PAS provides guidance on how existing data and information management standards that support the digitalization of the built environment can be unified to establish a holistic framework.” - BSI, PAS 1958 Scope
For a project manager trying to specify the information requirements for a new build, this is revolutionary. Instead of navigating a dense jungle of documentation, you will have a single, authoritative guide that shows you exactly which standards apply, how they interact, and what you need to do to comply.
Why This Matters for Your Project, Right Now
While PAS 1958 is still in its consultation phase, its impact is already being felt. It signals a clear direction of travel for the industry, away from fragmentation and towards integration. For forward-thinking project professionals, this presents both an opportunity and an imperative to act.
1. A Common Language for Collaboration: PAS 1958 will provide a common vocabulary for data and information management. This will make it easier to communicate requirements to clients, contractors, and your supply chain, reducing the risk of misunderstandings and costly errors. It will create a level playing field where everyone is working from the same playbook.
2. Unlocking the Power of AI: The standard explicitly aims to support “data management and decision-making, facilitating the adoption or development of AI.” The truth is, you can’t have effective AI without good data. By creating a more structured and consistent approach to information management, PAS 1958 will lay the essential groundwork for the widespread adoption of artificial intelligence in the built environment. It will provide the clean, reliable data streams that AI algorithms need to thrive.
3. Empowering SMEs: By simplifying the standards landscape, PAS 1958 will make it easier for SMEs to compete on a level playing field. It will lower the barrier to digital adoption, allowing smaller, more agile firms to bring their innovations to major projects. For project managers, this means a more diverse, competitive, and capable supply chain.
Your Voice is Needed
The most critical aspect of PAS 1958 is that it is being developed with the industry, not imposed on it. The public consultation period, which runs until 10th October 2025, is a genuine opportunity for project delivery professionals to shape the future of their industry. This is your chance to have your say, to point out what works and what doesn’t, and to ensure that the final standard is practical, relevant, and effective in the real world.
“This PAS is of use to those who interact with the built environment, including: individuals in organizations who are responsible for or influence data and/or information management activities across any stage of the asset life cycle.” - BSI, PAS 1958 Target Audience
This is a call to arms for every project manager who has ever been frustrated by a corrupt data file, an incompatible software format, or a poorly defined information requirement. This is our chance to fix the foundations of our digital future.
Don’t let this opportunity pass. Get involved, read the draft, and submit your comments. The future of digital construction is not something that should happen to us; it is something we must build together.
The era of digital confusion is ending. The era of digital clarity is beginning. Make sure you are on the right side of history. Subscribe to Project Flux to stay informed on the standards and trends that are shaping our industry.
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