Project information requirements (PIR)
Also: Plain language questions (historical), PLQ (historical)
Quick definition: The information an appointing party needs to make its key decisions during the design and construction of a particular asset.
Explanation
Beginner explanation
During a project the owner has to make decisions — approve the concept, confirm the budget, accept the building. PIR list the information the owner needs at each of those decision points, written as plain questions such as "Does the design fit within the approved budget?"
Technical explanation
PIR are derived from the Organizational information requirements and from the project's business case. They are commonly tied to the appointing party's key decision points and expressed as questions the project information must answer (UK practice previously called these "plain language questions"). PIR then inform the Exchange information requirements issued to each lead appointed party.
Practical example
For a transit station, PIR include: at concept stage, "Can the platform accommodate the forecast peak passenger flow?"; at detailed design, "Are all fire separations and egress widths compliant?"; before handover, "Are all safety-critical systems commissioned and documented?"
Why it matters
PIR focus deliverables on decisions rather than on model content for its own sake, helping teams avoid over-modelling.
Common confusion
See Asset information requirements: PIR serve delivery decisions; AIR serve operation of the asset.
Historical context
Under the earlier UK PAS 1192 framework, plain language questions (PLQ) served a similar role; ISO 19650 terminology uses PIR.
Standards and references
- ISO 19650-1:2018 — Organization and digitization of information about buildings and civil engineering works, including building information modelling (BIM) — Information management using building information modelling — Part 1: Concepts and principles. ISO, 2018. Clause 3 and Clause 5.Original VDC Stack.io wording, based on the standard
Supports: PIR definition and relationship to key decision points · Status: Stage 90.92 (to be revised). Revision ISO/DIS 19650-1 at stage 40.93 on 2026-08-18 (decision for new DIS ballot). - BIM Harmonisation Guidelines for Works Departments — Appendix I: ISO 19650 Terminologies (v2). Development Bureau, Government of the Hong Kong SAR.Historical record
Supports: Mapping of plain language questions (PLQ) to PIR
VDC Stack.io writes its own explanations and does not reproduce copyrighted standards text. Consult the cited standard for normative wording.
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VDC Stack.io. (2026). Project information requirements (PIR). In VDC Stack.io Knowledge Dictionary. Retrieved from https://vdcstack.io/dictionary/project-information-requirements/