{"id":4325,"date":"2024-04-26T10:46:06","date_gmt":"2024-04-26T10:46:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cobuilder.com\/?p=4325"},"modified":"2026-06-17T09:32:06","modified_gmt":"2026-06-17T09:32:06","slug":"what-is-a-data-template-dt","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cobuilder.com\/en\/international-construction\/what-is-a-data-template-dt\/","title":{"rendered":"What is a Data Template (DT)?"},"content":{"rendered":"

What is a Data Template (DT)?<\/h1>\n

Preparing the construction industry for a more sustainable and digitised future<\/h2>\n<\/div>
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This article will explore the detailed methodology behind Data Templates (DTs) and their connection to the anticipated role of Digital Product Passports (DPPs) in the construction industry. Starting with structuring and digitising data in Data Templates is an important first step towards integrating Digital Product Passports in the future. By aligning DTs with DPPs, the sector is not only moving towards adherence to revised European legislation, but is also leveraging digitalization for a more sustainable and efficient future in construction.<\/p>\n<\/div>

Table of contents:<\/strong><\/h4>\n<\/div>
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Introduction to Data Templates and Digital Product Passports<\/h2>\n

Every construction organization has developed its own methods for structuring data. While such customisation has benefits, it often complicates communication and the exchange of information across different systems and stakeholders. To address these challenges, the construction industry is embracing standardisation through Data Templates (DTs). These templates provide a uniform framework for structuring and transforming data into interoperable assets, essential for digitisation initiatives within the industry. Developed in alignment with international standards by organizations such as CEN and ISO, Data Templates not only facilitate enhanced data exchange but also actively prepare the construction industry for a more sustainable and digitalised<\/a> future.<\/p>\n

In parallel, the industry is preparing for the upcoming adoption of Digital Product Passports<\/a> (DPPs) for construction products as part of the revised Construction Products Regulation (CPR)<\/a>. Mandated by the European Commission under the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR)<\/a>, DPPs are not yet implemented but are designed to provide comprehensive and standardized information about construction products throughout their entire lifecycle. These digital passports will deliver critical data, including safety information, usage instructions, and declarations of performance and conformity. By enhancing transparency and traceability for all stakeholders, from manufacturers to building contractors and end users, DPPs aim to simplify and enrich sustainability practices within the construction sector.<\/p>\n<\/div>

Data Templates: What are they for people and for machines?<\/h2>\n

For its user, a Data Template (DT) is a common data structure describing the characteristics (called \u2018properties\u2019) of a construction object, and its physical qualities, according to a credible source of information, e.g. a standard or regulation.<\/p>\n<\/div>

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On the other hand, for any software, the\u00a0data template structure<\/strong>\u00a0is a set of concepts that are connected to each other with different relationships. By establishing the connectedness between concepts through unique pieces of code, a\u00a0specific logic<\/strong>\u00a0for machines is set. This allows us to create a common technological language, which helps any software convey meaning consistently regardless of the language used in a particular country.<\/p>\n

There are several technical terms that we need to explain further when we talk about the methodology behind Data Templates. Those are\u00a0construction objects, properties, attributes and groups of properties.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>

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What is a construction object?<\/h2>\n

One of the major, and mandatory, prerequisites to define and create a Data Template is to have a construction object which to associate the Data Template with.<\/p>\n

The construction object<\/strong>\u00a0identifies the object-of-interest in a construction process which the data template describes further. This could be a window, exterior door, expanded polystyrene (EPS) insulation, masonry wall and many more.<\/p>\n

What is a property, attribute and groups of properties?<\/h2>\n

One can think of a product property as the smallest building block defining a product for digital use.<\/p>\n

Properties<\/strong>\u00a0are characteristics that describe a construction object. To create a property, it is a must to define its attributes.\u00a0Attributes<\/strong>\u00a0can be the property\u2019s \u2018measure\u2019, \u2018value\u2019, \u2018unit\u2019, i.e. they are the property\u2019s \u201cmetadata\u201d that define what physical quantity the property measures and the unit it is expressed in.<\/p>\n

Defining unique properties with different attributes is a very important step that enables software to compare values. For instance, to compare the percentage of water absorption of two products.<\/p>\n

Last but not least,\u00a0groups of properties<\/strong>\u00a0are simply collections that allow users to group properties based on a certain criterion and then easily re-use and re-distribute them.<\/p>\n<\/div>

How do Data Templates ensure interoperability and transform data into \u2018machine-readable\u2019 language?<\/h2>\n

In different countries and within different organisations the product characteristics (or properties) do not share the same name, spelling or abbreviation. Thus, this information is deemed different by various software programs. The data template methodology takes into account all these differences.<\/p>\n

To help machines understand the intended meaning of information there is a need for a common framework of concepts and the relationships between those concepts.<\/p>\n<\/div>

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Data Templates are built upon a framework, called\u00a0\u2018digital data dictionaries\u2019,\u00a0<\/strong>that enables the mapping of similar concepts to unique codes so that machines will be able to \u201cread\u201d and \u201cunderstand\u201d one common meaning, no matter the local differences in semantics. This way, all devices will \u201cknow\u201d that if we search for \u201cthermal transmittance\u201d for example, it means the same as \u201cu-value\u201d.<\/p>\n

There is no universal data dictionary available in the construction world. There are many different dictionaries that construction organisations create themselves. However, those\u00a0dictionaries<\/strong>\u00a0need to be\u00a0interconnected<\/strong>. The experts of CEN\/TC442\/WG4 are aligning the available standards to ensure that any dictionary can store properties and their attributes in a consistent way.<\/p>\n

Example of such data dictionaries are Define data dictionary<\/a> and buildingSMART Data Dictionary<\/a> (bsDD).<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

A common digital language for
\nthe construction industry<\/p><\/h4><\/div>

Define Data dictionary<\/span><\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

Standards: The credible sources of data<\/h2>\n

When we speak about Data Templates, it is important to say that\u00a0credible sources<\/strong>\u00a0of product characteristics (or properties) are international standards, European standards (e.g. harmonised standards), regulations, directives, documents and more.<\/p>\n

It is also important to underline that there is\u00a0a specific hierarchy\u00a0<\/strong>of those credible data sources\u00a0taken into account in the DT structure. Legal data sources, such as European Harmonised Standards have greater priority than national standards, and the national standards have greater priority than user-recognised requirements, like BREEAM and COBie.<\/p>\n

This is how Data Templates are created to serve as a common framework to use when managing construction product data.<\/p>\n<\/div>

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What standards define the methodology for creating DTs?<\/h2>\n

The international Standartisation bodies CEN and ISO are developing a series of standards to cover the methodology for creating data templates. These standards are developed as part of the CEN technical committee 442 work and were\u00a0published in 2020<\/strong>:<\/p>\n