The construction budget is one of the most critical stages in civil construction. Errors in cost estimation can compromise the financial viability of an entire project. The integration of the SINAPI table with the BIM methodology in Autodesk Revit offers a precise and automated approach, linking each service to official cost breakdowns and eliminating manual rework.
What is the SINAPI table and why is it essential in the construction budget
SINAPI (National Civil Construction Cost and Indices Research System) is maintained by Caixa Econômica Federal in partnership with IBGE. Monthly, IBGE collects input prices in all Brazilian states, generating updated service compositions with values for materials, labor and equipment. Decree 7983/2013 made the use of SINAPI as a reference in public works with Union resources mandatory.
For private works, the table is also a valuable reference. It allows you to compare regional prices, validate quotes from suppliers and compose budgets with parameters recognized by the market. The main information available at SINAPI is:
- Input prices: values of materials, salaries and equipment by state, with monthly update
- Service compositions: complete unit costs for each construction activity
- Monthly indices: periodic update with data collected by IBGE throughout the national territory
- Relieved and non-relieved versions: with or without INSS levied on payroll
BIM 5D: budgeting integrated into the virtual construction model
BIM (Building Information Modeling) goes beyond the traditional 3D model. When we add cost information to the model, we enter what is called 5D BIM, where each constructive element carries composition, quantity and value data. This approach eliminates the need to manually extract quantities from projects, significantly reducing the risk of errors.
In Autodesk Revit, it is possible to register SINAPI compositions as custom materials in the Material Browser. Each composition receives specific parameters — SINAPI code, description, unit, unit value and total value — and is linked directly to the model elements. When changing the project, the quantitative and cost tables are automatically updated, allowing quick simulations of different budget scenarios.
Add-on tools like the free plugin Room Finishing, available in the Autodesk store, allow you to apply layers of coating, paint and subfloor to the modeled surfaces without losing the link with the cost compositions. The plugin OrçaBIM, from OrçaFascio, specialized in construction budgets, integrates Revit data directly with cost systems, automating the entire flow between project and budget spreadsheet.
Step by step to estimate with SINAPI in Autodesk Revit
The implementation of the construction budget method with SINAPI and BIM follows six main steps in Revit:
- 1. Design parameters: create custom fields in the Manage > Project Parameters menu for SINAPI code, description, unit, unit value and total value
- 2. Registration of compositions: insert each SINAPI composition as a material in the Material Browser, using the code as name and filling in all cost parameters
- 3. Element creation: Duplicate wall, floor, roof, and ceiling families, linking each layer to a specific composition with the correct thickness
- 4. Finishes with Room Finishing: apply the coating, plastering, plastering and painting layers using the free Autodesk plugin in each environment
- 5. Automatic Tables: create quantitative tables by category (walls, floors, frames, coverage) with code, description, quantity and total value fields
- 6. Export: export reports to XLS format and finalize the budget applying BDI, indirect costs and transportation
Advantages of SINAPI and BIM integration for construction companies
The main benefit is the elimination of quantitative survey errors. As the data is extracted directly from the BIM model, there is no manual rework or discrepancies between the project and cost spreadsheet. Any change to the project — changing area, height or replacing material — automatically updates the compositions and total values.
Standardization is also a relevant gain. Once the template has been created with all registered compositions, it can be reused in new projects with monthly updates only of SINAPI unit values. This reduces budget preparation time and ensures consistency between all of the company's projects, in addition to facilitating audits and construction measurements.
Process transparency is a competitive differentiator. In public tenders, having a budget linked to the BIM model with SINAPI compositions demonstrates technical soundness and can make a difference in the approval of the project by supervisory bodies.
How to get Autodesk Revit
To put this method into practice, you need Autodesk Revit. At CanalVIP, you will find options to obtain Revit, AutoCAD, Civil 3D and complementary tools for civil engineering. Check the licenses available on CanalVIP catalog and start transforming your construction budgets with the integration between SINAPI and BIM.