Checklist
ISO 19650 Naming Convention Checklist for Subcontractors
6 min read · ISOCheck
If you're a subcontractor — M&E, structural, fit-out, facades — the main contractor sends over a BIM Execution Plan and you're expected to know what that means, rename however many files you have, and upload them correctly by a date that's already in the calendar.
This checklist is designed to help you do that without it taking over your week.
Step 1: Get the right information before you rename anything
Information to collect from the BEP
Your project code — usually 2–6 characters, assigned by the client or main contractor
Your originator code — your company's code for this project
Your role code — e.g. M for mechanical, E for electrical, S for structural
The agreed document type codes — the list of valid two-letter codes
Zone and level codes — if the project uses specific spatial breakdowns
Whether revision goes in the filename — some projects include it, most don't
Step 2: Understand your 7 fields
[PROJECT]-[ORIGINATOR]-[ZONE]-[LEVEL]-[TYPE]-[ROLE]-[NUMBER].ext
| Field | What it is | Your value |
|---|---|---|
| Project | Project identifier | From BEP |
| Originator | Your company code | From BEP |
| Zone | Spatial area or system | From BEP (use ZZ if whole project) |
| Level | Floor or location | From BEP (use ZZ if not floor-specific) |
| Type | Document type | From agreed code list |
| Role | Your discipline | From BEP |
| Number | Sequential number | 0001, 0002, 0003… |
Step 3: Set up a simple document register
=A2&"-"&B2&"-"&C2&"-"&D2&"-"&E2&"-"&F2&"-"&G2&"."&H2
Step 4: Pre-submission checklist
Filename structure
All filenames contain exactly 7 fields
Fields are separated by hyphens only — no underscores, no spaces
No hyphens used inside any field
File extension is correct and supported by the CDE
Characters
All characters are uppercase — no lowercase anywhere
Only alphanumeric characters (A–Z, 0–9) — no special characters
No spaces anywhere in the filename
Field values
Project code matches the BEP exactly
Originator code matches the BEP exactly
Zone and level codes are from the agreed list
Document type codes are from the agreed list — no invented codes
Role code matches your discipline as defined in the BEP
Number field is 4 digits, zero-padded (0001, not 1)
Step 5: Validate before you upload
Run your filenames through ISOCheck before you upload — it flags every issue and tells you exactly which field caused the problem.
Validate your filenames before the deadline
Check up to 500 filenames at once — free, in your browser, your files never leave your device.
Try ISOCheck Free