WIP, Shared, Published, Archive
Four state names are enough to stop most arguments, if the project uses them consistently. Suitability and revision sit beside the state. They are not the same thing.
Work in progress
The task team is still producing the container. Other teams should not coordinate against it. Typical contents: an unchecked model, a drawing mid-edit, a schedule with placeholder codes.
Shared
The container is available so others can coordinate, comment or develop their own information. Shared does not mean accepted for construction, procurement or stage approval. Clash detection belongs here. Issue for construction does not.
Published
The container has been accepted for a stated purpose. That purpose might be a stage gate, a construction issue, or an asset handover pack. Published is not “the latest upload”.
Archive
A record of a container that is no longer the live copy. Archive exists so a later dispute can see what was issued. It is not a second Shared folder with a tidier name.
Worked sequence
A drainage layout starts in WIP inside the civil task team. It moves to Shared for the federated clash run. Comments return. A revised container is Shared again. Only the revision accepted for construction is Published. The superseded Published file moves to Archive when the next accepted revision replaces it.
National annex suitability codes (the S and A series used on many UK jobs) are project metadata. This page does not reproduce those tables. Agree the codes in the project’s information standard.
Last checked 2 October 2026. Official requirements stay in ISO 19650 and the UK BIM Framework. This is original guidance.