The Building Information Foundation RTS was established in 1972, when the Finnish Association of Architects gave the Foundation the RT Building Information File and Rakennusmestarien Keskusliitto (Central Association of Construction Engineers) the Helsinki Building Centre as basic capital.
The second oldest building centre in the world, the Helsinki Building Centre was founded in 1932 under the name of Permanent Building Products Exhibition. The RT File was first published in 1942 to fill the need for standardisation and guidelines for reconstruction caused by the war. Ever since, the Foundation has been responsible for drawing up guidelines for the construction sector and construction centre activities in Finland.
In 1974, the Foundation established Building Book Ltd, today known as Building Information Ltd., for its business operations. In accordance with the Building Information Foundation RTS's mission, the company was to publish books and information products and be in charge of the building products exhibition.
Below are the most important years in the history of Building Information and its products
1905
The publication of Rakennustaito (the Finnish Construction Magazine) begins
1917
The publication of Rakentajain kalenteri (Builder's Yearbook) begins
1932
The Helsinki Building Centre opened under the name of Permanent Building Products Exhibition
1942
The reconstruction office of the Finnish Association of Architects established on the initiative of the architect Alvar Aalto (known as the "Town Planning and Standardisation Organisation" as of 1947)
1942
The first RT Building Information File drawn up under the supervision of the Building Standards Committee, in cooperation with various oragnisations and experts.
1972
The Building Information Foundation RTS established by the Finnish Association of Architects and the Central Association of Construction Engineers.
1974
Building Book Ltd, currently Building Information Ltd, estanblished
1974
The publication of the Ratu Construction Productivity Information File begins
1982
The publication of the KH Property Management File begins
1986
The publication of the HEVAC Information File begins
1993- 1998
Building Information expands to Estonia, Russia and Latvia
1996
Creation of tools that are in line with sustainable development, e.g., the creation and implementation of the Emission Classification of Building Materials
1997
Publication of the RT Building Information File on CD and partly on the Internet
2002
Building Information's anniversary year: 70th anniversary of the Helsinki Building Centre, 60th anniversary of the RT Building Information File, 30th anniversary of the Building Information Foundation RTS
2003- 2004
Publication activities expand to cover six magazines
2004
RT Environmental Declaration Committee established
2005
100th anniversary of the Rakennustaito magazine Publication of the SIT Interior Decorations Information File begins
2006
Infra RYL 2006 Code of Building Practice - Infrastructure Handbook, part 1 was published KH Net - Real Estate Management Files online service started
2007
Online net services for HEVAC, RT, InfraRYL started and HEVAC specifications as CD-format was published
2008
More online services were developed: RT Building specifications tool, SIT Net, Ratu Net (construction productivity file), Klara Net (calculation program)
2009
General Property Management Quality Specification System 2009 was published Organization structure was renewed
2010
Three RYL-publications: - RunkoRYL 2010 Code of Building Practice - Building frame and external envelope - MaaRYL Code of Building Practice - Eartworks for building construction and - InfraRYL 2010 RT Information Media service was launched
2011
First e-book Builders´ Calendar was published Infra Net online service started MaalausRYL 2012 - Code of Painting Practice was renewed
