Data in a COBie Sheet

Note: While the technical details of COBIE can appear complex, it is not intended for end-users.

COBie data is available in several formats, However, in this article, we will only be focusing on a "very simple" Excel Spreadsheet. Exchanges of small bits of COBie data about individual assets is another type of exchange supported by COBie. For example, an entire file need not be exchanged simply to update the installation date and a serial number of a specific piece of equipment. These individual COBie transactions can be captured through the National Information Exchange Model format called COBieLite.

What shall we as BIM Consultants/Contractors do if the stakeholder doesn't have a CMMS system?

COBie provides a default classification system, Omniclass, provided by the Construction Specifications Institute. We shall follow those specifications.

What should COBie data not contain?

COBie ≠ Geometry

COBie ≠ Geometry

What should COBie data contain?

COBie Data file

COBie Data file quality control report

COBie Document Files

COBie-Specific Submittal Set

COBie Data file: How to generate this data file and what does it contain?

This is where quality BIM models are very very important. All the Revit families, model elements, graphical and non-graphical elements must be assigned with required parameters ( I prefer shared parameters saved in your NAS server). For example Room Schedules, door schedule, wall schedules, floor schedule and so on.

Excel spreadsheet should contain the following sheets:

• Instructions: This contains the list of data being input in other sheets. These sheets can be divided into Phases like Early Design Worksheets, Detailed Design Worksheets, Construction Worksheets, Operations and Maintenance Worksheets, All Phases and Legend.
• Contact: This sheet comes under "All Phases" and it contains all the contacts of the related/involved parties like Contractors, Consultants, Subcontractors, Manufacturers, Stakeholder etc.
• Facility: Input all the project information in this space
• Floor: No. of Levels in the project, elevation, Description etc.
• Space: anything which doesn't come under room may be defined under space like Hallway, stairs, Foyer etc.
• Zone: Some projects are divided into different zones and construction work takes place in Phases. Example Zone A (Apartment A of a building), Zone B (Apartment B of a Building) and so on.
• Type: Same like that in Revit, this sheet contains types of equipment, products and materials like Door type A, Door Type B, Furniture- Chair, Table, Aluminium, Concrete etc
• Component: Any individually named or schedule items come under this category.
• System: Set of components providing a service. For example Sanitary Pipes, Drainage Pipes, Stormwater Pipes, Plumbing etc
• Assembly: Constituents for types, components and others
• Spare: On-Site and replacement parts
• Resource: Required materials tools and training
• Job: PM, Safety and other jobs plans
• Impact: Economic, Environmental and Social Impacts at various stages in the lifecycle
• Document: All applicable document references
• Attribute: Properties of referenced items. Example for a room, it could be Perimeter or Area.
• Coordinate: Spatial locations in box, line or point format
• Connection: Logical connections between components
• Issue: Other issues remaining at handover
• Picklists: any other information could be referenced to the picklist

2. COBie Data file quality control report

3. COBie Document Files: All the product data, catalogues and manufacturer data.