BIM for Facilities Management

Industrial plants are dynamic environments where layouts constantly change due to innovation, technology wear-and-tear, as well as changes in regulatory measures. Traditionally, facilities managers had to maintain as-built or as-maintained plans, product information, and maintenance schedules separately. With the arrival of BIM, facilities management data can be integrated into a 3D model, allowing for more streamlined workflows and ease of collaboration.

The greatest benefits of using BIM for facilities management are:

• Having up to date as-built / as-maintained documents for future planning and regulatory compliance
• Ease of collaboration between multiple parties
• Ease of use of a 3D model versus a set of plans
• Improved ability for scheduling
• Ability to have real time data on equipment conditions, as well as safety, health and environmental conditions

Increased Consistency & Precision

Having a BIM model model with intelligent data integrated into objects improves scheduling and estimating tasks. This is because the physical object and the information about it are tied together in a 3D model. Whereas previously plans, specs and maintenance information had to be updated separately, with a BIM model all the information is in one place. This allows for unprecedented consistency.

Below is a sample software demo that illustrates how all the information about a model is stored in a central location via BIM:

With BIM, facilities managers can visualize maintenance schedules in an intuitive way. Information about maintenance can be displayed in terms of text or color over equipment in the BIM model. Traditional schedules can also be outputted from the data attached to equipment with ease.

Refurbishment and Expansion

BIM also improves the ease of planning for refurbishments and expansions. 3D models allow for significantly less speculation than plans. In a complex industrial environment with equipment running in multiple layers and in multiple directions, traditional plans can result in mis-communication between diverse parties. BIM comes with collision detection features that will red-flag any conflict between existing equipment and expansion plans.

Furthermore, some BIM facilities management software is able to provide on spot estimates and simulations for proposed refurbishments and expansions. Cost estimates can be generated relatively easily by imputing product information. Simulations can also be run on how the refurbishments and expansions will affect the motors, pumps, valves and piping systems of the existing facility.

Off Site Management

BIM allows you to manage a facility in an off site location. The model provides enough information that much of the planning and preparation can be done off site. This is beneficial because it allows for less disruption of workflow on site as well as decrease exposure of individuals to potentially hazardous health, safety and environmental conditions.

The level of detail in a BIM model allows for an increase in the level of off site management.

Furthermore, in the case of an emergency, BIM gives you a variety of advantages. For more information on this please view our article “Using BIM for Threat Assessment & Emergency Management.”

Furthermore, BIM can be used for familiarizing new staff with the facility before they arrive on site. Digital training provides new staff with an in depth understanding of the facility before they step foot on site. Again this is useful in scenarios where you want to minimize disruption fo workflow and exposure to on site hazards.

Additional Resources

The following is an extensive, 1 hour long presentation that goes in depth on the benefits of BIM to facilities managers and outlines workflows.