First things first, what is COBie?
Put simply, when you see a COBie you will usually see a spreadsheet. COBie was invented by Bill East to help bridge the gap between construction and building management. It is designed to be read by machines, which is why it can initially look quite overwhelming (let’s face it, most people aren’t thrilled when faced with a multi-tab spreadsheet!) but despite its complex aesthetic, its purpose is very simple: to provide you with the right information to run your building.
The data COBie captures include:
So, when loaded into a building management system, you can know all the relevant information to maintain an asset at the click of a button (or tap of an iPad!)
So why are you being asked for COBie?
If you’ve been asked to provide COBie on a construction project, you’re probably wondering what it is and why it matters. COBie (Construction-Operations Building information exchange) is a standardised way to deliver essential building data at handover, especially for operations and maintenance.
What does COBie have to do with BIM?
In the UK, COBie is part of BIM ‘Level 2’ (According to the UK BIM Framework). This has meant that any sizeable public project will probably require you to provide it. If you work in construction, architecture, engineering or asset management you’ll already know that BIM compliance is no longer optional, it’s essential.
Not being capable of delivering COBie can mean losing out on public sector contracts, and increasingly private sector contracts to.
But COBie isn’t a box ticking exercise, it ensures clients receive usable, structured, and consistent data. It supports digital handover and its consistency helps it be integrated with whichever building maintenance system is chosen.
How should you approach COBie?
The easiest way to start is to work backwards. Sounds counterintuitive but thinking about what information you’ll need to run your building first will make the process easier.
First identify your maintainable assets. What needs regular attention? Think of your fire doors, filters in ductwork, pumps and anything else with a regular maintenance regime. Next define the data you actually need. What does your system require to track and maintain those assets? And finally (and most importantly) communicate! Avoid wasted time by telling your design time what you need as early as possible. This ensures the COBie output is truly valuable.
Is COBie the Panacea of Asset Data?
Not necessarily, COBie was a solid start, a good generalist for Asset data which a client should expect their design team be capable of delivering.
But if you know ahead of time exactly which Building Management System you will use. And you know the data inputs are formatted differently, then you should define those in your ‘Asset Requirements’
The key is clarity and intention:
Want to Learn More?
This guide has been a simple, plain speaking introduction to COBie.
COBie is but a small part of BIM, and BIM is a world of acronyms and jargon and Standards and everything is confusing.
Our aim is to keep things simple for you…
Do you care that COBie is a part of IFC, and that is defined in NBIMS-US, (currently at V4)? That it is a recognised MVD of IFC? That the UK annex of BS EN ISO 19650-2 requires exchanged information models to include alphanumeric information structured in accordance with COBie?
Probably not.
But if you do, and you want to learn more (we know we do!), see below for some useful links.
https://prairieskyconsulting.com/
https://imiframework.org/
https://nibs.org/nbims/v4/introduction/
https://www.buildingsmart.org/
Make COBie work for you
Remember that COBie isn’t just a spreadsheet. It’s a tool to help you manage your building better. By understanding its purpose and tailoring it to your needs, you can turn a mandated requirement into a meaningful asset.
Our role goes beyond ticking boxes. We act as a strategic BIM partner, embedding compliance processes that unlock wider business value. From first project steps to full organisational adoption of ISO 19650 workflows, we help you succeed in a fast-evolving digital construction landscape.
And we do it in language you can understand.
Get in touch with us today: hello@adaptiveBIM.com
