#BIMfor Facilities Management

For facilities managers, BIM is especially important as they are in charge of the building, at the point when the building incurs the most cost in its lifecycle (about 80%), the maintenance stage. As a result, it is very essential for them to be involved with BIM as even the slightest gains in efficiency and cost savings have frees up funds for other purposes. Here, are the seven (7) reasons why facilities managers need to involve BIM.

1. Preventive Maintenance

With the information in the BIM model, organisations can schedule maintenance and inspections for the electrical and mechanical facilities when the need arises. They can use it to prepare maintenance schedule using predictive data, manage daily operation and plan for future purchases and construction additions. Preventive maintenance can be automated so that building managers are intimated on changes that need to occur as and when due. The BIM model can serve as an 'owner's manual'.
The amount of data available and tools available such as operating parameters,usage data, predictive data, service history, replacement price and links to other manufacturer data, combined with a fully rendered, 3D depiction of the equipment creates a powerful tool for facilities managers.

2. Improved Building Lifecycle Management

With BIM, the Facilities Manager (FM) is better able to manage data about the building. This improvement is brought about by increased productivity gained from better managed data. Traceability ensures accountability among disciplines, reduced waste by more accurately predicting outcomes, identifying points of conflict and optimizing processes. The model also enables analyzing of alternatives for upgrades and improvement.

3. Better data management

The BIM model gives a better controlled, accessible and easily navigable way of managing their information compared to the drawings traditionally used. Changes made during the life of the building can be easily updated to the model for documentation. This aids in easy recovery of that data for future purpose and less time spent on data recovery. For example, If the specification for wiring was changed during the life of a building, and needs to be changed again (maybe by a new building manager), the manager knows where to go for information. 

Information updates carried out on the models is useful especially if similar projects are carried out in future so to use the in-use data and better avoid past mistakes.

4. Improved Communication

Better communication (and collaboration) engendered by BIM saves time when searching for building information, reduce response time to building problems and enable facility managers improve performance and productivity while minimizing misunderstandings.

5. Better Decision Making

With the accurate, easy to retrieve, information available in the model, building managers are able to plan, make better informed decisions and execute better. Review by regulatory authorities such as fire department is more comprehensive if they use the BIM model as all information is easily obtainable from it. Information about how the building is to be used can serve as invaluable input into the construction phase with the BIM process enabling the evaluation of alternatives to create a sustainable design. With 6D BIM (5D BIM plus facilities management), the impacts of the proposal are considered against targets. E.g. energy efficiency and green house emissions, and by that, the proposal aligned to meet post construction targets, simulating outputs and costs of decisions over the lifetime of the building

Knowing the maintenance schedule for the building also helps in developing a cost plan for different maintenance activities that will go on over the building's life.

6. Improved Space Management

With the model, the FM can analyse the existing use of space, proficiently track the use of space and resources, and help in planning more efficient use of space in the future, such as renovation and maintenance operations. It also helps to detect and manage conflicts when space requirements or purpose change. The 3D drawings of the model can help organisations (especially health and higher institutions) reduce the misuse of space and ultimately maximize its utilization.

7. Cost savings

According to a Carnegie-Mellon study, a 3.8% improvement in productivity in the functions that occur in a building would totally pay for the facility's design, construction, operation and sustenance through increased efficiency (NBIMS_v1_p1, pg 1.) The better planning engendered by BIM, with tools such as simulation and energy analysis of different systems and equipments on the models will ensure the use of the most efficient systems and equipments for purpose, with the cost savings alone paying for the building.

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