How 7D Facility Management Helps in Building Maintenance
This article provides a comprehensive overview of 7D Facility Management, synthesized from information gathered through a multi-step research process. We aim to provide an up-to-date and insightful understanding of how 7D Facility Management can revolutionize building maintenance.
READ HOW FACILITY MANAGEMENT ENHNANCES BUILDING MAINTENANCE IN DETAIL
It’s important to understand that operating a building over its lifespan can far exceed the initial construction cost. Operating costs over 30 years can be as much as four times the construction cost! However, by leveraging 7D Facility Management, building owners and operators can significantly influence these costs, optimizing efficiency and sustainability from the design phase onward.
What is 7D Facility Management?
7D Facility Management applies the powerful Building Information Modeling (BIM) tool to ongoing building management. Instead of just using BIM for design and construction, 7D BIM incorporates all the data related to a building’s operation and maintenance into a 3D model. This creates a centralized, digital representation of the building, often called an “as-built” model, which accurately reflects the building’s current state, including any modifications made after the initial construction. This “as-built” model becomes a single source of truth for all stakeholders, facilitating better communication, collaboration, and decision-making throughout the building’s lifecycle.
7D Facility Management streamlines facility management by consolidating all building-related information within this model. This includes not only the spatial layout and 3D geometry but also detailed information about each component, such as:
- Datasheets
- User manuals
- Warranty documents
- Inspection reports
- Maintenance schedules
- Spatial layout and relationships between building components
- Material specifications and properties
- Equipment data, including manuals, warranties, and maintenance schedules
- Energy performance data
- Occupancy patterns
This comprehensive approach to data management allows facility managers to easily access, analyze, and share critical information, leading to more efficient and informed decision-making.
Benefits of 7D Facility Management
7D Facility Management offers a wide range of benefits for building owners, operators, and occupants:
Effective Space Management
7D BIM provides a dynamic, visual representation of how space is used within a building. Facility managers can analyze occupancy patterns, identify underutilized areas, and use spatial programs to assess the design’s effectiveness in meeting spatial requirements. This data-driven approach enables informed decisions regarding space allocation, reconfiguration, and future renovations, ultimately optimizing space utilization and reducing unnecessary real estate costs.
Improved Awareness of Asset Location
With 7D BIM, facility managers have a clear view of all building components, including those hidden behind walls or ceilings. This enhanced visibility simplifies maintenance and renovation work, as teams can quickly locate assets and access relevant information, such as installation dates, maintenance history, and warranty details. Each asset can also be assigned a unique ID within the model, further streamlining information retrieval and management.
7D BIM enhances asset tracking and management, reducing the risk of lost or misplaced equipment.
Streamlined Maintenance
7D BIM transforms building maintenance from a reactive to a proactive approach. By providing easy access to asset information, including maintenance schedules, manuals, and warranty details, 7D BIM streamlines maintenance planning and execution. This allows facility managers to:
- Optimize maintenance schedules
- Anticipate maintenance needs
- Minimize downtime
- Extend the lifespan of building assets
- Simplify ordinary activities like researching information, surveying, and drafting files
Energy Savings
7D BIM plays a crucial role in optimizing energy efficiency and promoting sustainability. Facility managers can use the model to analyze energy consumption patterns, identify areas for improvement, and simulate the impact of different energy-saving strategies. This leads to:
- Reduced energy consumption
- Lower utility costs
- A smaller environmental footprint
- The implementation of environmentally sound solutions
Enhanced Lifecycle Management
7D BIM provides valuable data on building components’ replacement cost and life expectancy. This information empowers owners and managers to make informed decisions about long-term investments in building systems and materials, ensuring the building’s continued functionality and efficiency throughout its entire lifecycle.
Reduced Costs and Rework
Studies have shown that 7D BIM can lead to a 35% reduction in design modifications and a 19.8% decrease in construction management fees. By identifying and resolving potential clashes and issues during the design phase, 7D BIM minimizes costly rework and ensures smoother project execution.
Many of the benefits of 7D BIM, such as reduced lifecycle costs and improved asset longevity, are realized over long periods.
Improved Compliance
7D BIM helps facility managers ensure compliance with building codes and regulations. The model can store important documents, such as permits, certifications, and inspection reports, making them easily accessible for audits and regulatory inspections. This streamlines compliance processes and reduces the risk of penalties or delays.
Emerging Technologies and 7D BIM
The integration of emerging technologies with 7D BIM further amplifies its capabilities. Here are some examples:
- Computer-aided facility management (CAFM) software: 7D BIM models can be integrated with CAFM software, creating a comprehensive platform for managing building operations, maintenance, and space utilization. This integration allows facility managers to track work orders, manage assets, and analyze performance data, all within a single system.
- Internet of Things (IoT) devices: Sensors and cameras placed throughout the building can collect real-time data on various parameters, such as temperature, humidity, occupancy, and equipment performance. This data can be fed into the BIM model, providing a dynamic and up-to-date view of the building’s operations. This allows for real-time monitoring, proactive maintenance, and optimized energy consumption.
- Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning: AI and machine learning algorithms can analyze the vast amounts of data generated by IoT devices and other sources to identify patterns, predict maintenance needs, and optimize building performance. This enables predictive maintenance, reduces downtime, and improves overall efficiency.
Summing Up!
7D Facility Management represents a paradigm shift in building operations and maintenance. By harnessing the power of BIM and integrating emerging technologies, 7D BIM empowers facility managers to optimize building performance, reduce costs, enhance sustainability, and improve the occupant experience.
To delve deeper into the advantages of 7D Facility Management and how it can benefit your building projects, we encourage you to read the original blog post that inspired this article: How does 7D Facility Management help in Building Maintenance?
Learn more about Building Information Modeling Services!
