COBie (Construction Operations Building Information Exchange)
COBie (Construction Operations Building Information Exchange) is a data format and delivery standard for the structured handover of asset and maintenance information from construction teams to facility operators at building completion. COBie captures the data needed to operate and maintain a building: equipment lists, maintenance schedules, spare part specifications, warranty information, and manufacturer documentation — delivered in a structured spreadsheet or IFC format that facility management systems can import. COBie is the L-layer deliverable of the BUILD framework.
Why it matters
Most BIM investment is made by design and construction teams, but most of the value — facility management, maintenance optimization, space planning — accrues to the owner/operator who receives the building. COBie is the mechanism that transfers BIM data from the construction world to the operations world. Projects without a COBie requirement in their contracts rarely deliver structured data at handover — the owner receives a model that looks right visually but carries no operational data, defeating the BIM investment.
External References
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Cite this definition
Finocchiaro, Michael. “COBie (Construction Operations Building Information Exchange).” DemystifyingPLM PLM Glossary, 2026, https://www.demystifyingplm.com/glossary/cobie-construction-operations-building-information-exchange