COBie is one of those acronyms that appears constantly in BIM project documentation but is rarely explained clearly. This guide provides a plain English explanation of what COBie is, why it matters, and how it is delivered on a UK project.

What is COBie?

COBie stands for Construction Operations Building Information Exchange. It is a structured data schema — essentially a set of spreadsheet tables — that captures the information needed to manage and maintain a built asset after construction is complete.

Rather than handing over a Revit model that requires specialist software to open, COBie delivers the same information in structured spreadsheets that can be imported into a facilities management system.

What information does COBie contain?

COBie captures contact details for the design and construction team. Floor and space information. Type information — specification and performance data for each asset type. Component information — individual asset records with location, serial numbers, and installation dates. System information showing how assets are grouped. Document references for operation and maintenance manuals and warranties.

Why does COBie matter?

A building owner receiving COBie data at handover gains a structured, usable digital record of every maintainable asset in the building. This can be imported directly into their FM system, eliminating manual data entry. Over the life of the building, accurate asset data reduces maintenance costs and simplifies future modification planning.

Who is responsible for producing COBie?

COBie data is typically a contractor obligation specified in the Employer's Information Requirements. The principal contractor coordinates COBie delivery from the design team and specialist subcontractors. The design team contributes type and system data from the BIM model.

How Outsource CAD can help with COBie

Outsource CAD produces COBie data outputs from Revit models as part of our BIM service. We validate outputs against the project EIR requirements. Contact us to discuss your COBie requirements.