How is the Centre for Health and Safety Innovation using building information modelling to help manage its facility?

In 2012, the Centre for Health and Safety Innovation (CHSI) re-evaluated its approach to managing and maintaining building documentation (drawings, operations and maintenance manuals, and maintenance history). At that time, while much of the information was available, it was not complete, fully accurate or easily accessible. CHSI established a strategy and roadmap to fill informational gaps, correct errors and develop a document maintenance plan for future updates.

When considering the hosting platform for both existing and future information, CHSI looked at the time and energy it would take to compile information in a 2-D world versus the costs of creating a similar building information modelling (BIM) model and tagging equipment data directly to the model. The cost comparison showed a negligible difference and the road to BIM began for CHSI.

At present, CHSI has developed approximately 50 per cent of the architectural model, verified 90 per cent of its HVAC and plumbing systems and begun the process of scanning documents into PDFs so that they can be linked to the model. Once much of the model and information tagging is complete, CHSI intends to use a product like Autodesk 360 to share the bulk of the information with staff, contractors and service providers. This will allow a more streamlined approach to maintenance and troubleshooting as well as provide the same groups with an opportunity to provide direct feedback when they make a change or notice an inconsistency. Separately, from a purely model-based perspective, CHSI intends to leverage the model as a means to clarify its wayfinding, room reservations and advertising efforts within the building.

Geoff Williams is facilities director at the Centre for Health & Safety Innovation in Mississauga, Ont., and a past president of the International Facility Management Association (IFMA), Toronto chapter.