BSI launches revised standard for data’s role in improving operability

BS 8536:2022 Design and construction for operability consolidates BS 8536-1:2015 on facilities management and BS 8536-2:2016 on asset management into a single standard to achieve two goals: to better reflect developments in the UK BIM Framework and to play a part in helping accelerate the adoption of sustainable building and infrastructure practices.

In a blog post, the BSI explained: “The concept of operability is perhaps less well understood. Indeed the principle of “constructability”- how easy or difficult will it be to construct an asset – has always been widely applied.

“However consideration of how easy or difficult an asset will be to operate over its lifetime has received far less attention. This asks for design decisions to be based on accurate and relevant information and data, and their impact on operations to be understood before they’re committed to construction.

“To that end, this standard gives recommendations on design, manufacture and construction for operability in relation to built assets, taking account of the expected performance of the asset or facility in use over its planned operational life.”

The new standard promotes the early involvement of the operator, operations team or asset/facility manager. It also provides for feedback on the expected functional and operational performance of the asset/facility at each stage in the delivery process. Crucially it pushes to extend the commitment of each delivery team to defined periods of aftercare post-handover of the asset/facility and its safe, secure, efficient and cost-effective operation in line with environmental, social and economic performance outcomes and targets.

“It asks for information and data to support these ends in a way that maximises the value that the asset/facility owner can subsequently derive over the planned life of the asset/facility” the BSI said.

BS8536:2022 now more closely aligns with the requirements of the BS EN ISO 19650 series of standards on information management using building information modelling, and with PAS 1192-6 on health and safety using building information modelling.

The BSI added: “Another important consideration was how the standard could help users with the Soft Landings Framework and the Government Soft Landings (GSL) approach. So a final change to the revised standard is that we’ve applied more of the principles and practices of GSL to the project context.”

Three further information standards are expected to be published this year:

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