COBie 2.4 · Operations guide
Spare
Records replacement parts and consumables associated with maintained product types.
What must be stocked or sourced to maintain each asset type?
Connect replacement items to maintained Types
The Spare worksheet records on-site spares, replacement parts, part sets, lubricants, and other items needed to maintain delivered products. Annex A's spreadsheet schema marks Spare.Name as the primary key, while its embedded COBieLite definition describes a combination of Name, Category, and TypeName. Because the official annex contains these different key descriptions, projects should follow the contract-issued workbook and validator rather than assume one rule.
Each TypeName must resolve to an existing Type row. This relationship matters more than a long free-text description because it lets the operator start with a failed asset, follow its Component to the parent Type, and identify the relevant replacement items without searching through unrelated manuals.
Part numbers, suppliers, and owner stocking decisions
SetNumber and PartNumber should carry the manufacturer's identifiers needed to source the correct item. Supplier references should resolve to Contact records, and Category should distinguish a single part, set, lubricant, general spare, or another agreed class. A generic label such as 'filter' is rarely enough when several sizes or grades exist.
The worksheet identifies what can be stocked or sourced; it does not by itself define the owner's final inventory quantity or purchasing policy. Contract requirements, criticality, lead time, commissioning spares, and the receiving organization's stores strategy should determine which items are delivered and how quantities are managed downstream.
Preserving procurement data beside the model
Spare information usually comes from approved submittals, manufacturer schedules, commissioning packages, and O&M manuals rather than Revit geometry. Model Types provide the relationship anchor, but project teams must curate the supplier and part information and reconcile it when a selected product changes.
BIMRelay keeps project-managed Spare rows connected to generated Type records and validates those references when the latest Revit evidence is regenerated. That separation lets the model supply stable asset context while reviewed procurement and handover information remains intact in the workbook.
Key relationships
Associated with Type
May reference suppliers in Contact
Practical quality checks
- Confirm part numbers
- Separate spares from tools
- Align quantities with owner requirements
Spare worksheet FAQ
- What belongs on the COBie Spare worksheet?
- Spare contains replacement parts, part sets, lubricants, on-site spares, and similar items needed to maintain a product Type after handover.
- How does a Spare connect to an asset?
- Spare.TypeName references a COBie Type. Individual Components inherit that relationship by pointing to the same parent Type.
- Is a COBie Spare the same as a Resource?
- No. Spare normally describes a replacement or consumable item associated with a Type. Resource describes labor, tools, materials, or training required to perform Jobs.
- How does BIMRelay retain Spare information?
- BIMRelay can preserve project-managed Spare rows while regenerating model-backed Type evidence and check that every Spare.TypeName still points to an active Type.
This is an independent practical summary, not a reproduction of the COBie specification. Refer to the official standard for normative definitions and field requirements.
Reviewed against the official NIBS COBie 2.4 publication and Annex A worksheet schemas.
Where the official documents, contract-issued workbook, and project validator differ, follow the contract requirements and accepted validation process.
Open the official COBie 2.4 publicationOpen the official COBie 2.4 Annex A worksheet schemas