Building information modelling for the repair and maintenance of HVAC systems in healthcare facilities

Purpose The heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems are vital for maintaining indoor air quality and patient safety in healthcare facilities. However, the inconsistent asset data and inadequate documentation are some critical issues that challenge the repair and maintenance (R&M) processes of such systems. This research aims to address these challenges by creating a HVAC-centric building information model focused on the R&M of a healthcare centre. Design/methodology/approach A design science research approach is adopted, which involves the creation, demonstration and evaluation of a BIM to enhance the R&M processes of HVAC systems in a healthcare centre. Findings The created HVAC-centric building information model supports collaboration with the manufacturer, preventive maintenance, workforce planning, fault diagnosis, decision support, cost savings and inspection and audit. Collectively, these benefits will help the maintenance teams optimise the R&M performance. Practical implications The strategic professionals emphasise R&M history and preventive maintenance schedules as crucial information. Managerial staff require warranty, spare parts and location data. Meanwhile the tactical personnel focus on manufacturer details. This role-specific information need, which has been largely neglected by past studies, indicates that both system and user-level customisation are required when creating BIM. Originality/value This research addresses a critical gap by creating a HVAC-centric building information model tailored to the operational challenges of healthcare facilities, thereby delivering a data-rich, practice-ready tool that will assist maintenance professionals in managing R&M tasks effectively.