BIMINAM WATER WORKSTREAM MEETING, 09-06-2026
9 June 2026
Overview
The inaugural BIM in Asset Management (BIMinAM) Water Workstream meeting explored the growing importance of water-related risks within the built environment and the role that better information, monitoring, and asset management can play in improving safety, compliance, resilience, and operational performance. Participants represented asset management, facilities management, water engineering, academia, digital twins, infrastructure resilience, and water treatment sectors.
Key Discussion Themes
Water as a Critical Asset Management Risk
- Participants highlighted that water-related issues may account for a similar level of operational risk as fire safety within managed buildings.
- Legionella, corrosion, water quality, system failures, and operational disruption were identified as major risk areas.
- Several contributors noted that water risks often receive less attention than fire despite their frequency and potential impact.
Information Gaps After Handover
- A recurring theme was the lack of operational information available after practical completion.
- While project teams may provide reasonable levels of handover information, ongoing operational data is often unavailable or disconnected from asset management processes.
- The group discussed the need for continuous information capture throughout the operational phase rather than relying solely on static handover documentation.
Water Quality and Corrosion Management
- Gordon Pringle presented on the management of closed-system heating and cooling water quality.
- Corrosion was identified as a significant cause of:
- Pump failures
- Valve degradation
- Seal failures
- Reduced system efficiency
- Premature asset replacement
- The discussion emphasised that poor water quality can significantly affect building performance and occupant comfort.
Moving from Reactive to Predictive Management
- Traditional approaches such as periodic water sampling and manual inspections were compared with continuous monitoring technologies.
- The group discussed the benefits of IoT-enabled monitoring capable of:
- Measuring system health continuously
- Providing early warning alerts
- Detecting corrosion before failures occur
- Supporting preventative maintenance strategies
- Participants agreed that real-time operational information has significant potential to improve asset performance and reduce lifecycle costs.
Digital Twins and Live Operational Data
- Strong interest was expressed in linking live operational data to Asset Information Models (AIMs) and Digital Twins.
- Hugh Lawrence highlighted the opportunity to connect live IoT data generated during the operational phase with information captured through design and construction processes under ISO 19650.
- The discussion reinforced the importance of integrating:
- BIM
- Asset Information Models
- IoT sensors
- SCADA systems
- CMMS platforms
- Digital Twin environments
Standards and Best Practice
- Participants stressed the importance of adopting standards-based approaches to improve interoperability and information quality.
- Reference was made to:
- ISO 19650
- Smart Community Standards
- Heat Network Technical Assurance Scheme (HNTAS)
- Industry guidance on water quality monitoring and corrosion control
- The group recognised that consistent standards are essential for creating scalable and reliable information ecosystems.
Key Outcomes
- Agreement that water management should become a strategic focus area within BIMinAM.
- Recognition that operational water data forms an important part of the Golden Thread of information.
- Strong support for exploring information requirements for:
- Legionella management
- Water quality monitoring
- Corrosion control
- Heating and cooling systems
- Digital Twin integration
- Interest in involving additional specialists and solution providers to build a collaborative, evidence-based approach to water risk management.
Next Steps
- Expand participation across the water management sector.
- Develop a clearer understanding of water-related information requirements.
- Examine how operational monitoring data can be incorporated into Asset Information Models and Digital Twins.
- Explore practical use cases demonstrating how better information can reduce risk, improve compliance, and optimise asset performance throughout the building lifecycle.