CAFM Connect: the handover to the CAFM system
CAFM Connect is the standard maintained by CAFM RING e. V. for handing over as-built and operational data to CAFM systems. It builds on IFC and specifies how rooms, areas and plant data must be structured so that the import works without project-specific special arrangements.
What problem it solves
Without a standard, every project negotiates its handover anew: which attributes, in which spelling, on which object, in which file. The result is a data delivery that fits exactly one system and exactly one person working on it. With the next building, the same coordination starts all over again.
CAFM Connect settles this coordination in advance. It describes the structure, not the tool: which objects are handed over, which properties are attached to them and how rooms and plant relate to each other.
Why this matters for operators
The practical benefit lies in the tender. “Data handover according to CAFM Connect” is a verifiable requirement; “data in common formats” is not. Those who tender this way receive comparable bids and can accept the delivery without negotiating over spellings.
Metrika360 is a member of CAFM RING. We align the structure of the handover with the requirements of the target system, and the import is tested on a pilot property before a series starts. What usually goes wrong in the process is described in the article Why CAFM imports fail.
What it does not replace
The standard governs the form, not the content. Which rooms carry which number, which type of area applies and how deeply the plant is captured remain decisions for the operator. A formally correct import with the wrong room numbering system is just as worthless as a failed one.
Related terms
Frequently asked questions
What is CAFM Connect?
A standard maintained by CAFM RING e. V. for handing over room, area and plant data to CAFM systems. It builds on IFC and defines the structure so that the import runs without special arrangements.
Do I need CAFM Connect if my system is already decided?
Not necessarily, but it helps. If the system is decided, the data is additionally prepared against its data model. The standard keeps the data system-independent, which makes the difference at the next change of system.
Is CAFM Connect the same as IFC?
No, it builds on it. IFC describes building models in general; CAFM Connect additionally specifies which structure building operation needs from them.
How do I put a data handover based on it out to tender?
By naming the standard as a requirement, together with the target system and a test import on a pilot property before the series. These three points make bids comparable and acceptance verifiable.