Guidelines for the Implementation of BIM for Post-Occupancy Management of Social Housing in Brazil

This study presents an analysis of the potential uses of BIM for managing the maintenance and refurbishment of existing housing assets to propose thermal comfort and energy efficiency guidelines for future social housing projects in Brazil. To do so, a case study analysis of a residential development with social-environmental certification in the city of Garanhuns, Pernambuco, Brazil was performed, and a literature review on the use of BIM for residential unit maintenance was conducted. The standard house in the residential development was found to be noncompliant with the Brazilian standard for ventilation openings (NBR 15.220). Therefore, three alternative layouts were created and analyzed to meet the requirements of the standard as well as the needs of the residents. The authors recommend that socio-environmental certifiers use BIM models so that energy performance and other simulations can be carried out. The study also proposes guidelines for BIM implementation in future government housing projects. These guidelines were grouped into five categories: BIM encouragement, energy efficiency, maintenance management, user requirement management, and continuous improvement. The significance of this study is in providing a path for the gradual implementation of BIM for maintenance and post-occupancy management in the Brazilian housing program.