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COBie.Component.SerialNumber -- Expected Values

The COBie.Component.SerialNumber parameter identifies the manufacturer-assigned unique serial number for a component.\ This value is critical for commissioning, maintenance, asset replacement, and facility lifecycle management.

Serial numbers shall only be provided when they physically exist (i.e., for manufactured equipment, not generic construction elements).

Validation Rules (DAQS)

  1. Value shall be provided when applicable\ The SerialNumber field is mandatory for components that have a physical factory-issued serial number\ (e.g., pumps, AHUs, electrical panels, sensors, HVAC equipment, ICT devices).

  2. Unique per component\ No two components may share the same serial number.

  3. Allowed content

    • Letters (A--Z), numbers (0--9), hyphens -, underscores _\
    • Manufacturer formats are permitted, including mixed cases\
    • Spaces are allowed only if part of the manufacturer's official serial format

  4. No placeholders\ The following are not accepted:\ N/A, UNKNOWN, 12345, ---, To be installed, or blank values when the equipment has a serial number.

  5. Must match commissioning data\ Serial numbers shall correspond to the values on:

    • Manufacturer documentation\
    • Labels on physical devices\
    • Commissioning and handover sheets

  6. Design-stage models\ If serial numbers are not yet available during design, the field shall remain empty until construction/commissioning populates it.

Good Examples

Component Type Valid COBie.Component.SerialNumber Example

Pump SN-45892-A1

AHU AHU2023-99351

VFD Drive VFDR-7821-03

Sensor X1A9C7F-002

Electrical Panel PANEL_22-009A

These examples show realistic manufacturer-style formats.

Common Mistakes

Incorrect Value Issue

12345 Generic placeholder; not a real serial number

N/A, None Not permitted for equipment that will have a serial

Pump 001 Descriptive name, not a serial number

See Spec External references not allowed

Empty Missing required value for manufactured component

Relationship to Revit

Autodesk's COBie Extension typically maps this field from:\ Revit → Instance Parameter "Serial Number"\ (or the equivalent shared parameter specified in the COBie template).

For correct exports: - Serial numbers must be entered at the instance level.\ - Type parameters must not be used for serial numbers.\ - Contractors or commissioning teams typically populate this field.

Best Practices

  • Populate SerialNumber only when the actual manufactured item is known.\
  • Use direct manufacturer-provided values from installation or commissioning sheets.\
  • Ensure serial numbers are entered after installation to avoid incorrect placeholder values.\
  • Avoid manual reformatting---use the serial exactly as printed on the equipment.\
  • Coordinate with FM teams to ensure compatibility with asset registration systems.