MEP drawings contractor with architectural and structural professions by Advanta

Posted by John on November 8th, 2015

By Advantage Engineering                Tel: (518) 320-2501

When compared with architectural and structural professions, the M&E services domain is usually more fragmented with the two tier design system being established within the sector. In an MEP provider’s project, the key participants range from the MEP design consultant (also referred to as the MEP Design Engineer) and also the MEP contractor (which consists of respective trade sub-contractors). MEP style consultants and MEP companies have distinct responsibilities. Within an ideal scenario, the MEP consultant remains accountable for developing the mep coordination drawings and the service provider takes the role associated with, spatial coordination in addition to procurement and then controlling the fabrication and set up process.

In M&E BIM in addition to conventional mep cad drawings creating approaches, the design consultant gets the architectural and structural design drawings/model in the respective parties during his design tenure for that project - the nature of 'design' in the market means that several versions is going to be passed across to the look engineer while he is likely to continue with his style. His/her design-intent is meant to work (spatially that is) using the architectural and structural drawings/models but because of time and financial constraints from the project the MEP consultant's drawings when passed towards the MEP contractor will typically not have access to enough detail to permit installation i. e. the pre-fabrication and installation details necessary for installation. The MEP (M&E) contractor will use his/her skills, understanding, technical product data along with other design data to produce a services model that is clash free which allows efficient installation, easy fabrication and post-installation entry and maintenance.

The MEP contractor may have created MEP pre-fabrication models/drawings as well as installation layouts that feature enough detail necessary to coordinate the services inside allocated spaces; prefabricate shelves, modules, and assemblies along with efficient runs; and execute installation without on-field re-work. To do this, the MEP contractor can change consultant issue drawings drastically in some instances. When one considers he may typically resize ductwork, divided electrical ladder, use brand-new equipment and re-route pipe work in the event that necessary, not to mention changes required because of lagging, insulation allowances, comfortable access to maintainable parts as well as hanging of services, then it is obvious that whilst the design-intent was in place, the final design (which will still have to be approved by the design consultant) can change significantly.

To anyone otherwise, and certainly to those within the structural or architectural sector where there might be concept development, design improvement and construction documentation stages, this effort from the contractor may constitute 'design' since it is in effect further detailing from the initial design. However, in the building services sector this isn't referred to as design since the design itself is not affected based on the parties concerned. The MEP contractor is really extending or progressing the look to create coordinated building drawings.

So, while MEP design and design detailing might continue beyond the drawings/models supplied by the MEP Drawings consultant it's not called 'design' but is called co-ordination or to become more exact 'installation ready, spatial coordination'.

The actual advent of BIM that is also being utilized through consultants is seeing greater amounts of design detailing in the market with that MEP experts (MEP designers) now undertaking more from the drawing role. The nature of three dimensional modeling implies something to consider for spatial coordination must exist which is certainly true that consultants are actually paying more attention towards the creation of detailed design and for that reason more spatial coordination. The question remains if the consultant's models may be used by installers.

For more information, or to hire experienced Engineered Drawingscompany, contact us here à http://www.adv-eng-tech.com/structural-analysis/ or by Tel: (518) 320-2501.