How Spatially coordinated MEP BIM mod Improve the MEP Design and Detailing PhasePosted by Kuldeep Bwail on May 12th, 2017 In the ecosystem of a building project, facilitating the design of the three disciplines of architecture, structure and MEP (M&E) systems is a challenge that architects, designers, consultants, contractors and construction teams have had to deal with on a regular basis. In the MEP (M&E) sector, the essence of MEP design is space and the core element for efficiency is spatial coordination. Building Information Modelling (BIM) makes real-time spatial coordination a reality at the design stage rather than only at the contracting stage. This is a notable change in the industry and a huge opportunity for designers and consultants to improve their output and reduce rework of the MEP design by contractors. Creating spatially coordinated MEP BIM models is becoming possible for MEP designers and engineers because they can now receive real-time data about architectural designs and structural plans of building components such as walls, room elevations, floor plans and ceiling elevations. These data-rich BIM models allow MEP engineers to allocate space, accommodate spatial requirements and coordinate design modifications of their engineering solutions and systems, consequently providing field-specific solutions in the pre-construction phase to address challenges that may arise during the build phase of the project. This article discusses the MEP design challenges that a designer has to overcome and discussed how a spatially coordinated MEP BIM model can address them at the design stage rather than the contracting stage. MEP Design Challenges The MEP building design lifecycle typically includes stages starting with conceptual design and then moving through tender, contract, construction, fabrication and record stages. While developing the design, the use of new technology such as BIM for coordination provides advantages and benefits to MEP consultants, who must integrate their models with other disciplines to ensure that the design solution being proposed works with architectural and structural requirements, while also meeting the needs and aims of the building from a building engineering perspective. As BIM is now the order of the day, designers now need to consider spatial requirements of the various MEP systems and services as well as fitting within an architectural and structural framework. This differs from their historical 2D plan approach which did not necessitate much detail for spatial coordination of services.
Given the fundamental challenges MEP engineers must address, BIM provides data-rich models that help in better space allocation and spatial coordination taking into consideration evolving building designs in real-time. How a Spatially Coordinated BIM Model Addresses MEP Design Challenges When BIM was introduced, MEP professionals popularly referred to it as “3D detailing on steroids” for the simple reason that it resulted in higher expectations, gave access to first-time project stakeholders with overlapping roles and caused an entire overhaul of social dynamics in the industry. With wider adoption of BIM, MEP engineers recognise the importance of BIM and how a spatially coordinated model can help address their challenges.
MEP BIM, as a model-based approach, when used in the initial stages of design has a positive impact on the coordination and construction process. By detecting issues, minimising clashes and reducing rework, MEP BIM effectively improves the efficiency of execution and provides costs benefits. Spatially coordinated BIM models help MEP design engineers visualise design details, provides MEP documentation and actionable insights which facilitate communication, coordination, clash-free implementation and installation of MEP systems. Of course, MEP contractors may wish to update and change models based on their own procurement and fitting requirements, for example adding pre-fabricated modules to an MEP design from a designer will typically require changes. Spatially coordinated MEP BIM models (SCMBM) empower MEP engineers to deliver building project on time, on budget, per building codes. The AEC industry needs to maximise the benefit of a BIM-based data environment to maintain the lifecycle in the ecosystem of a building project. The introduction of BIM is allowing MEP BIM engineers to consider spatial coordination as they create their design model. This element or scope addition was unthinkable until BIM was more widely used and the challenge is now to ensure that the engineers have the resources and skills to deliver BIM and spatially coordinated models to help their design process. Like it? Share it!More by this author |