The MEP layout and setup workflow involves several parties and stakeholders which are collectively accountable for overseeing a set of phases that will end in the construction engineering (or construction services) to be proposed, designed, spatially coordinated, fabricated, installed, commissioned and maintained. Normally, the construction services design phase follows the first architectural design, from that point it can typically be made in parallel with additional architectural in addition to structural design modifications.
The technology groups which typically design construction services solutions are often in one of 2 classes. The initial group is generally the construction designer, also called the advisor engineer or the layout engineer. It’s the use of the design engineer to work closely with an architect to come up with the general building engineering components such as lighting, heating, cooling, drainage, waste, fire prevention and security solutions. Traditionally, the design engineer won’t be involved with the complete spatial layout of those services. Rather the comprehensive spatial layout and setup would ordinarily be managed by the next party, called the MEP builder (M&E builder) or business builder. The MEP or business builder is responsible for evolving the first advisor design into a viable and installation-ready construction services alternative bee emblem.
On occasion, there’s also a third party involved – that the fabricator, that will be accountable for producing MEP components like ductwork or pipework components or in some instances pre-fabricated solutions which include pipework, electric ladder, pipes, ductwork and sprinkler in a framework (module) which is sent to site for installation from risers, plant rooms and corridors.
This guide is concerned about the function of this MEP programmer and MEP builder, particularly, the focus for this guide is to talk about the way BIM (Building Information Modelling) has impacted the MEP design workflow between the programmer and the builder.
Present MEP BIM Workflow Options
Basically there are five distinct MEP design workflow situations that now exist and these will be discussed within the report. They’re as follows
Conventional 2D design and 3D BIM coordination
3D MEP layout and 3D BIM coordination
Designers 3D BIM design and coordination
Contractor 3D BIM layout and coordination
General builder 3D model coordination
Conventional 2D Layout and 3D BIM Coordination
Thinking about the conventional MEP strategy first, this is where a consultant will make 2D layout outputs, including 2D program designs, 2D segments and MEP (M&E) schematics. This may signify the design purpose for the construction depending on the usage given by the builder. When the consultant has completed this layout advice he’ll pass on the data to a MEP contractor that will be responsible for producing the MEP coordinated answer. This report presumes that the contractor will make a more spatially coordinated 3D BIM model utilizing BIM tools like Revit MEP and Navisworks. The contractor will utilize the plan information and produce an installation-ready alternative which takes into consideration setup, efficacy of pipe runs or duct pops, space for hanging and lagging the services, accessibility for article install upkeep and so forth. This conventional MEP approach, by a 2D layout to a 3D version has been around for the last few decades and permits the builder to incorporate extra information into the design which may be employed by him and from facilities management firms following the setup. The usage of the 3D instrument like Revit is obviously helpful since it’s a smart version, using parametric components and so, in addition to enabling the builder to identify and solve clashes before any time is spent on website, it’s other applications and applications in which version ‘data’ is used and relied upon.
3D MEP Design and 3D BIM Coordination
The next workflow technique is more directly affected by BIM. Since the MEP developer, an individual will utilize BIM tools to make a 3D design and related drawings during his first design stage (instead of a 2D layout) earlier this information is passed across to a MEP commerce contractor. The MEP design engineer will generally create a 3D version because of client specifications and requirements to get a BIM version, as in several situations that a federated model (which unites the other areas in one version) is required by the customer to get a weekly inspection and thus the MEP adviser cannot merely offer a set of 2D drawings. In this workflow, the BIM version is a 3D representation of that which could otherwise be a 2D deliverable. It is going to therefore include areas where additional changes are still required by a trade contractor. Such cases include using library things instead of specific MEP trade builder procured components which might be utilized in the design. The introduction of a 3D BIM version at this stage from the adviser can also be subject to numerous structural and architectural design changes. These include a knock-on influence on the MEP alternative since it’s effectively a work-in-progress version for MEP with continuous structural and architectural alterations and therefore will not have exactly the exact same amount of efficacy, concerning design of solutions, when compared with a MEP version where the structural and architectural units are suspended. The disadvantage of this workflow technique is obviously the excess time required to make a BIM version by the consultant team. Additional to this matter is the simple fact that 3D modelling experience and techniques within a consulting engineering group can at times be restricted. When the advisor completes his version and moves into the MEP contractor, then the choice regarding whether the contractor must accommodate the model or initiate the modelling procedure from the beginning is actually depending on the caliber of the model to begin with. Actually both situations will probably exist, in some instances the MEP commerce builder is much better off beginning the BIM model with just the 2D layout drawings that are generated by the adviser from his BIM version, while in certain rare situations the transaction contractor will utilize the advisers MEP BIM version and adapt and alter it with his modifications, to produce the model prepared for setup. In both situations, the MEP builder will constantly look to create value technology additions and modifications into the design in addition to procurement directed version adjustments.
