How C4R and BIM 360 Provide Improvements to AEC Projects Provide Improvements to AEC Projects | Seite 6

second owner is the MEP contractor or trade contractor, in some cases this may consist of
individual contractors for mechanical, plumbing, electrical and fire contactors. The trade
contractor is actually responsible for installing and commissioning the services and therefore
he will detail the consultants 3d design model in a phase that is known as MEP (M&E)
coordination. The fact that these two design stages and owners exist means that the
collaboration of the MEP model on a shared platform staff can become slightly challenging
so agreeing a handover from one party to another is important.
Managing other disciplines - As well as the challenge of coordinating one service with other
services, the MEP coordination design or contractor also had to coordinate with
architectural, structural and in some cases, process models. In the case of the MEP designer
this maybe at an earlier stage of the process where the architectural and structural models
are being developed and are constantly changing. This could be one of the reasons as to the
incomplete spatial coordination issued by the consultant.
Installation standard - Another challenge during coordination is the need to ensure
installation standard BIM models and drawings. This requires for a number of factors
including i) economic and efficient layout of services, ii) allowance for lagging, iii) allowance
for equipment such as valves and flanges, iv) allowance for access and maintenance; and,
v) allowance for fitting and actual installation of the service. These layout or installation
standard requirements will mean that there is a significant amount of planning for the core
MEP services, specialist services and also other disciplines. Indeed, in many cases the
appointment of specialist sprinkler and specialist kitchen or plant room contractors means
that the coordination element becomes more challenging still to ensure installation
standards.
Coordination Projects – What Can Go Wrong?
Even with the challenges that have been discussed, there are of course many other obstacles
and instances where MEP projects can suffer from unforeseen changes during design and
coordination process. These include the following:
Procurement lead changes – Any party detailing the design, including HVAC contractors for
example may select different equipment which can impact the amount of space that is
available. The later these changes occur, the greater the risk of knock on effects.
Design lead changes – Architectural or structural design changes can have a significant
knock on effect for MEP services, made worse the later in the coordination process they are
made.
Client lead to changes – increased visibility BIM Models by clients does lead to changes in
expectations and therefore can result in change or modifications of use affecting
architectural layout changes which will affect MEP layouts and routes.
Lack of a spatial strategy - The horizontal and vertical strategy not being clearly defined
and zones being agreed for core MEP services and sprinkler for example can result in a lot
of rework.
Remote design teams - The design teams or trade contractor teams being spread out and
operating from different offices and som