FTG ENG | eBooks

Accurate Project Data: Critical but Hard to Get MEP systems are like the central nervous system of a building. As such, they must all work together for the structure to be sound and sustainable, as well as comfortable for the people who work or live there. For these systems to work together seamlessly, careful planning and consideration is needed early in the project. When you prioritize MEP design early on, you can more easily optimize the performance of the building throughout its lifecycle. 3 Yet your ability to plan and execute your work is contingent upon having knowledge and insight into site conditions. Without access to reliable project data and current site conditions, you can't accurately plan for the MEP systems you're responsible for installing. Getting this information isn't always easy, especially for MEP contractors who may not be brought into the project until much of the design is complete. Within MEP, collaboration doesn't always come naturally because each specialty has its own workflow. For example, a plumber may not fully understand the electrician's workflow and vice versa. When coordination is lacking, the likelihood you'll experience a number of pain points increases. 1. Costly rework If you don't catch issues that can impact MEP work early on in the project, they can turn into bigger and costlier problems during construction, including expensive rework. Rework doesn't just waste time and materials and lead to budget overruns. It can also damage your professional reputation and affect your potential to win future projects. 2. Lowered productivity Even though rework is often a reality in construction, its impact on productivity is no less concerning. It can take days or weeks to fix an error, including the time you have to spend waiting on extra materials and equipment, as well as the labor you have to reschedule. When productivity breaks down, other workflows are delayed as well and you could miss key project deadlines. 3. Slow payment When productivity is hindered, the schedule will likely be impacted as well. Beyond schedule delays, rework can create doubts about your quality of work as well as your progress toward completion. The general contractor or owner could raise objections and claim you're not fulfilling the terms of your contract, delaying payment to you as a result. If you've felt the cash-flow crunch of delayed payments, you're not alone: three in five contractors suffer from cash flow issues and frequently have to chase down paychecks. 5 The problem only grows larger when you don't have a way to defend your work. Because so much of a project's success rides on the successful planning and installation of MEP systems, it's imperative to get access to thorough and accurate project data. Read on to learn more about the typical problems MEP contractors encounter during construction projects, and how you can address them. 22% of rework is due to poor project information. 4 Payment is slower in construction than in any other industry at 83 days on average. 6

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