The Importance of Upfront Services Design

It has never been so important than presently to instigate detailed mechanical and electrical design of services in buildings at an early stage in a project.

Traditionally, M & E design would be undertaken by the main contractor’s appointed consultant or sub-contractor and could be based around a loose performance specification. Now, with the need to assess a building’s energy demand to satisfy current building regulations and the requirement to reduce CO2 emissions, it is a prudent client that agrees to undertake detailed M & E design during the early stages of a project.

The upfront design of building services will enable a specialist energy assessment to be carried out, simulating a building’s energy use and its impact on the environment, which in turn will assist the designer to provide a cost effective solution which satisfies legislation at design stage and negates the need for costly changes during the construction phase.

Careful planning and design of services will ultimately result in a completed building which not only conforms to Building Regulations but also provides the end user with a comfortable and environmentally friendly building, designed for purpose and without the unexpected costs associated with Greenwash*.

*Greenwash: An insincere addition of renewable energy systems to a building as an afterthought without an appropriate feasibility study or careful design process, potentially costly, inefficient and unsuitable for purpose.