The MEP industry has seen rapid advancement in technology and innovation over the past decade, making the building services engineering processes smoother and more efficient than ever before. However, the new era brings with itself a new set of challenges for MEP consultants in Dubai, which need to be identified and overcome by companies for continuing their streak of successful projects.
Here are the 4 principal challenges faced by MEP consultants.
#1 Keeping Up with Technology
Technology is at the heart of MEP design and system development. Every MEP engineer worth his steam table knows the importance of staying abreast of the new trends in technology in the constructional design sector. In addition, it is imperative that engineers and consultants keep themselves updated with the changes in local codes and regulations, issued by their respective municipalities.
The recent increase in adopting the BIM approach for system design is an excellent example. BIM consultants and service providers in the UAE need to smartly identify the areas where BIM modelling is essential and familiarise themselves with the technique accordingly.
#2 Reigning in the Budgets
MEP consultants are often caught in a catch-22 kind of situation, with clients wanting to explore all the available options and contractors concerned about keeping the project budget under control. In such a scenario, it is the responsibility of the consultant to find the optimum way out and satisfy both client and customer.
Walking this line can be challenging for MEP design services and it is hence necessary that they be mindful of project budgets and best practices in MEP design at all times to ensure that the project is completed successfully.
#3 Changing the Project Approach
A major shortcoming of MEP in construction industry is that it is currently focused on the compliance-verification method, where all systems are designed to adhere to the guidelines issued by the respective governments. However, the recent global agreements made mandatory by organizations for climate control call for a substantial reduction in energy consumption and stress the urgent need to improve building performance.
With this end goal, electromechanical companies and MEP consultants are expected to explore the various avenues which will be not limited to just ensuring compliance but instead going a step ahead and improving building performance. This change in perspective towards a project is a must for the construction industry.
#4 Providing for a Sustainable Future
Creating a sustainable future necessitates sustainable building design which is the area of expertise of MEP consultants. The current challenge is to mould the MEP perspective such that there is a consistent approach towards building a sustainable future while designing every system of every project.
Sustainable design includes elimination of overdesigned systems, instead focusing on optimizing efficiency using requisite material. All systems’ design is expected to be modelled and analysed to reach a balanced value instead of setting overachieving targets. In addition, MEP consultants also need to work hand-in-hand with the actual construction team to ensure that installation and operation of the system is according to the original design. A gap in design and installation often causes problems in efficiency which should be avoided.
A strong feedback loop between constructors and consultants ensures that all systems can be designed and revised taking into account practical limitations in fabrication.
These are the 4 challenges faced by MEP consultants on a regular basis. However, frequent updates and a sound know-how of the technology involved can reduce the impact of these challenges and provide for sustainable building design.
What challenges have you faced in the construction industry? Drop a comment below to share your experience with us!