MEP Shop Drawings are as Crucial as Architectural and Structural Drawings

MEP shop drawing includes drawings of mechanical, electrical, plumbing, piping and duct-work layout. Once the structure is laid and architecture is placed the installation of mechanical, electrical and plumbing equipments are performed. These services need to be designed accurately with detail for a flawless installation. MEP shop drawings bring improvements in building quality and productivity saving time and cost of the project. Mechanical, electrical and plumbing aspects are also of same importance as the structure of the building. MEP system affects the functionality and operational value of the building. 

Highly skilled and experienced engineers are required to develop the MEP design to avoid conflicts and corrections at the construction stage. MEP BIM Services need to be designed in synchronous way with the structural and architectural layout. MEP services are installed after the structural and architectural designs of the building are placed. It is quite challenging to place the MEP and fire fighting system as very limited and defined space is allocated for these services. 

For MEP Shop Drawing Services many factors like sizing of the pipes, ducts wiring, path definition are need to be considered.  While installing MEP services clash detection also need to be considered.  A clash takes place when elements of different models occupy the same space. A clash can be geometric i.e. pipes going through walls or schedule based or where changes and updates are not made in the drawings. Clash detection helps in effective recognition, inspection and reporting of interferences in the BIM model. In BIM modeling clash detection occurs during the design phase, so that issue can be solved before actual construction begins saving time, cost and increasing overall productivity.  

Building information modeling has basically moderated the complexities and difficulties along all the stages from design, to analysis to modeling to coordination and final generation of drawings for the purpose of construction. MEP shop drawings improve the quality of construction and also its productivity through improved off-site fabrication and better plans. MEP shop drawings play a significant role in the architectural and structural drawings as it gives pre-construction, fabrication and design benefits. It is crucial for architects, engineers and contractors to improve productivity and deliver the project in time and at précised budget.

Advantages of BIM Coordination Services

Building Information Modeling or BIM is a digital process providing coordinated and reliable information about a project through all the phases from design to construction. MEP BIM Coordination Services create a single coordinated model with all the elements of architectural, MEP and structural elements. Coordinated BIM services help to reduce materials, manpower costs, reduce wastage and construction time.

BIM Services is a widely used tool for the efficient construction of all type of the building projects. The main purpose of these services is to create precise and high quality flawless architectural models which are used by AEC industry. Effective designs of any type of simple and complex building are prepared with the help of BIM.

BIM Coordination Services combine all the elements of various type of building systems like structural, mechanical, electrical, plumbing, piping, architectural and fire protection and create a single model through a single program.  The 3D BIM coordination model ensures that all the building system elements are clash free and are complementing each other.

Building information modeling process also allows architects, engineers, contractors, sub-contractors and other stakeholders to perform the analysis of the economic impact to find alternative solutions to the existing building information model.  BIM coordination is a specific process or workflow which requires proper management and a coordinated approach in order to be successful. Various types of advanced BIM related software’s are used for executing the BIM coordination process successfully.

Advantages of BIM Coordination Services:

• BIM coordination services helps to identify the clashes and flaws in the design so that it can be solved and modified at early stage of design.
• BIM coordination minimizes waste of construction material and thereby reduces the total expenditure of the project.
• It also uses superior technology and innovative methods to generate precise design by coordinating all the elements that helps in accomplishing all the preconstruction as well as post-construction works in an efficient way. 
• The BIM coordination process allows users to develop BIM documentation and the workflow of the construction process 
• It enhances building construction efficiency and saves time and money. 
• BIM coordination services minimizes errors as all the project team members share their information with each other and track the progress of the project efficiently.
• It also makes sure that all the preconstruction activities are performed as per the BIM standards. 

BIM coordination services improves overall project design by coordinating all the elements of the design like structural, mechanical, architectural, plumbing and other services. Thus BIM coordination services have become an essential element of the design and process for all type of building construction projects. 

Planning and estimation using BIM technology

How can one plan and estimate project cost? Key functionality of 5D BIM Services is to work on project planning is integrating the costing application to Revit. The software helps in capturing all the relevant information from Revit and putting it in a structured way. This helps in budget meetings, presentations and reports that needs to be shared within a team. There are many software application available which helps in integrating costing with the complete Revit models. These applications can help in extracting bill of materials, quantity take off in excel or spreadsheet formats from BIM model or installation drawings set up in Revit. This happens seamlessly without any overlapping or erroneous processes. Best part of 5D BIM services is that irrelevant and dubious information is filtered out automatically and relevant changes are reflected across the model. Such seamless integration of data from Revit model and plug ins gives user real relief while working on costing. He saves lot of time and energy. It is very rightly said “Well planned is half done”.

How can one get success with 5D BIM Services. This requires an extremely skilled and experienced BIM technician along with an experienced estimator. This estimator need to have good knowledge of Revit along with the ability to foresee the items that will change, that will increase cost or items that may reduce cost. BIM technician can help in entering data within the 5D BIM model and estimator can extract the data in excel or spread sheet format from the model using the plug in or add on for Revit software to extract costing data. One can also track materials, quantities and other important information.

Many contractors are trying to adopt 5D BIM Services, while many are still struggling to see and understand this wonderful technology. This is a customized solution and varies from project to project. However, one can surely experience quick turnaround and exceptionally sorted project delivery methods using 5D BIM modeling. Collaboration between two interfaces needs to be optimized in the start of the project to track progress effectively. One should treat this as a onetime investment that will pay dividend slowly and gradually for years to go.

Parametric Modeling and Interoperability – Worthwhile Features of BIM

Cities laden with skyscrapers present a fascinating picture. These beautifully designed and conceptualized buildings symbolize progression in technology and innovation. The high-speed elevators, superior strength concrete, automation of processes, and many more of these are a reflection of technological advancement in the construction sector that has made these designer sky-scrapers an actuality.

Popularly labeled as BIM – Building Information Modeling is among the most fascinating advancements that the technology has presented. There are software that enable exclusive design analysis with mathematical computations to make the design workable. The building information model holds the key to developing the most complex of designs with mathematical certainty. This multi dimensional tool enables the entire process. It has features that if made the most of can give amazing flexibility, buoyancy and reliability to the task.

The parametric feature is a boon, smoothing over the design and viability aspects. Multiple design models can be quickly developed to best institute the vision of the building. The designers and engineers can make the most of the building information model. It doesn’t just execute minor design alterations such as adding or eliminating number of floors, modifying points of entrances, etc., the computation automatically adjusts the no. of columns, beams, and other material quantities to correspond to the design change. 

Another of its outstanding features is the interoperability. With this attribute the work flow is streamlined. The models can be coordinated in different software. They are not required to be recreated or modeled in parallel. The errors are highly reduced and complex projects can be carried out in stipulated time. Fast-track schedules can be effectively met without comprising on the quality and cost.

There are many more of such progressive features that BIM offers and there are many more to advance. As the BIM Services and construction techniques continue to evolve, we can only expect more progressive and taller and spellbinding structures to stand tall at incredibly shorter timelines.

Rebar detailing Services – An over view

Steel components used for construction is usually in the form of columns, beams or bolts, weldings or independent steel components. Structural Steel Detailing Services are used to get the designs right of these components. These components are welded and connected together to give shape.  There are bars, rods, bolts etc. that is  the form of bars and rods that are tied with steel wire and even welded to give shape to the basic structure of the construction. It is also inserted in concrete to give it strength. This process is called rebar detailing. Rebar detailing services are one of the most complex areas in the within steel detailing .

Rebar’sare independent components that are required within structural steel model and is typically required to be inserted in all structures or concrete structures like walls, pillars, slabs, beams, stairs etc. Typically since these are so complex, fabrication companies avoid working on these services in house. They look for structural outsourcing companies who can work on their rebar requirements. These services are utilized for steel and concrete structures both, of course the standards will differ.

The importance of detailing

Why Rebar Detailing Services are considered a very important for the construction industry? The strength of a building depends upon the design and structural integrity of the construction that in turn depends on the structural elements that go in to its making of which rebars are the most important component.

The cost of construction is determined by the quality and quantity of rebars that are used. And the quantity of rebar can be estimated only through complete drawings of the structure that show the positions and layout pattern of the debars in various construction elements. Therefore, the accuracy of the rebar details is critical to the quality of construction as well as in determining its cost.

Rebar detailing is extremely critical while ordering construction steel materials, generating reports and data that determines the costing of the project. With this plan one gets a clear estimate as to what type of rebars need to be ordered and when . But what is the reason of outsourcing these services? These services are extremely complex and need trained, experienced steel detailers to work on such projects consisting of rebar. Fabricators or contractors are not really experts in digitally detailing the rebar components, hence major chunk of rebar detailing services are outsourced.  Also Outsourcing these services are much cost effective than doing it in house.

•       Rebar detailing include

•           Design and calculations

•         Rebar detail drawings

•           Bar bending schedules

•          Rebar shop drawings

•           Retaining wall drawings

•           Rebar for concrete

Creating a file in Tekla for Steel Detailing

Structural Steel Detailing Services is among our frontier facilities. We house a highly skilled and experienced team to pull off the high tonnage, complex structures. Precision is the key element to be focused on as the structure of any construction is of paramount status. BIM Services adopted in the Architectural, Engineering and Construction sector has transformed the way data is processed and presented, with results far more accurate. Tekla Structures presents this facility for structural detailing.

The 3D model of the structure is generated in the software from the proposed design drawings. This is much like a real-life presentation. Every detail called for in the construction and manufacturing is covered in it. This would be the geometry, dimensions, cross-sections, profiles, connection types, materials, etc. It is a single stream of data facilitating the necessary drawings and reports. These are ever updated with any modification in the model translated in it.

This software is pretty much similar to any other software in terms of creating and saving files. Every project owns a model of its own duly created in Tekla, and saved in the TeklaStructuresModels folder. You click on ‘File’ and then ‘New’. It allows only one model to be open at any given time. In case if a model is already open, you will be prompted to save it prior to opening a new model.

Browse the folder to save in or just Save in list to save it in the recently used folder, or assign the path manually. In the Model name box, put down a unique name to it. You can choose the template from among the pre-defined templates in the software from the Model template list. If you select ‘Single-user’ in the Model type list, only one person will be able to use the model. If you select ‘Multi-user’, a number of people will be able to use it from the server it is stored in. In the Server box, you need to specify the server name. As you click on ‘OK’, the model will be generated and default model view will be opened.

It is advisable to save the model at regular intervals to prevent any loss of work in case of power failure or other fault. For the software to automatically save your work at fixed intervals, select the Autosave tool from Tools. If you intend to save the model with a different name or location, select ‘Save As’ in ‘File’, enter the name in the Model name box and select ‘OK’. Keep note that a completely new copy has been generated retaining the original version of the model intact with its original name and at original location. The newly named model has all the GUID object identifiers different from the original one.