Pre-engineered M&E - Mighty M&E
Vertical and horizontal services pre-assembled onto modular support frames has become a common feature in the commercial building sector. This approach has been extended to cover pre-assembled plant rooms, e.g. boilers, chillers, pumps, switchgear and AHUs which facilitate pre-assembly of complex units comprising several components prior to installation on-site.
Modular electrical wiring solutions have also been developed and implemented on some commercial developments. Pre-engineered M&E is generally applied to highly serviced projects, such as laboratories and hospitals, where the M&E installation activity is the major part of the site works, but these technologies are now making it in to mainstream construction.
Benefits of pre-engineered M&E services include:
- Rapid installation of mechanical and electrical services
- Improved quality control
- Less reliance upon skilled and highly trained labour
- Reduced on-site hot works requirements
- Joints and connections are pre-tested in controlled conditions
- Reduced waste and material defects
- Reduction in number of material deliveries
Currently there are limited suppliers of modular wiring and pre-assembled mechanical services. The supply chain is still trying to understand the demands and requirements of these new offsite construction techniques.
New materials and fixing methods are being introduced e.g. plastics, mechanical jointing, adhesives, 'push-fit' connections. Recent developments include modular lift shafts with pre-assembled lift equipment, energy rooms, serviced stair-core modules. Future developments will include more sophisticated integration with the superstructure and internal fit-out, e.g. attachments for internal finishes or claddings.
This is a dynamic and exciting area that will be explored at Mighty M&E.
