Importance of MEP Shop Drawings for Construction Project Success

Are you looking for stress-free construction project success? Then, consider what is often referred to as one of the most important keys to jobsite success, MEP shop drawings. As a construction professional, engineer, architect, or owner, you know that implementing clear processes and procedures, throughout the design and construction process, can help guarantee successful outcomes for your projects.

One such process is having correct and thorough MEP shop drawings in order to ensure that all involved parties have accurate information during all stages of procurement and installation. In this blog post, we will explore the importance of incorporating MEP shop drawings into the construction workflows, paving the way for a successful final outcome.

Read further to learn why detailed documentation enables everyone working on your projects – from designers and engineers to tradespeople – to achieve optimal results with ease!

What Are MEP Shop Drawings?

MEP shop drawings are a crucial step in the construction process, without which the installation process can result in chaos. Shop drawings are detailed technical illustrations that provide information on how various equipment will be procured and installation will be executed in a project.

MEP shop drawings include critical information concerning equipment, materials, and installation procedures that are crucial to the design and construction process. Shop drawings help enhance coordination between contractors and project stakeholders to ensure that the project is constructed as per the agreed specifications.

MEP shop drawings typically take one of two forms. One is the equipment and material shop drawing submittals, which are sent to the specifying professional to ensure that the equipment and materials intended to be purchased are in compliance with the design intent for the project. The second is the installation shop drawings, which are used by the general contractor and all subcontractors to ensure coordination of the installation in an effort to avoid unexpected conflicts in the field.  Both types of shop drawings are important to ensuring a smooth and successful installation.

Therefore, it’s essential for those involved in the construction to fully understand shop drawings and how they can be used to ensure that construction projects are completed appropriately.

Why Are They Important?

MEP shop drawings play a vital role in the design and construction of buildings. These documents illustrate all the mechanical, electrical, and plumbing components such as equipment, fixtures, pipes, ductwork, electrical panels, and more. They serve as a guide for contractors, allowing them to visualize and understand how the different systems will come together in the final product. With shop drawings, potential issues can be identified and addressed before construction even begins, preventing costly delays and rework.

They also ensure that the final product meets building codes and regulations, as well as the intent of the design. As such, shop drawings are a necessary aspect of any construction project and should be given the attention and resources they deserve. Despite their importance, project teams often try to bypass the shop drawing process in the interest of time or money; however, that is a false economy that often leads to delays and increased costs during construction.

What Are the Advantages of Requiring MEP Shop Drawings on Your Project?

Ensures Clarity and Accuracy

The primary advantage of MEP shop drawings is that they ensure clarity and accuracy in selection of equipment and materials and the layout of the systems in the field. Shop drawings provide detailed information about the various MEP systems, including performance characteristics, physical dimensions, and quality of materials.

This information enables stakeholders to review and approve these details before construction begins, ensuring that their construction project’s final outcome is accurate and meets the client’s requirements.

Reduces Errors and Conflicts

Shop drawings also help identify potential errors or conflicts and allows stakeholders to address them promptly, reducing construction delays and costs. If there are mismatches between disciplines in criteria, such as electrical requirements or connection locations, the mismatches can be identified and corrected before they become costly mistakes in the field.

Shop drawings help reduce the chances of rework, ensure that the project specifications are met, and avoid costly mistakes. If these issues are detected during the construction process, they can significantly increase construction costs and push back project deadlines.

Eases Project Management

MEP shop drawings are comprised of all project details and provide a documented representation of the MEP systems that will actually be installed. As a result, project managers get a clear and comprehensive understanding of the project’s requirements and ensure that the construction process is executed accordingly. Sequencing of the work and scheduling of the trades becomes clearer as the shop drawings are developed.

Additionally, the shop drawings reflect changes made throughout the review process, making it easier to keep track of project progress.

Minimizes Project Costs

MEP shop drawings play a crucial role in minimizing construction costs. Visualizing a construction project before the construction phase begins allows stakeholders to identify areas where they can reduce material costs, labor costs, and/or time.

This, in turn, helps minimize the project costs, which is a win for all the parties involved in the project.

Valuable Information for Owner’s Facility Management

MEP shop drawings provide valuable records of the equipment, materials, and layouts established during construction. These records are typically provided to the owner’s facilities management team during project closeout, called “Closeout Documents”.  This information is used to maintain the equipment, track down parts or service contracts, and for troubleshooting issues down the road.

Common Challenges and Tips for MEP Shop Drawings

Lack of communication between parties

A common challenge with MEP shop drawings is a lack of communication between all parties involved in the project during the preparation of the shop drawings. This can happen when there is no clear communication channels established between the subcontractors. It can also happen when information is not shared in a timely manner between all parties involved.  The result is mismatches between the shop drawings of the different subcontractors, which may or may not be noticed by the reviewing design professional.

To avoid this issue, it is important to establish clear lines of communication at the beginning of the project and to make sure that everyone involved knows who to contact with questions or coordination concerns.

Inexperience with Project Management and BIM software

Another common challenge with MEP shop drawings is that many subcontractors are inexperienced with project management software platforms and the BIM software used to manage the projects. This can lead to errors in the shop drawings or a lack of coordination between disciplines.  

To avoid this issue, it is important to make sure that all parties involved in the project have a thorough understanding and adequate training for the selected project management platform and BIM software used on the project. This training should occur immediately after the subcontractors are on-boarded, so the initial coordination runs as smoothly as possible.

Conclusion

MEP shop drawings are not only critical to the construction process, but they can often be a key factor in determining the success of the overall project, even after the construction is complete. When it comes to MEP shop drawings, accuracy and clarity are essential for a successful result – which is why it is important to partner with an experienced, qualified MEP engineer to monitor, review, and correct any observed errors in the MEP shop drawings before equipment is ordered and construction commences.

At Schnackel Engineers, we have decades of experience that clients can trust. Our high standard of excellence and commitment to detail means that your project will have the best chance of success. To find out more about working with Schnackel Engineers, contact us today.  Our team would be more than happy to answer any questions you may have.