Design Phases, Mechanical for Building Construction Projects
Sid Mikelbank
5/14/99
AIA has standardized on three design phases: "Schematic Design" (SD's), "Design Development" (DD's) and "Construction Documents" (CD's).
Mechanical Schematic Design (SD's) Phase requirements. The AIA definition of schematic design is: The requirements of the project are defined, and the scale and relationship of the project components are proposed in drawings.
I propose the following deliverables:
(SD's) Fire Protection, shown on drawings:
Area of modified fire protection.
Area of new fire protection.
(SD's) Fire Protection, written as a document or written on drawings:
If project will have no new or modified fire protection, write this.
Otherwise write a fire protection scope of work.
(SD's) Plumbing, written as a document or written on drawings:
For smaller projects, plumbing piping calculations are not required. For projects where the main scope is plumbing, or larger projects involving, say, more than 20 new plumbing fixtures, provide calculations of supply and drain loads.
(SD's) Plumbing, shown on drawings:
Demolition. Show demolition of existing plumbing fixtures, plumbing equipment (e.g. water heaters, circulating pumps), and miscellaneous equipment interfacing to plumbing systems (e.g. kitchen or healthcare equipment).
New. Show new plumbing fixtures, roof and floor drains, plumbing equipment, and miscellaneous equipment interfacing to plumbing systems.
All new plumbing items shall be tagged (e.g. WC-1, L-1, FD-1, WH-1) and be briefly specified in a schedule or in notes.
Show natural gas or propane points of use and points of supply, including estimated btuh.
Show other plumbing systems such as compressed air or medical gases points of use and points of supply, including pressure and estimated scfm.
Piping. For the schematic phase, standard runs of plumbing piping do not have to be shown. Unusual or critical piping situations shall be shown. If the main scope of the project is plumbing, do show the plumbing piping at the schematic phase.
(SD's) Mechanical, written as a document or written on drawings:
The design criteria and the calculations proving the mechanical solution must be established at the schematic phase. Total calculations of heat loads, cooling loads, psychrometric process, air cfm, heating and cooling water gpm, steam lbs/hr, and other key calculations as applicable, on a project scale (not a room by room scale) shall be submitted.
(SD's) Mechanical, shown on drawings:
Demolition. Show demolition of existing registers, and existing heating and cooling equipment.
New. Show new registers, and new heating and cooling equipment.
All new heating and cooling equipment shall be tagged (e.g. AH-1, HP-1) and be briefly specified in a schedule or in notes.
Show the boundaries of new or modified zones, if this is not obvious or defined by other information in the drawings.
Duct and HVAC Piping. For the schematic phase, standard runs of duct and piping do not have to be shown. Unusual or critical duct and piping situations shall be shown. If the main scope of the project is mechanical, do show the duct and HVAC piping at the schematic phase.
Mechanical Design Development (DD's) Phase requirements. The AIA definition of design development is: Drawings and documents fix and describe the size and character of the entire project.
I propose the following deliverables:
(DD's) Fire Protection, shown on drawings:
Area of modified fire protection.
Area of new fire protection.
Locate new or modified equipment such as post indicator valves, backflow preventers, risers, alarm valves, and standpipe hose cabinets.
Details. Fire protection details necessary for conditions specific to this job shall be shown in at least rough form at the Design Development phase. Standard details do not have to be provided at this phase.
(DD's) Fire Protection, written as a document or written on drawings:
If project will have no new or modified fire protection, write this.
Otherwise write a fire protection scope of work.
Specifications. Provide a first draft of the Fire Protection specifications.
The designer shall contact the appropriate Fire Marshal during or prior to the Design Development phase, and establish the requirements of the Fire Marshal for the project. Provide documentation that this has been done.
(DD's) Plumbing, written as a document or written on drawings:
For smaller projects, plumbing piping calculations are not required. For projects where the main scope is plumbing, or larger projects involving, say, more than 20 new plumbing fixtures, provide calculations proving the piping sizes selected.
Provide calculations proving the size of plumbing equipment such as water heaters and pumps.
Specifications. Provide a first draft of the Plumbing specifications.
(DD's) Plumbing, shown on drawings:
Demolition. Show demolition of existing plumbing fixtures, plumbing equipment (e.g. water heaters, circulating pumps), and miscellaneous equipment interfacing to plumbing systems (e.g. kitchen or healthcare equipment).
Show demolition of existing plumbing piping.
New. Show new plumbing fixtures, roof and floor drains, valves, plumbing equipment, and miscellaneous equipment interfacing to plumbing systems.
Show new plumbing piping.
All new plumbing items shall be tagged (e.g. WC-1, L-1, FD-1, WH-1) and be briefly specified in a schedule or in notes.
Show natural gas or propane points of use and points of supply, including estimated btuh. Show piping.
Show other plumbing systems such as compressed air or medical gases points of use and points of supply, including pressure and estimated scfm. Show piping.
Piping. For the design development phase, show all piping.
Details. Plumbing details necessary for conditions specific to this job shall be shown in at least rough form at the Design Development phase. Standard details do not have to be provided at this phase.
Show schematic diagrams of plumbing control systems.
Include on the plans a Sequence of Operation for plumbing controls.
(DD's) Mechanical, written as a document or written on drawings:
The design criteria and the calculations proving the mechanical solution must be established on a zone by zone and room by room basis at the design development phase. Calculations of heat loads, cooling loads, psychrometric process, air cfm, heating and cooling water gpm, steam lbs/hr, and other calculations as applicable, on a zone by zone and room by room basis shall be submitted.
Specifications. Provide a first draft of the Mechanical specifications.
(DD's) Mechanical, shown on drawings:
Demolition. Show demolition of existing registers, and existing heating and cooling equipment.
Show demolition of existing duct.
New. Show new registers, and new heating and cooling equipment.
Show new duct and new HVAC piping.
All new heating and cooling equipment shall be tagged (e.g. AH-1, HP-1) and be briefly specified in a schedule or in notes.
Show the boundaries of new or modified zones, if this is not obvious or defined by other information in the drawings.
Duct and HVAC Piping. For the design development phase, show all duct and HVAC piping.
Details. Mechanical details necessary for conditions specific to this job shall be shown in at least rough form at the Design Development phase. Standard details do not have to be provided at this phase.
Show schematic diagrams of mechanical control systems, and schematic diagrams of built-up mechanical equipment.
Include on the plans a Sequence of Operation for mechanical controls.
Mechanical Construction Documents (CD's) Phase requirements. Simply stated, provide all written and graphic information necessary to construct the project.
Materials and Equipment. Drawings and specifications shall be clear and specific enough for competing vendors to have an equal understanding of the quantity, quality, features and options of materials and equipment required. Also, State projects must use materials and equipment that are described for supply by competing manufacturers; sole source specifying is not allowed.
Field Construction. Drawings and specifications shall show and describe everything needed by the average journey level tradesperson to construct the work of their trade. Description, size, location, arrangement and operational settings of every piece of material and equipment shall be clearly defined. The tradesperson or contractor should have the design at hand, and not have to make decisions of description, size, location, arrangement and operational settings.
Design-build and performance specifications are only allowed for the following mechanical trades: Fire Protection, HVAC Controls.
The design criteria and calculations should have been complete at the Design Development phase and should not have changed. However, if there have been changes, submit a new set of the criteria and calculations.
8/27/99