Advancements with Prefabrication Capabilities
Once a model has been reviewed, modified and approved for installation, a program can then generate materials from the model for purchasing activities and to create spool drawings to aid in any prefabrication work for the project. A spool drawing is an assembly of products containing critical dimensions for cut lengths and final assembly measurements. It can also include weights, labor units, costs and part numbers, depending on the contractor’s preferences and use of spool data for other tasks, such as truck loading, estimating and purchasing activities.
Performing work in a controlled, shop environment, in lieu of the field, can help cut down on labor and liability while ensuring a quality-built system. Plumbers, pipe fitters and sheet-metal workers can keep work on the ground and at a more productive and safe height than in a lift, on a ladder or in a trench.
A shop environment is also more productive for organizing material and keeping it clean to ensure workers perform quality joints, cuts and assembly. In fact, if designed properly, a project can incorporate prefabrication into various sections of a system and potentially eliminate all hot-work from the job site altogether, helping to limit liability on a repipe project that may still be occupied.
Selecting joint types for connecting spools in the field can help eliminate traditional means of joining materials that may require torches or welding equipment. Joint types, such as ASTM F1960 cold-expansion fittings for use with PEX piping, offer a one-tool connection that requires no heat, glue or solvents. When switching pipe materials, an ASTM F1960 by groove or press fitting is a good solution for minimizing the amount of hot-work performed on a job site.
Benefits of Leveraging the Model on a Job Site
Robots, tablets and helmets are all the buzz on today’s more technologically advanced job sites. Each one is model-driven and designed for a quick layout of products, increasing accuracy and reducing the need for rework. This is especially beneficial for site managers, supervisors and officials who want to check the accuracy of work performed on a job site. Using these technologies provides a quick view of the project work performed (or yet to be performed) via a model versus a traditional set of paper plans.
Robots, or total stations, are typically used for deck layout (placement of anchors and riser cans on a deck prior to the pour). Tablets help installers and project managers quickly reference up-to-date documents and models of an area or a specific component during installation—answering questions on the fly in lieu of calling into the office.
Helmets using augmented reality (AR) can run the Navisworks model in a transparent screen, showing the user exactly where a pipe or duct run was modeled, helping to identify placements of offsets, hangers and other system components prior to or after installation. Using AR to walk a repipe project with an owner may help realize the scope of work and where the work to be performed is located.
The Future of Manufacturer-provided Content
In the past few years, BIM/CAD software has armed architectural engineers with a tool not only to design a project effectively, but to also predict system performance prior to construction and to monitor performance throughout a structure’s life.
Although this useful function is still in the infancy stages for engineers, it is encouraging to see certain manufacturers are stepping up to offer their content to the design world. To advance the industry, manufacturers need to own their content data. They must also work together as an industry to standardize how content is created to ensure systems and components can function in an efficient design.
Once standardization has been incorporated into the industry, engineers will be able to design more efficient systems using manufacturer-provided content. In short, if engineers want to create more functional designs, they must first manage their content and, second, work together to standardize and advance the industry.
PHOTOS: Uponor