Concept services design

Weights and location of major plant and equipment.
Position of vertical service risers.
Routes for the distribution of horizontal services runs including access provisions.
Builders' work holes larger than 300 sq. mm.
Insulation assumptions.
Environmental control strategies.
Geothermal requirements.
Solar energy requirements.
Rainwater drainage requirements.
Below ground drainage routes.
Sustainable urban drainage systems (SUDS).
Building shading requirements.
Plant room space requirements including access provisions.
Energy budget
Energy assessment method.
Energy targets.
Energy sources.
Emissions targets.
Earthing pits and lightning protection.
Incoming service routes and statutory utility requirements.
Acoustic and vibration information.

Before developing a concept design strategies it is worth analysing the client's current environmental services to assess adequacies and inadequacies. The services engineer also needs to understand how future requirements might change.

A list of things to look at might include:

NB: Detailed descriptions of the concept design stage are available in the Designing Buildings Wiki home project plans.

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