Building engineering services in the construction process

Tools

Bousfield, R.A., 1992. Building engineering services in the construction process. MPhil, Nottingham Trent University.

Preview

Text
10290199.pdf - Published version
Download (18MB) | Preview

Official URL: http://gateway.proquest.com/openurl?url_ver=Z39.88...

Abstract

Historically, the education of construction professionals has been dictated by the requirements of the professional institutions. In civil engineering there is a degree of autonomy because the education and training of both consultants, and contractors, is identical but in building there are many participants in the professional side of the construction process creating a division between design and contracting.

Although many professional building services engineers are members of either the Institution of Electrical Engineers, or the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, it wasn't until 1976 that a discrete professional identity was obtained by the evolvement of the Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers from the Institution of Heating and Ventilating Engineers.

Building services engineering contracts are generally carried out as sub-contracts to main contractors and it is not unusual to find that services engineers have deficient knowledge of both contract and financial control. Equally, a major deficiency that occurs in the education of the other construction professionals is a competent knowledge of building services engineering.

Many construction professionals find it difficult to accept the importance of services engineering even though their total cost in many commercial contracts is often in excess of other construction sectors.

The multi-disciplinary nature of building engineering services is probably a major reason for the lack of recognition and until construction becomes multi-disciplinary at all levels of operation, the status quo will remain. The formation of the Construction Industry Council in 1990 was the first positive step towards unification and may probably lead to the formation of common first degree courses.

Recent developments in building procurement have resulted in Employers having a greater influence, and the advent of design and build contracts is an example which building services engineering contractors have generally welcomed as they are able to control both design, and installation.

Item Type:

Thesis

Creators:

Bousfield, R.A.

Date:

1992

ISBN:

9781369324488

Identifiers: