What Architectural Design Features Are Specific to Schools?

Nurturing, guiding, educating and preparing the minds of tomorrow for the challenges of the future, schools and their design must evolve to keep pace with societal changes. Some design features, though, are constant. Incorporating school design principles with functionality, architects and designers must be committed to careful consideration and best practice methods while designing a school. Reliable architectural CAD drafting services and accurate architectural BIM services can strengthen the impact of a well-thought out design, making it easy to edit and modify design features.

Some of the most fundamental requirements for a school’s architectural design are integration of technology, safety and security, multipurpose areas and outdoor learning. 

• Integration of Technology

In today’s world, many children are unable to fathom a world without the internet. Modern schools must innovate so that students can access networks from any space on the campus and be able to view or present their work at any point in the school building. It becomes important to wire the entire school, even outdoor spaces.

In a relatively short space of time, screens, projectors and sound systems are moving to halls, common areas, cafeterias and even staircases, rather than stay put in classrooms. Stairways can feature carpeted student seating, overhead projectors, large screens and wireless access to lectures and presentations during project-based learning. This will prepare them for modern work environs. 

• Safety & Security

Increasingly, especially in Western countries, schools have become unwilling venues for terror acts, besides regular student bullying. To guard against intruders, schools typically have a single-entry point and limit access to outsiders. Currently, an increasing number of schools are installing double lock entries (2 locked doors to pass through) with sign-ins and video surveillance.

Helping to prevent bullying is slightly more complicated. Since most incidents of bullying occur in cafeterias, playgrounds, hallways and stairwells, away from adult supervision, school building design needs to be more open, with an increased number of windows, clear lines of sight and in some cases, transparent classroom walls, such as glass floor-to-ceiling walls. The classrooms can connect to a central collaboration space, so that teachers can see students in classrooms, hallways and collaboration spaces from anywhere on the floor. 

• Multipurpose Areas

As education and the curriculum changes in so many ways in short times, it’s important to institute spaces that can keep pace with those changes in a school building. Multipurpose areas must be flexible enough to accommodate changing modes of teaching, learning and sharing for the long term. Every part of a school must contribute in some way to learning. As hallways widen to change into classroom extension, stairs become seating spaces and walls become writing surfaces or feature TV screens with Wi-fi, these spaces are meeting the growing needs of the student population.

Previously used only as cafeterias and libraries, these spaces are morphing into hybrid theatres, media centres and workshop spaces. Educators can create instructional variety, encourage group projects and independent work areas by modifying the environment. Light chairs, beanbags, large rugs, tables of different heights and movable walls can create quiet spaces or large enclaves within a multipurpose area. 

• Outdoor Learning

Improved creation and reduced stress are proven results of outdoor learning. Outdoor learning helps students become more focused on the curriculum and test well academically. When most of the school day is spent indoors, an outdoor class with several benches, an amphitheatre or a partly covered space with Wi-Fi for presentations, individual or group work can be refreshing.

The study of science and energy generation can be made interesting and relevant when students can collect data or compare fossil fuel to solar, wind and geothermal power.

Basic Architectural Guidelines for School Design 

• Teachers and institution heads can provide their input to the architect.
• School floors should be high enough to prevent water logging or flooding during the rains.
• A school building that face south helps sunlight enter the classrooms during winter and shades the classrooms from the direct summer sun.
• The building design should accommodate free air circulation, natural light, hygienic restrooms and a multipurpose area.
• The school should provide a place for meals or refreshments, a teachers’ common room and related rest rooms, reading room and library, a visitors’ room, an office room, a headmaster’s office and a well-equipped laboratory.
• The right amount of space must be given to classrooms, multipurpose rooms, halls, staff rooms, office rooms, common room, the library and reading rooms. Ideally, the classroom should have 600 sqft of floor area.
• Physical education facilities must include toilets.
• Play areas, footpaths and a bicycle parking area are required features.
• The school campus should be attractive and stimulating.
• School campuses must include green spaces, with trees, plants or grass.
• The main school entrance should have overhead protection from the rain or other extreme climatic elements.

Though a classroom’s shape, interior area, wall colours, furniture layout, flooring and amount of light can significantly influence student learning, certain features are best maintained in any classroom. Classroom design should ideally include the following features:

• Adequate space between desks
• Many large windows, with translucent blinds to avoid glares
• Recessed windows as protection from rain and excessive sun.
• Hidden rain pipes
• Rooms should have sufficient natural light.
• Heaters/air-conditions or vents should be placed high on the walls.
• Flooring should be water-resistant and long-lasting.
• Entrances, exits, classroom and bathroom doorways should be planned to facilitate wheelchair use.
• Roofs must have parapets and no chimneys. 

The shape and size of a school building, including the number, size and type of classrooms, will naturally be different for each school, based on many factors, including the student and teacher populations. Building shapes are dependent on these factors, but the more popular types are as follows: 

• I Type – Have a single row of classrooms.
• L Type – The I type has an extension that is perpendicular
• T Type - The I type with extensions both ways on one side
• U Type - Two I types joined on one side

Within these types of school buildings, it is important to maintain certain design standards for each part of the school. They are as follows: 

• Ceiling Heights – This varies according to the size and function of the space. Multipurpose rooms are large, and hence, they should have higher ceilings, taking into account any special equipment that will be used there. The general minimum floor-to-ceiling height of classrooms is typically 3m.
• Wall-to-floor Ratio – Lower wall-to-floor ratios results in a more efficient building layout, but this needs to be balanced with the educational requirements of the space. 
• Room Groups – There groups of school spaces are Teaching/Learning, Administrative and Ancillary. Teaching/Learning spaces should be prioritised in terms of orientation, daylight and ventilation. The offices and multipurpose rooms should be placed so that they can be accessed without entering the Teaching/Learning areas.
• Circulation – Students, teachers and visitors should be able to access any part of the school from any entrance without encountering congestion. Hallways should have a minimum clear width of 1.8m. Handrails on balconies or stairs should have a minimum height of 1400mm. Entrance lobbies should have a secure door to access the internal parts of the school.
• Ventilation – Permanent wall vents, with baffles for noise, wind and rain, and windows with open sections are ideal for natural ventilation.
• Acoustics – Ideal school acoustics should enable clear communication between teachers and students while not disrupting study activities. 
• Finishes – Non-slip, chemically and water-resistant floors are recommended. Wall finishes should be durable and easy to clean. 
• Fittings and Furniture – Those fittings which are fixed, such as sink units, hat/coat hooks, rails, blinds, shelves, white boards, blackboards and notice boards should be part of the building contract. 

School design is of paramount importance for the benefit of future generations, since design has a profound impact on learning. Incorporating changing technologies, lifestyles and work environments, school design must adapt, modify and modernise to optimise their impact. To facilitate the continuous innovation of school design requires a new breed of designers and design professionals and sometimes even the aid of offshore architectural drafting solutions. In particular, countries such as India offer a wealth of talent to provide architectural CAD services that are precise, cost-effective and easily adaptable. Therefore, it is now possible to customise school design without worrying about design skills, costs and accuracy.

Fly Ash - Another Brick in the Wall for Greener Buildings

It’s a win-win equation for the construction industry and the environment, a distinct rarity. The construction industry has come under repeated fire for environmental damage in countless ways – construction waste, air, water/ soil pollution and the release of tonnes of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. In fact, carbon dioxide has been calculated to contribute up to 26% of all greenhouse gases* plaguing the environment. In addition to the reduction of carbon dioxide emission, the use of fly ash bricks in construction has introduced a range of environmental benefits. As the world moves towards developing green buildings, the manufacture and increasing the use of fly ash bricks in construction has the potential to effect substantial environmental change.

The basic ideology of fly ash brick technology is the manufacture of climate-friendly bricks without using coal for the process. Traditional brick-making burns large amounts of coal and results in the emission of tonnes of carbon dioxide every year. Also, valuable topsoil is used for the manufacture of clay bricks. If fly ash brick use is adopted on a global scale, it has the potential to eliminate carbon emissions from the brick-making industry.

Understanding fly ash bricks - what they are made of, how they are made and how they are used – is essential to understanding the extent of their benefits. To get right into it, fly ash is an unwanted residue, resulting from coal-fired power plants. Typically, fly ash was disposed on large areas of land, resulting in both environmental damage and human health issues, especially around power plants.  An Increasing need for power drove the extensive mushrooming of coal-driven power plants, generating sizeable amounts of fly ash. Decades ago, fly ash bricks were developed without the use of coal. Fly ash is combined with lime and gypsum to produce fly ash bricks.

These bricks can be made in a range of sizes and strengths, perfect for their use in building construction. They need less cement and mortar than clay bricks. Cement wall plastering on exterior walls is not required when using fly ash bricks, as they are grey, already have a smooth, uniform texture and absorb substantially less water than other bricks. Lighter in weight than other bricks, fly ash bricks can be easier to transport. In addition, fly ash bricks do not require to be fired in huge kilns, a process for clay brick production that requires large amounts of burning coal, which adds to the greenhouse gas effect. This means that they do not contribute to environmental pollution.

Recognising their far-reaching impact, the World Bank is supporting a project to promote fly ash brick technology by granting entrepreneurs the chance to earn carbon credit revenues. A carbon credit is a certificate declaring that a company has paid to have the equivalent of one tonne of carbon dioxide or equivalent greenhouse gas removed from the environment. More than one hundred fly ash brick plants have earned close to $3.2 million*.

So, how does it work?

Traditionally, bricks were made with clay and sand or soil moulded together and dried and burnt. Burning these bricks used a considerable quantity of fossil fuel, which then generated carbon dioxide, contributing to global warming. A method called FaL-G, or Fly ash Lime-Gypsum, replaces the soil ingredient of traditional clay brick manufacture with fly ash. The bricks are made at room temperature, instead of over 2000F (for clay bricks), thus eliminating the generation of greenhouse gases. By preventing fly ash from being deposited on land, this method reduces water, air and soil pollution. In addition, human health benefits include the reduction of respiratory ailments of residents near power plants.

The quality of clay bricks had been deteriorating for some time, due to the poor quality of topsoil used to manufacture them. The FaL-G brick method has produced strong bricks. They can be created in different sizes and strengths and can speed up the construction process, while saving mortar. Here’s how:

Fly ash and water are compressed at 4000psi and then cured for 24 hours in a steam bath. The bricks are then toughened with an air-entrainment agent. Due to a high concentration of calcium oxide, the bricks can be considered self-cementing. This method saves energy and reduces mercury pollution in the environment.

Materials used to create fly ash bricks include:

• Fly ash
• Fine sand or stone dust
• Lime – a source of calcium carbonate
• Gypsum – to help shape the bricks
• Cement – to increase cohesion and strength

Once manufactured, fly ash bricks enable a host of benefits.

Benefits of Fly Ash Bricks

• Low absorption of water (13-15%, compared to 20% for clay bricks), thus near absence of wall dampness
• Lightweight
• Fuel saving 
• Reduced drying losses
• Reduced linear drying shrinkage
• Strength – ideal for construction
• Clay conservation
• Conform to IS:3102-1976 standards
• Uniform shape, size, thus minimal plaster use
• Gypsum plaster and plaster of Paris can be directly applied
• Reduced need for cement mortar
• Resistant to salinity and water seepage
• Reduced bulk density - reduced resultant load on load-bearing walls
• Reduced wastage of bricks, compared to clay bricks

Fly Ash Properties that Are Advantageous in Construction

• Round shape: Fly ash particles are round, so they are easy to mix.
• ‘Ball bearing’ effect: Fly ash particles create a lubricating action when the mix is in a plastic state.
• Strong – Combines with free lime for increased structural strength over time.
• Dense – Fly ash is dense, resulting in decreased permeability and increased durability
• Resistant to the harmful effects of sulfate, mild acid, soft water and sea water.
• Reduced drying shrinkage, due to reduced water content
• Reduced heat generated when reacting with lime, thus reduced thermal cracking
• Improved cohesion leads to reduced segregation, which could have caused rock pockets and blemishes

Since green buildings are also defined by their energy consumption, one of the additional advantages of using fly ash bricks is its ability to provide effective thermal insulation. This means that buildings consisting of fly ash bricks are cool in summers and warm in winters, reducing the energy consumption of the buildings.

Even sounds are more effectively absorbed, since fly ash bricks are sound absorbent and restrict sound transmission, making interiors quiet. Fly ash bricks also have high fire resistance, making them a great choice of material for fire prevention services.

All these advantages have enabled the use of fly ash bricks in factories, warehouses, power plants, as well as homes and high-rise buildings. With the right architectural CAD services support, especially from accurate, experienced and cost-effective drafting services in India, homes and other buildings around the world can be designed to effectively use fly ash bricks to their advantage in creating ‘greener’ buildings.

Chilled Beams – Why Are They Popular?

We need them for shelter, warmth or cooling, but buildings are required to be more than that these days. They need to look good, feel good and be good. By being good, we mean they need to be energy efficient. Ideally, designers or Building Services Design Consultants must plan for energy-efficient mechanical, electrical and plumbing (MEP) engineering design, and chilled beam technology is one of the options that hydraulics and plumbing design services offer for energy-efficient systems, with the close collusion of heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) mechanical engineering consultants or .

Growing in popularity in Australia, Scandinavia, central Europe, the US and the UK now, the first stirrings of chilled beam concepts, surprisingly enough, occurred in the early 1900s. In those days, under-sill inductions units were being developed. Then, during the 1960s, water from the River Thames was used by Shell Oil Headquarters in London to cool their building (using a secondary heat exchanger in the plant room). At the time, it was both efficient and just a little bit sci-fi. The significance of this system lies in the nature of building services energy consumption.

It is widely accepted that HVAC systems are responsible for almost half (49%) of all building services consumption. Cooling and humidification account for 3% of the total. A component of MEP systems that can reduce that percentage is always welcome. So, what’s so special about chilled beams? Just what are they?

Chilled beam systems are a specific type of air conditioning system that can both heat or cool large buildings. Funnily enough, chilled beam units appear similar to fluorescent lighting fixtures and are not necessarily always chilled. Essentially, chilled beams cool spaces using water rather than air. Copper pipes carry chilled or heated water and are passed through a ‘beam’ (a heat exchanger or radiator) which is hung a short distance from the room’s ceiling. A coil of aluminum fins on copper tubing inside a metal casing is what makes up the beam. A chilled water system cools water to between 55°F and 65°F. The beam thus cools the air around it, and the air becomes dense and moves downward. Warm air moves up from below to replace it, is cooled and then circulated back down, causing a constant flow of convection and cooling of the air in the room. 

Chilled beam systems typically use three main components: air handling units (AHUs), chillers and pumps. If the system is required to provide heating, a boiler is used. These units form a ceiling-mounted HVAC system that ultimately saves energy, increases interior comfort and happens to be a quiet operator.

There are two main kinds of chilled beams – active or passive. Active chilled beams connect to a system of ducts served by a central AHU (air handling unit). This system delivers fresh air through induction nozzles. The nozzles use a heat exchanger coil to induce secondary room air. Supply air is mixed with chilled air through the ventilation nozzles. Heating in active chilled beams works the same way, delivering warm air into the living space. Heating and cooling capacity is increased with this forced circulation. Using active chilled beams results in the need for reduced energy to operate fans, due to low pressure and the reduced amount of primary air that is circulated. 

Passive chilled beams circulate air through natural convection means, without using a fan. Exterior air is supplied through a separate diffuser or grille into the space. Water passing through it chills the beam and the air around it is cooled. As the surrounding air cools, it becomes denser and moves down in the room space. Warm air, which rises, then replaces the cool air. A chilled water temperature of 14-16˚C is maintained by chillers to flow through the system. The return temperature will be a few degrees warmer. The chiller works more efficiently because of the higher chilled water temperatures in chilled beam systems and lower temperature lift. 

A third type of chilled beam that has made a recent entry into the industry is a multiservice chilled beam, or MSCB. These are specifically designed for each project and provide heating, cooling, ventilation, lighting and sound, fire and cable pathway services. They are typically preferred in commercial buildings in Europe. 

All chilled beam systems reduce energy. The AHUs can be installed with energy-recovering devices so that energy can be recovered from the exhaust air and transferred to the supply air. Due to the higher chilled temperatures, free-cooling can be used for longer, where exterior low air temperatures can be used to chill the water. Both chilled water and hot water can, at low temperatures, be produced by air and ground source heat pumps. These heat pumps use less energy than boilers and chillers.

Saving Energy 

So, what kind of savings in energy result from using chilled beams?

The potential to save energy using chilled beams may range from 20% to 50%, depending on the weather and type of building. Water is known to transfer more energy than air. The use of water in chilled beam systems result in less energy usage. Also, since heating and cooling is delivered directly to the relevant space, chilled beams help facilities reduce the energy required for ventilation fans, saving money in the process. Overall heating and cooling costs are reduced because chilled beam systems transfer outside air to interior spaces where it is needed, rather than bring it into the entire facility and then condition it.

Benefits of Chilled Beam Systems

Chilled beam systems offer other potential advantages besides energy savings, including: 

• No moving parts result in quieter operation
• Not requiring mechanical rooms or large ducts results in an increase in available space
• Buildings with limited space to accommodate conventional conditioning systems can be retrofitted
• Maintenance needs are reduced, since there are no filters to maintain and beams stay dirt-free
• Widely applicable for commercial buildings
• Significant thermal efficiency
• Requires less ceiling space and height than traditional systems, thus facilitating shorter buildings with the same floor space for tenants.

Further benefits may be environmental, in that recyclable materials, such as steel, aluminium and copper, can be used to manufacture chilled beams. Potential resale value is increased and the procedure for decommissioning is easier, as scrap metal merchants prefer the materials free of refrigerants and oils. Also, chilled beams contribute to long-term sustainability in both new and renovated buildings.

Typically, a conventional cooling or heating system uses forced air. A forced air system is less efficient and more expensive due to the requirement of large ducts in taller buildings. A typical chilled beam system requires less outside air to operate than a forced air system. It only needs one air change every hour and uses air from the outside air to pressurise the space. Using a forced air system, eight to ten air changes of fresh air are needed.

Also, chilled beam systems can be prefabricated off site and then installed on site, reportedly saving up to 75% in labour costs.

The diverse benefits of chilled beam systems, including long-term costs, make these systems a preferred choice for hydraulics and plumbing design services in a building’s MEP engineering design and also Building Services Coordination. With experienced and technically certified HVAC mechanical engineering consultants on board, the trend of chilled beam systems seems to be headed in the right direction for sustainable construction.

Revit Families: An Effective Tool for MEP Engineers

Families – they are integral to just about everything in life. This is doubly true for Revit families in the world of MEP (mechanical, electrical and plumbing) engineering. The importance of Revit family creation, especially Revit MEP family creation, is paramount in Revit 3D modelling. So, what is Revit MEP family creation and how beneficial is it?

Since the Revit platform was created by Autodesk, perhaps the more relevant question is: What is Autodesk Revit MEP?

Revit MEP from Autodesk is a building information modelling (BIM) software created specifically for MEP engineers or other MEP professionals. The software enables modifications, additions and communication in intelligent models so that MEP systems, regardless of their complexity, can be precisely designed and documented in a relatively short time. An entire project can be represented as a single model created by Revit MEP and is typically stored in a single file. This way, any changes effected in one part of the model is automatically updated and modified in other parts of the model.

What are the key benefits of using Revit MEP?

Using Revit MEP within a BIM workflow increases productivity, streamlines design and documentation and speeds up project completion from the design stage to the construction stage while automatically updating changes across the model for every single change anywhere in the model. It does so with a range of tools and features designed to improve productivity, such as Building Performance Analysis, Autodesk 360 Integration, Construction Documentation, Pressure and Flow Calculations, Pressure Loss Reports, Parametric Components, etc.

Revit MEP also reduces risks and helps create high quality designs. It can be used to develop detailed BIM-ready product models with a high level of accuracy by an HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning) manufacturing company, for example.

The engineering design process is streamlined with the use of a single model. The single model enables a more efficient communication of design intent before the start of construction. Building performance is improved this way, as project stakeholders can make more informed and precise decisions on design.

A thorough knowledge of creating ‘families’ and ‘types’ can positively influence the length of time it takes to create a model. Families consist of categories and sub-categories. Each category consists of individual families. For instance, consider the Sprinkler Category.

The category of Sprinkler can create several kinds of sprinklers. It is possible for families within this category to perform different functions and use different materials, which makes each of them a family ‘type’. Each family type has a graphical representation. When a specific family and individual family type is used to create a design component, it is known as an ‘instance’. Each instance has its own properties.

The parameters of an element can be changed without changing the parameters of the family type. Only the instance or element or component is affected by the change. When the parameters of the family type are changed, every instance of elements in the family type are changed.

The three main classifications of families are: system, loadable and in-place families.

System families are preinstalled families and create basic MEP elements, such as ducts and pipes. . System family settings include types for levels, grids and drawing sheets.

Loadable families are created elsewhere and then uploaded into the project. They are typically used to create MEP fixtures or other elements that be purchased, moved or fixed in and near a building. Revit MEP helps create and alter loadable families, as they are customisable. External RFA files are used to create them, and then they are loaded into the project. A loadable family with many types uses type catalogs to select a type of family. This family type can be identified and loaded into the project without loading all the family types. Specific kinds of loadable families are nested and shared families.

The third kind of families is the in-place family, which can be used to create customised elements. When a project requires a special individual element, in-place families are created with a specific geometry. The geometry of in-place families will then reference other project geometry and change itself based on the changes of the referenced geometry. Revit can create a family with a single-family type to create an in-place element.

During Revit MEP family creation, Revit 3D modelling can help analyse electrical systems, especially lighting, in a project, since a source of light has its own properties in a modelling setting. Nested families, which are families within other families, can be used to create families with multiple light sources. This is done using the host geometry of the main family. Various lighting fixtures can also be included.

Besides electrical components, Revit MEP family creation includes the creation of elements from other trades too. Some of the examples of Revit MEP family creation components, or elements, are as follows:

Revit Mechanical Family Creation

• HVAC components
• Pipes - valve, strainer and pipe hanger
• Duct hangers
• Air terminals

Revit Plumbing Family Creation

•          Pumps
•          Fixtures - urinals, wash basins, water closets
•          Valves
•          Devices - measuring devices, gauges
•          Fittings

Revit Electrical Family Creation

•          Transformers
•          Distribution boards
•          Switches and sockets
•          Fire alarm devices
•          Lighting fixtures

Revit HVAC Family Creation

•          Fan coil units
•          Air handling units
•          Fire dampers
•          Diffusers, grilles and registers
•          Fittings and valves

Revit Firefighting Family Creation

•          Sprinklers
•          Valves
•          Fittings
•          Fire extinguishers
•          Cabinets

Autodesk’s Revit is BIM software that includes MEP features and is commonly called Revit Bim, but Revit is not BIM. Revit has been created for BIM. The nice thing about BIM, well one of the nice things, is that the data that is stored in BIM throws up a few advantages for users of Revit Bim. Convenient scheduling, marketing that is exclusive, design changes that can be quickly communicated and implemented throughout a project and easy access for MEP designers are some of the advantages of using the information in BIM models.

It’s easy to see why Revit families and their creation are an effective tool for MEP engineers, but since sound technical knowledge is required to create object-based models in Revit Bim, many Western firms opt for offshore Revit modelling services when local talent is either challenging to find or too expensive to afford. Offshore modelling services developed with Revit family creation are increasingly found to be affordable, precise and delivered on time, making it the popular way to go.

Elements to Consider in 3D BIM Coordination

Why is 3D BIM coordination so crucial to building design?

There are several elements to consider in 3D BIM coordination, and one of the first places to start the process is with a 3D coordinated model. Integrating architectural, structural and MEP trades together into a coordinated 3D model is part of the 3D BIM (building information modelling) coordination process. The BIM process is an effective 3D modelling tool that helps generate precise, accurate 3D coordinated models during the design development of a construction project. With a fully coordinated BIM model, users can see just how the architectural, MEP and structural systems have been coordinated in a 3D environment, and making changes becomes easy.

The process of 3D BIM coordination involves recording, using and reviewing detailed data about a building’s physical functions. The information can also be used to prepare task schedules in 4D, calculate project costs and material take-offs and optimise the sustainability of the overall business design. One way of looking at BIM coordination is to think of it as being a grouping together of 3 distinct functions, namely:

• Actual physical construction (building)
• Coordination of detailed data (information)
• Coordination of an accurate 3D model (modelling)

or BIM.

What is interesting about BIM coordination is that it involves much more than just modelling. It includes data and construction management responsibilities and improves efficiency in terms of saving costs and time and enables more informed decision-making.

A useful function of 3D BIM coordinated models is that they are used to perform clash-detection processes. A 3D BIM coordinated model can help find any clashes, interferences or shortcomings between architectural, structural and MEP systems. One of the most popular software used for this process is Revit, which has advanced features to help merge the different disciplines of the model effectively, helping architects, structural engineers and MEP engineers.

Models can also be studied to determine complex space allocation and how the different MEP trades can fit into the available space. Each of the building’s deliverables involving data-related tasks can be easily and clearly identified, tracked and coordinated at any point or stage of the project’s life cycle. Building risers, plant rooms, prefabricated corridors and ceiling modules can also be coordinated using quality checks in the process of BIM coordination.

Management tasks, such as common data environment (CDE) information management processes, are performed to support data exchange and help both model and data integration and coordination. Also included as part of the 3D BIM coordination process are constructability reviews, clash detection reports, virtual/personal coordination meetings with consultants, construction/project managers, sub-contractors, architects and engineers.

There are several benefits to be gained from using 3D BIM coordination, such as:

• Reduced errors by the construction team and design team
• Streamlined workflows in accordance with global standards
• Reduction of construction material waste
• Savings on total costs and project time
• Improved technology and innovative ways to maximise project value

A significant part of 3D BIM coordination involves BIM services, specifically MEP BIM, architectural BIM and structural BIM processes. These BIM services combine data from individual architectural, structural and MEP drawings, using Revit and Navisworks, to help generate intelligent BIM models that feature the following functions and products:

• Coordination
• Fabrication
• Optimisation
• Installation
• MEP engineering
• MEP BIM coordination
• MEP shop drawings
• MEP 3D modelling
• Mechanical room modelling
• Builders work drawings
• As-built drafting
• Piping spool drawings
• MEP quantity take-offs

Since the MEP systems of any building is crucial, it’s critical to be aware of some of the detailed MEP BIM modelling and drafting services available. They include:

• Mechanical equipment modelling
• Diffuser and grill modelling
• Electrical lighting fixture drafting and modelling
• Layout modelling
• Plumbing layout modelling
• Sanitary fixture Revit modelling
• Walk-throughs of MEP/BIM models
• Revit MEP Families Parametric modelling

Common Elements to Consider  

The classification of 3D BIM coordination can be as follows:

MEP BIM

Electrical Systems

• Electrical site plans
• Electrical one-line diagrams (riser diagrams)
• Electrical schematics
• Solar panel detailing
• Electrical, power and lighting plans

Plumbing Systems

• Drafting services for domestic water plumbing
• Plumbing and drainage drafting services
• Location and coordination of pipe sleeve requirements
• Isometrics, riser diagrams, details, schematics and schedules
• Sleeve/Penetration Drawings

HVAC (Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning) Systems

• Equipment schedules
• Compressed air and medical gas system plan drawings
• Demolition and existing plan drawings
• Equipment piping sizing and design layout plan drawings
• HVAC system drafting
• Details, schematics, schedules, legends and control diagrams
• As-built drawings, equipment specifications, coordination drawings, shop drawings and addendums
• Mechanical equipment layouts, submittals and elevation drawings

Heating Systems

• Boilers
• Direct vents
• Space heaters
• Indoor coil systems
• Heat pumps
• Wall and floor furnaces
• Forced hot air/water
• Thermostats
• Natural gas heating
• Heat pumps – standard and ground source

Ventilation Systems

• Overhead units
• Ductless split systems
• Sheet metal ducts
• Humidifiers/Dehumidifiers
• Central air systems
• Window/rooftop unit systems
• Air cleaners and filters
• Cooling Systems
• Air conditioners
• Air handlers

Architectural BIM

Using the BIM methodology, architects can develop digital design simulations capable of managing the vast stores of information that is part of an architectural project. Besides the 3D characteristics of models, BIM can incorporate 4D (time) and 5D (costs) associated with a project. Stakeholders can access and manage data intelligently and several processes can be automated, such as programming, conceptual design, detailed design, analysis, documentation, manufacturing, construction logistics, operation, maintenance and renovation/demolition.

Libraries of architectural models are available online, providing elements that can easily be incorporated into a project, saving time. This way, data is loaded, the quality of work can be improved, and the amount of decision-making and modifications made can be reduced, lowering both time and costs. 

Importantly, these elements, with unique characteristics, can be parametrically related to other project elements, which means that any changes on one element will effect automatic changes to other elements that are connected to or dependent on the first element. Thus, architects can interact with clients, builders and engineers in a shared process.

Structural BIM

The methodology of structural BIM modelling enables design analysis and review of structural elements in a project to further improve the overall design process. Structural BIM services consist primarily of 3D modelling, detailing and drafting. The analysis of these services results in cost-effective design and improves the safety of the design. Building geometry, location and space data, building properties, building materials and resources are better understood with structural BIM services. Some of the major structural BIM services are the following:

• Structural analysis
• Structural design
• 3D modelling 
• Steel structure detailing
• Creation of 3D, 4D and 5D BIM services
• Extraction of structural components
• High-quality construction documents
• Clash detection and risk management
• Intelligent parametric library development
• Precise quantity take-offs and cost estimates

With the help of BIM services, design errors are reduced from the improved coordination and communication of decisions. Thus, the main benefits of BIM services include:

• Better communication
• Faster approvals
• Improved coordination
• Easy modifications of design 
• Reduced errors
• Reduced time to create drawings and revisions
• Improved performance analysis, evaluation
• Improved project efficiency 

There are many elements to consider in 3D BIM coordination, and there are many ways to utilise and optimise the benefits resulting from 3D BIM coordination. Typically, the processes of 3D BIM coordination require the expertise and experience of several stakeholders, sometimes separated by countries. Many Western construction firms opt to outsources these processes to countries further east, such as India, since they have large groups of technically qualified, experienced, English-speaking personnel who deliver these BIM services accurately, clash-free, on schedule and cost-effectively. Bringing together clash-free MEP, structural and architectural systems after careful consideration of its many elements, high-quality 3D BIM coordination services remain an essential part of modern construction.

How Architectural Rendering Contributes to Design Development

What you see is what you get – how many times has that been said? In the field of architecture, this could be said about architectural rendering in the Design Development phase. The Design Development phase of architectural design can be of considerable importance in the ongoing communication process between designers and customers or owners. Visuals help keep this communication clear and transparent, and one of the key visual representations in this phase, rendering, is versatile, photorealistic and accurate when depicting the final structure. Here’s why high-quality architectural rendering services can move a project forward.

Useful both for new constructions and for renovations, rendering software’s prime objective is to provide a simulation of a building from a range of angles and distances, in the most accurate way possible. When the rendered image is accurate, it helps locate dimensional problems, it can help assess the usage of available space, and it enables the customer to be happy (or not) with both the inside and outside of their building . . . and these functions occur before construction commences.

During the Design Development phase, the architect and client work closely together to choose interior finishes, appliances and materials for windows, doors and fixtures. The initial drawings from the Schematic Design stage are modified, adding details from revised sketches. At the conclusion of this stage, the interior and exterior building design is finalised by the owner and the architect. The plans and elevations are reviewed and revised to include specifications and details needed for construction.

Project elements detailed in the Design Development stage include:

• Building materials and finishes used for the interior and the exterior
• Furniture and equipment choices and locations
• Cabinet and custom fabrications
• Lighting and technological design
• Mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems
• Miscellaneous issues that affect project constructability and that may require changes to the project or to the budget

At the end of the Design Development stage, design drawings and specifications are almost complete. The building's size, purpose, materials, configuration and spaces and the use of equipment and materials used for the structures and systems are defined. Then, the project’s budget, schedule and all building plans are decided.

So, how does rendering fit into this process?

Rendering can be done during the Schematic stage of design, but it is during the Design Development stage that many of the details of the design can be easily and comprehensively communicated to the customer through rendered images. These visual assets can be used to sell the project’s key features.

Photorealistic images are generated by rendering 3D models that include the basic mechanical and architectural details of the project design. Rendered images can be updated during the Design Development stage as changes occur. Though previously created in-house, an increasing number of engineers and designers are using external rendering specialists to create these images.

Models are endowed with a range of visual effects with rendering, such as shading, texture mapping, shadows, reflections and motion blurs. Improved rendering algorithms and hardware acceleration have made software more powerful than before. 

The key five ways rendered images are beneficial during the Design Development stage are as follows:

1. Design Flaw Identification

To picture a building in its entirety by only looking at 2D drawings has its limitations. A 3D model of a building helps see the structure from all angles. Due to this, a significant number of design flaws can be identified, which may otherwise have slipped through. These flaws can be amended before construction begins. By doing so, unnecessary expenses are minimised and construction time is shortened.

2. Effective Communication 

Architects typically aim to give customers a building that they want, as much as possible. Sometimes what the customer desires may not match with the architect’s understanding. With this 3D view of exteriors and interiors, the customer has a more informed understanding of building functions, materials and appearance. If the design seems to clash with what the customer wants, modifications can be made at this point.

3. Promotes Saleability

The view of both exteriors and interiors in 3D can help the architect display his work to the customer and convince him of why the design works efficiently for his needs. Realty developers use them to convince potential stakeholders of the project’s worth and to invest in the project. Rendered images help market houses, condominiums and villas to potential clients.

4. Walk-throughs

A walk-through is essentially a video developed from a series of rendered images so that the viewer can see external views of the building project and also has the ability to exist inside the building and actually walk through it. This lets the viewer experience a feel of the layout and experience different aspects of the building – to virtually imagine how to navigate the interiors of the building before the building has been constructed.

5. Planning and Strategy

Views generated by 3D rendered images help plan for how the interior designs of the building can be handled. Designers and architects can prepare 3D interior strategy that they can use to communicate with the task force on site and show other stakeholders. This way, they can see potential defects and rectify them.                                 

These are some of the key reasons for architectural rendering services becoming an essential tool for architects and interior designers worldwide during the Design Development phase. With several overseas firms offering 3D architectural rendering services at affordable prices and delivering 3D rendering and walk-throughs on schedule, they are becoming an increasingly preferred choice for Western firms in need of such services.

Design Considerations for Different House Types

One of the nicest things about houses is that they are uniquely designed, and each unique design calls for unique considerations. Design considerations for houses include several factors, but since the final set of design drawings, also known as construction drawings or working drawings, guide the actual construction, these residential construction drawings are critically important. Let’s try and understand exactly what construction drawings are and how they may change according to the different type of houses under construction.

What construction drawings aim to do is provide contractors, fabrication suppliers and even owners an accurate dimensional and graphical representation of the finished structure. The contractor uses these for the actual construction, the suppliers can use these to fabricate, assemble or install components, and the owners can view in detail what their building will look like. These drawings include ‘production information’, specifications and bills of quantities provided by designers to the construction team. Residential construction drawings are part of tender documentation and contract documents. They are legally important and constitute a major part of the agreement between employers and contractors.

What makes construction drawings so crucial is their accuracy and the fact that they are concise and coordinated. Details specified include the materials, standards, techniques, etc. needed to start and maintain construction. Graphic details include component arrangement, detailing, dimensions, layouts and installation methods. All of the details are drawn to scale as part of elevations, plans, sections and detail drawings.

Construction drawings typically contain separate trade drawings, e.g. mechanical, electrical, plumbing and fire. Standard architectural hatchings and symbols enable trade professionals to easily decipher and understand them.

Using Building Information Modelling (BIM) facilitates the development of coordinated 3D models with sufficient information to manufacture, install or construct each element represented in the models, and these models help develop clash-free drawings.

In brief, construction drawings include the following information:

• Foundation Plans – plans that include footing dimensions and locations
• Wall Framing Plans – plans that include lumber sizes - usually 2x4 or 2x6
• Sub-floor Plans – plans that show the arrangement of services
• Roof Plans – plans of the building’s roof, including type, pitch and framing
• Interior Elevations - drawings of interior walls
• Detail Drawings – drawings of built-in shelving, mouldings and columns
• Schedules – lists of the quantities of each element, such as windows and doors
• Structural Layouts
• Electrical and Telecoms Drawings - plans that show where outlets, TV sockets, switches and fixtures are located and where electric lines should run
• Plumbing Schematic Drawings – plans that show piping and plumbing fixtures

An additional type of drawing included in the set of construction drawings for most projects

are reflected ceiling plans. A reflected ceiling plan is a view while looking up at the ceiling, involving the location of light fixtures, ceiling level changes and moulding locations.

Considering the major drawings in detail, we look at exactly what information lies within.

Exterior & Interior Elevations

Exterior elevations are straight scale drawings of exterior sides – front, rear and both sides. Information included are the exterior shapes, floor-to-floor heights, building height, openings, exterior wall doors or windows, the fall of the land, exterior finishes, ridge heights, roof pitches and exterior architectural styling details. Interior elevations include the inside view of each wall, room height, wall openings, finishes, cabinets and wall-mounted elements.

Building & Wall Sections

The view resulting from an imaginary vertical cut or cross section of a house’s interior is known as a section. These include internal finishes, ceiling height, ceiling type (flat or vault) and window and door dimensions.

Exterior & Interior Details

Exterior and interior details consist of elements, materials and information resulting from zooming into specific exterior or interior areas through a horizontal cut, vertical cut or elevation.

Schedules

Information about materials used in a specific area defines a schedule. An example would be a door schedule. This would represent information such as the total number of such doors, different door types, their location and material types on a single drawing. Similarly, there are schedules for windows, room finishes, cabinetry, plumbing fixtures and appliances.

Framing & Utility Plans

Structural drawings that show the floor and roof framing members, the material size and the location of the weight acting on the framing members (or loads) are known as framing plans. Elements of the major trades – mechanical, electrical, plumbing and fire – and the element locations and appliances are part of the utility plans.

Site Plans

A view of the building from the top that includes the construction site, lot boundaries, location of utility services, setback requirements, easements, driveways, walkways and topographical data with the terrain slope make up the site plans.

Floor Plans

This overhead view shows wall width with scaled parallel lines, room dimensions, doors, windows, built-in elements, such as plumbing fixtures, cabinets, water heaters and furnaces. Floor plans can include data regarding finishes, construction methodology or electrical element symbols.

Completing a set of construction drawings involves regular and constant dialogue between the project’s stakeholders and depend on the type of house being constructed. The considerations vary for different types of houses, such as: single story vs multi story, built on site vs prefab, smart houses vs traditional houses, environment friendly, etc. Types of houses can also be dependent on the number of stories they have. For instance, single-storey houses consist of just one floor, and a multi-storey building features multiple storeys and has vertical circulation, such as ramps, stairs and lifts.

Multi-storey buildings can be classified as:

• Low-rise - buildings of 4 storeys or less
• Mid-rise - buildings of 5 to 10 storeys, with lifts
• High-rise - more than 10 storeys
• Skyscraper: 40 storeys or more
• Super-tall: more than 300 m
• Mega-tall: more than 600 m

 These multi-storey buildings must consider the design of the following features in great detail: 

• Access and circulation
• Fire safety and evacuation
• Structural design
• Ventilation
• External air movement
• Shading, views and right to light
• Construction methods
• Access for maintenance and cleaning

Houses built on site and prefab houses are different in a number of ways and thus must be designed accordingly. Site-built homes are built entirely on the site. They typically use 2 by 4s and 4 by 6s precut wood for framing and trusses and follow all state, local or regional codes at the site’s location. Prefab homes or modular homes are manufactured in sections at a factory, transported to the site and joined by contractors. These homes can be built on non-removable steel chassis.

Modular homes are becoming an increasingly popular choice for several reasons. They are manufactured with sustainable materials and have many features, such as house orientation, good ventilation, insulation and shading, designed during the early stages. Solar power and greywater systems can be easily incorporated into modular homes during design, resulting in less time and money being spent on the actual construction.

Modular houses can be created using recyclable materials and do not typically use timber, making them environmentally friendly. Also, modular houses can use ‘green’ lighting and HVAC options. These homes can be designed for further future expansion, helping to relocate them, if required.

For all its advantages, design considerations for modular homes must take into account certain restrictions imposed by the location of its site and the incompatibility of luxury buildings. Some zones specify that only brick houses can be constructed there, mainly in housing estates, though it is possible to build a modular home with a brick façade. Some sites are not easy to access, making it difficult to transport modular houses to the site. The materials and style that are compatible with modular houses may not depict luxurious design.

Besides prefabricated homes, trends indicate an upward trajectory in the use of smart buildings. A building that employs automation to remotely/automatically control heating, ventilation, air conditioning, lighting, security and other systems can be considered a smart building.

These buildings use sensors, actuators and microchips to collate and manage data for the functions and services of a house. Intelligent and adaptable software is installed to link the core systems of lighting, power meters, water meters, pumps, heating, fire alarms and chiller plants with sensors and control systems. Smart houses are fully integrated and can have automated/sensor-driven elevators, access systems and shading.

Energy use can be minimised by utilising chilled water systems to continuously monitor HVAC set points, heat loads and demands. Smart systems connected to weather stations can use information on heat, humidity, wind, rain and cold for optimum and energy-efficient HVAC usage. Occupants of a smart home enjoy a higher quality of life with smart lighting, thermal comfort, improved air quality, security and sanitation, with lower costs and leaving a smaller carbon footprint than those living in a traditional home.

An important part of residential construction drawings is ensuring conformity to codes and standards of specific areas. In general, there are few restrictions on site-built houses other than minimum sizes and restricted covenants. Developments are increasingly allowing modular houses and smart homes.

To conclude, accurate and precise drawings for building design can be created by experienced and technically qualified professionals, which helps to ensure that any kind of house type can be developed with adequate design consideration. With the ease of outsourcing procedures, high-quality building and planning drawings are affordable and technically near-flawless.