‘BIM is the best way to manage a project’

Vanderlande Industries B.V., a supplier of conveyor systems for internal logistics, is significantly expanding. To accommodate the growing number of employees at the company in Veghel in the future, a new office building of 19.500 m² is designed at a visible location along the A50 highway, directly next to its current location. "Gebouw50", which is the name of the new building, has nine office floors and will have room for about one thousand employees. The new building will be connected to the existing production hall and will be expected to be completed in March 2016. The project is aiming for a BREEAM Excellent certificate.

Text: Lieke van Zuilekom

VECCINS 3D is responsible for the consultancy and process management of all mechanical, electrical, plumbing and sprinkler systems in the new building, says Frits van Enk, director of VECCINS 3D, one of the first independent consulting firms in the Netherlands working with BIM within the MEP discipline. “Together with our sister companies Galjema and Prime Advice, we consult on the technologies and systems to be implemented for instance for climate control, how the ventilation, heating and cooling systems must be configured. We define and are responsible for the layouts of the mechanical and electrical systems, as well as construction scheduling and associated construction costs.”
All MEP systems are made visible in a BIM model, he says. “BIM, in our opinion, is the best way to manage a project. At the start of the project we always prepare a so-called commissioning plan in which we define the desired performance of all technical systems that we want to have implemented by the end of the project. Any decision taken during the design and construction phase will be tested on the basis of this plan. Only if the technical systems are implemented in accordance with our plan, we can realize our ambitions.”

Working together on a single model

VECCINS 3D works closely together on the Vanderlande project with architect Leenders Architecten and engineering company Verhoeven en Leenders, who both are also familiar with BIM design. “By working together we achieve optimal results”, says Van Enk. The fact that the architect and engineer are working with Revit and VECCINS3D with DDS-CAD, is no problem according to him. “Extensive information exchange is possible on the basis of IFC. We can therefore seamlessly work together with any other software whatsoever by making arrangements in advance and start at the same time on the project.”
VECCINS 3D did not only choose DDS-CAD because of its open philosophy, but also because in terms of development the software is far ahead of the market, according to Van Enk. “The software provides a variety of integrated system calculations, as well as simulations, such as pipe and duct pressure loss and transmission calculations. This enables us to optimize our models. The quality of the traditional drawing output is excellent, so that failures at the construction site are kept to a minimum.” All the drawings are generated from the BIM model. The wall openings as well as other concrete embeds are extracted from the 3D model. “This will not only keep the models and designs intact, but it also provides good control over the performance that the model must provide and the geometry of the MEP systems.”

Transparency

BIM creates transparency between the various stakeholders in the construction sector and beyond. “People are no longer only focused on their own responsibilities. Consequences of design modifications are immediately visible in the model and ambiguities and errors can be identified at an earlier stage", he says. “This does not only reduce the cost of construction failures, but also opens up the possibilities of another trend in the construction industry, that of prefabrication. BIM enables MEP systems to be delivered as plug-and-play and just-in-time at the construction site, without being afraid of possible major issues. This saves valuable preparation and installation time onsite.”
In case of Vanderlande Industries B.V. all technical equipment is prefabricated behind the ceiling elements, this includes ventilation, heating, cooling and lighting. Also all pipes for the central heating and sprinkler system will be delivered as plug-and-play at the construction site.

Revolution

“BIM is the biggest revolution in the construction industry, since the digitization of drawings”, says Van Enk. “Already on the design and engineering costs a saving of ten to fifteen percent is realized. Throughout the operational phase we will save a multiple of this.” Vanderlande Industries B.V. is well aware of this. “Our client attaches a lot of value to the information from the BIM model that can be used after the as-built phase. With this they have a qualitative database for their maintenance and facilities management.”
The property manager is the biggest winner according to Van Enk. “After all, facilities and maintenance can be much better managed from the BIM model as was previously the case. It can also be managed remotely. You know exactly what materials and equipments are used and what needs to be replaced when. In case of renovations or refurbishments, one can rely on the existing model. All this can save a lot of money for the facility manager and building owner.”

Source: www.leendersarchitecten.nl

Project information:
Client: Vanderlande Industries B.V.
Architect: Leenders Architecten B.V.
Construction consultant: Phidias
Project management: Altavilla
MEP consultant and process management: VECCINS 3D
Engineer: Ingenieursbureau Verhoeven en Leenders B.V.
Building contractor: bouwbedrijf Van Wijnen Zuid
MEP contractor: Van Dijnsen

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