After reading the title, you probably expected to see in this article the abstruse reasoning of techies and a bunch of numbers to persuade you to quickly give your "hard-earned" money for the project of engineering networks in the building of a new private house or apartment.
Spoiler alert: most engineering and construction companies develop such projects absolutely free of charge, including them in the cost of further installation work (for example, they). Well, or they do projects for relatively little money.
But let's not get distracted. Everything is very simple: if you do not design engineering communications in accordance with norms, standards and industry requirements, then they:
a) will not even withstand the expected loads;
b) when connecting additional devices, they will regularly fail;
c) will threaten the life and health of residents (personnel);
d) when interacting with external systems and networks (for example, city-wide) will lead to a major accident;
e) they will simply not work (because they were laid and mounted "at random").
And you may simply not be allowed to put the new building into operation by the regulatory authorities, if there is not a complete package of documentation and its approval with water, gas and electricity supply enterprises.
Why do you need a project: showing it "on the fingers"
All these "electrocuted" showers in the bathroom, constantly "knocked out" fuses, burned out household appliances, sparks and smoke from sockets - all this is not so much a consequence of the low qualifications of the craftsmen, as their lack of documentation, which indicates the technical requirements for the network, its components, loads. And also to the conditions of installation, laying and connection of devices.
And we only touched on the power grid. But there are also information networks (low-current). Where not only low-power laptops are connected for "watching a movie on the Internet", but also, for example, video surveillance systems with IP cameras.
A separate area is alarm systems, alarm systems, security systems with smoke, motion, intrusion, flooding and other sensors, access control systems (at least the same intercoms and video intercoms). The safety of the building, property in it and people directly depends on the correctness of their development and implementation.
All these communications require a detailed calculation of the length of the cable lines. An ordinary person can say that you can always buy a cable, but it's not about buying it. Some types of cable are cut to a predetermined length, and if this length is not guessed, then the cable will need to be spliced, and this work can cost more than the cable itself. There are also cable types in which the splicing of the cores can adversely affect its technical characteristics. In some systems, splicing is not allowed at all. You can get acquainted with the prices for the cable on this site.
As for the rest of the communications: water, sewerage, ventilation, gas - here neglect of the norms can be fraught with serious consequences. Including for the entire building.
Now let's imagine that you have decided to modernize the engineering of your building, expand the system or include additional solutions for the comfort of operation, management, and environmental control into an existing one. Yes, at least the same “smart home” system (recently they have become very affordable both in terms of finance and opportunities for private housing).
Where can professionals get data on systems already in operation in the building in order to accurately and efficiently transform them? It is the design documentation that contains all the information that will allow engineers to quickly, reliably, and most importantly - to perform any actions with the building engineering at no extra cost for you.
Including - maintenance, repairs, replacement of "obsolete" sections of the network or devices.
Here we have touched upon the need to design engineering systems for private housing with a small number of devices. What can we say about larger office, retail or industrial facilities. The number of devices that are sensitive to loads and operating conditions in them is much greater. And the length of cable and other communication lines is hundreds of kilometers. Risking the reliability of engineering in such conditions means simply throwing huge sums down the drain.
You are convinced of the need for the project. And now let's dwell on the question of what it consists of.
Composition of the engineering project
The development of any engineering project begins with a study of the conditions for its implementation. Technical indicators of external systems to which the building will be connected. Conditions of suppliers of electricity, water, gas and other resources. Characteristics and type of building, its purpose. Object structure. Constructive and finishing materials. Estimated and maximum permitted loads. All this is taken into account, measured, analyzed by specialists, starting from the first on-site inspections. Then the development stage of the project itself begins, which includes:
1. Technical calculations.
2. Development of drawings, diagrams.
3. Drawing up recommendations regarding the conditions for the implementation of the project.
4. Selection of materials and equipment.
5. Bringing the project to the norms, standards and government requirements.
6. Coordination of the project with the customer, regulatory authorities.
7. Development of estimates (gives an understanding of the budget).
A professionally drafted engineering project is also a big savings. Preliminary calculations of the technical parameters of systems and devices in them will help to purchase exactly those materials that are needed, at a good price and in the required quantity. And also find reliable contractors who implement the project in the best possible timeframe at a favorable cost.
In the future, the project documentation will help to avoid many disagreements, to carry out repairs, maintenance and replacement of technical components faster and more profitable.
