There are normally two ways to accomplish any task. Generally speaking either way can get the job done, but without a doubt one way will lead to success and the other way will lead to unexpected (or maybe expected) consequences. As a good friend of mine would say “The best way to predict the future is to invent it”. My prediction is that the air conditioning unit may work – at least until it falls out of the window, which it will.
Sadly all too often we have clients that try to short cut the design process on their building projects. They look for a quick fix. This inevitably leads to poor designs, unexpected cost over runs, construction schedules not completed on time and product performance that will not live up to expectations. In past ebits we have talked often about the value of planning before you do the detailed design/engineering documents and completing the design/engineering documents before you start building. These are great concepts that we stand firmly behind. But you can have the best planning, designing, and building only to find the systems/components of the project are flawed or are not right for your application.
So to help you not get caught in a quick fix, you will need to take the time to have detailed documents completed. Without these documents the construction phase is guided only by guess work.
Good construction documents should…
…Communicate the design parameters and details to the contractor and the agencies. PDMi uses 3D modeling as a great tool to accomplish this.
…Provide Constructible Details. Just because a detail can be drawn on paper (or for that matter, dreamed up in your mind) does not mean it can be constructed. The PDMi staff has spent many years alongside contractors to understand constructible details.
…Specify Material Selection. The right materials used in the right places will assure a project's success.
We know that good Detailed Design documents will guide your project. Give us a call to talk about how PDMi can work with you on your next project.
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