Maximising benefit for M&E services with DfMA

At Bryden Wood, we are working with.

I believe the lack of clarity around nomenclature in the DfMA landscape has become a major barrier to change.A clear and universally understood definition framework would help increase stakeholder awareness and confidence in adopting innovative construction methods and could help encourage a more structured and focused conversation across the industry at large..

The minefield of different terms means there is a tendency to assume that the landscape is complicated but there really is a simple relationship between all these different elements and it starts with DfMA.. DfMA is a design approach.The clue is in the name.“Design for Manufacture and Assembly” is a design approach.

Conventional design either has a presumption towards conventional construction or is agnostic regarding the construction method.Conversely, a DfMA design is developed to be constructed in a particular way..

When designing for manufacture and assembly, the designer must find the best way to meet the client’s requirements by considering the most efficient way to manufacture elements of the building and the most efficient way to assemble them on site.

Manufacturing and assembly processes can be carried out in off-site or near-site factories and consolidation centres and also within the site itself.. DfMA means the designer needs to consider the construction methods that will be used from early in a project.In the centre are the physical elements: superstructure, envelope, fit out and MEP (mechanical, electrical and plumbing).

Surrounding these are the supporting activities and tools which inform and leverage the physical components: spatial analysis, digital tools, and delivery.. ‘Spatial Analysis’.uses data from projects or programmes to create insight into what should be included in the physical ‘kit of parts’.

This will help to ‘develop and adopt shared requirements and common standards’ as described in the ‘harmonise, digitise and rationalise’ policy.. Spatial Analysis considers the requirements of the spaces that make up assets (lighting, air change rates, thermal comfort, acoustics and so on).It also includes details of the technical performance of the physical components that make them..