Shop fit-outs: What Installers Should Expect from Engineers

Article written by Craig MacDonald As the regulation around seismic compliance continues to tighten, we are seeing increasing demand for design certification for structural design of shopfronts, suspended ceilings and partitions within small shop fit-outs. This was certainly the case for recently completed Auckland developments such as Commercial Bay and Westfield Newmarket. Flagship developments like these have consolidated a new set of standards for best practice when it comes to structural, wind and seismic compliance, but what exactly does this shift in focus mean for fit-out installers? The requirement for design compliance in shop fit-outs is a new reality for installers and one that has the potential to severely delay a project. As design certification is generally required quickly (with not much time left between the architectural detailed design being finished and date they need to submit their consent application) the installers are required to work to an extremely tight schedule, facing the possibility of large penalties if construction is not completed on time or if the as built certification is issued late due to non conformances or engineering delays. This is a stark contrast in comparison to the working standards for larger scale office fit-outs where there is generally more time onsite and therefore more time to organise engineer inspections. What should installers expect from engineers during construction? Engineers and installers should collaborate to produce an efficient design. There are clear advantages of holding an early site meeting in which the installer and engineer discuss the different features of the design and onsite restrictions before collaborating to produce a customised solution. A proactive approach helps to ensure design build-ability and speed of delivery. Two crucial advantages in a time critical situation. Unfortunately, engineers are rarely engaged by installers to complete the design compliance. Instead, they are typically engaged by developers or architects who merely require the compliance documentation and are not necessarily aware of the value in holding pre-design meetings. Engineers should be on site Installers need engineers who respond quickly and provide onsite useful advice, not engineers who need to perform checks back at the office. Frequent onsite monitoring forms an integral part of our service when engaging with client projects. They are an extremely proactive way of staying abreast of project requirements, challenges and issues as they arise. This allows our engineers to provide fast solutions based on client needs. If your engineers aren’t meeting you on site, you should be asking them why. Seismic design needs to be adaptable In order to fit the varying conditions encountered onsite, seismic design needs to remain flexible. For example, the design of suspended ceilings may need to be adapted to resolve clashes with suspended services in the ceiling void. As there is generally not enough time to incorporate this design change into revised design compliance documentation, the variation is therefore captured in a C.A.N report (Construction Advice Note) and then incorporated into the final as built certification. It’s important to engage with experienced engineers who are well versed in situations like these, as seismic compliance is never a ‘one size fits all’ solution. It’s important as an industry to push for best practice approach, ensuring that the right information is passed down the chain efficiently, risk is minimised and because BVT are experts in this field we have typically seen all the common issues encountered and can provide quick and useful advice onsite. If you’d like to ask us any questions about what you’ve read today, we welcome you to get in touch by entering your detail in the form below.

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