- Designed for tight bid packages
There are many levels of engineering for piping design. I have done both commercial piping deign, as well as
heavy industrial piping design. The level of detail is different.
Even within heavy industry, the range of piping design varies by industry. Clients in Oil & Gas and Power & Utilities
tend to expect more detailed piping bid packages than Pulp and Paper clients.
If you would like to minimize contractor change orders,
while increasing the probably you will obtain a high quality installation,
a higher level of detail is helpful for piping bid packages.
Higher End for Pulp & Paper
Although I can certainly adjust for client perferences, there is value in providing piping drawings that
might be considered at the more detailed end of the spectrum for Pulp & Paper clients.
It provides the client with the lowest cost risk for the project. The client is
also more likely to be happy with the end result.
And here is why.
Fully detailed piping RFQ (Request for Quotation) packages provide:
- Less room for interpretation, or misinterpretation by the bidders.
The contractors feel comfortable bidding more tightly since
the scope is clear. They are not worried about other bidders skimping on quality since the scope is black and white.
All bidders are including the same number of elbows, supports, valves, feet of piping, etc. There should
be no variation in quantities between the bidders.
- Bids should have a smaller spread, since very little is left up to the imagination of the contractors. They
won't need to guess at the number of fittings, or assume support designs. By contrast, if the scope is vague, the contractor will
likely quote a higher price to cover the risk of more unknowns.
- During construction, the contractor will have little wiggle room to cut corners if the scope is crystal clear.
If the drawings show a spring hanger over the pump, there will be no excuse
for it not being installed.
- There is a better chance that valves and instrumentation will be placed in a location that is best for the client, and not where it
was easiest for the contractor.
- The design is in the best interest of you, the client, rather than what
is in the best interest of the contractor. If it is not on the engineers drawings, do you really think the contractor
will include a spring hanger over a pump to ensure piping loads on the pump are within allowable limits? Not likely.
They will provide the cheapest design that will win the bid, and you will suffer years of pump
reliability problems.
Sample of Piping Packages