A building layout that has been optimized for mechanical/electrical/plumbing (MEP)

services will not only have a lower construction cost, but it will also be cheaper to
design. A thoughtfully designed building layout will have a direct impact on the
complexity of its plumbing system, which in turn will have a direct impact on savings
among all design teams involved. Helping the design team minimize coordination
efforts and delivering a successful building design without exceeding the project
budget starts with a close cooperation between the plumbing engineer and the
architect early in the design process.

To aid in the process, Primera Engineers has developed a Design Checklist to help
both architects and plumbing designers create efficient building layouts while
preventing common errors, which could lead to extensive rework and coordination
during the MEP design phase. This list has been populated with items from our long
history of working on plumbing design projects as well as current code requirements
and design guide suggestions.

As an example, consider one of the items found on the checklist: “Plumbing

equipment room should be as close as possible to main bathroom groups and
kitchens.” The proximity of these spaces will minimize the amount of large domestic
water piping in ceilings. The shorter the runs, the less likely plumbing piping will run
into clashes with large mechanical ductwork, electrical conduit or structural
elements. These conflicts inflate construction costs because they typically require
installation of offsets in piping and ductwork, which call for additional costs
associated with coordination, material, and labor. System efficiency is also
jeopardized by the addition of these piping and ductwork offsets. Additionally,
designing a plumbing system for a building with long piping runs will have a
significant impact on the budget of the entire design team; the plumbing engineer will
have more conflicts to coordinate with structural, electrical, and mechanical
disciplines while the architect may be asked to lower the ceilings in order to
accommodate the congested infrastructure located within the ceiling space. By
following this guideline and others on the list, the architect has an opportunity to
holistically value engineer the project on a large scale while helping the entire design
team maximize the budget.

The other items on the checklist have similar implications for the efficiency of the
design process as well as the construction cost of the end product. Primera’s
plumbing engineers look for these items when we first receive plans from our clients
because coordinating these items with the architect early in the design process will
ensure a faster and smoother design phase that eliminates rework for all parties
involved. This cost saving approach is one of our top priorities – after all, we are all
on the same team.

Highlights of the checklist Primera uses at the start of each plumbing projects is
included below:
 General Building Layout Considerations That Minimize Plumbing
Infrastructure Costs:

 Plumbing equipment room should be as close as possible to main bathroom

groups and kitchens.
 Outdoor and indoor large grease interceptors should be located where they
can be easily accessed by pumper trucks which typically maintain the grease
interceptors on monthly or quarterly basis.
 Consider ceiling construction that allows for a minimum number of plumbing
access panels on floors where domestic distribution piping is routed or on floors
were multiple sanitary cleanouts will be located in the ceiling space.
 On multi-floor projects, stack plumbing fixtures and plumbing chases
wherever possible.
 Avoid locating plumbing fixtures directly above overhangs or unheated
garage spaces, if possible.
 Do not locate fixtures on the exterior walls of the building
 Ensure that enough room is provided for water mains to exit plumbing
equipment room without running into spaces such as electrical rooms, staircases,
and elevator shafts.
 Domestic water meter needs to located within 2’-0” of the front wall of the
building and within 50’-0” of the property line, otherwise outdoor meter vault will be
required.

Plumbing Fixture Location and Roof Drain Location Checklist:

Plumbing fixtures or roof drains must not be located over these spaces:

 Electrical Rooms
 Electrical Closets
 MDF Rooms
 Elevator Equipment Rooms
 Fire Pump Rooms
 Staircases
 Elevator Shafts

Drainage pipes from plumbing fixtures or roof drains located over these spaces will
require addition of drain pans (increasing construction costs):

 Kitchens
 Food Prep Areas
 Dining Areas

Drainage pipes from plumbing fixtures or roof drains located in these spaces will
require heat tracing (Building lifetime electricity cost imposed on the owner):
 Overhangs Open to Outside Air
 Unheated Garages
 Unheated Storage Rooms Adjacent to Exterior Walls of the Building.
 Unheated Loading Docks

Structural Constraints:

 Plumbing chases and fixtures should not be located over structural footings
which are located directly under the floor slab
 Plumbing chases should not be placed directly over structural beams
(Structural beams are commonly aligned with column lines)
 Plumbing chases should not be placed at structural expansion joints

These are just a few of the examples and guidelines we use to design efficient
plumbing systems to ensure each project remains on budget. For more information
on Primera’s full capabilities and plumbing design services, contact Mariusz Klimek.