TPT July 2013

Article

What drives choices regarding pipe material? By Chris Ricketts, category director, BSS Industrial, UK

As the cost of metal remains unpredictable, there is a visible trend in material substitution in order to bring cost stability to the specification process. Copper is a ‘one material fits all’ product and is suitable for a wide variety of building services piping applications, so the process of value engineering this particular aspect of a build isn’t straight forward. More often than not, the copper in a specification will need to be replaced with a number of different substitutes to suit the variety of piping systems in the project. Although this sounds time consuming, it is a worthwhile task and extensive cost savings can be made by switching to alternative piping and jointing systems such as press fit and grooved jointing solutions. Initial outlay vs overall cost Switching to a cheaper material might seem like the obvious solution, but value engineering managers are looking at the bigger picture to ensure that savings are maximised. Other considerations for the installation include fittings and joints, labour costs, on-site insurance, health and safety implications, flushing and cleaning cost and completion times, which can all result in substantial cost savings which outweigh the initial outlay cost of a more expensive material.

Value engineering has traditionally been a tool reserved for larger scale commercial projects, but the struggling economy means that cost cutting is now an integral part of any construction plan. Rather than a post pricing activity as historically been implemented, value engineering is being employed up-front, pre-submission of pricing to clients. Whilst other areas of a build are easily value engineered to introduce more cost effective suppliers and an alternative product, the piping systems industry has seen more complex changes, which take the overall cost of an installation into consideration, rather than just the initial cost of purchasing the material itself. That said, there are still a number of instances where a simple change in material can aid a cash strapped building project. When exploring the various drivers behind the specification of piping systems, it seems that cost still reigns as the determining factor. However, it is not just the cost of the material itself, but the cost of the overall installation that needs to be calculated. Chris Ricketts, BSS Industrial category director, explains how value engineering is shaping trends in piping sales and how money is being saved on-site.

Cost stability For many years, habitual specification has meant that copper was often the material of choice for hot and cold water systems, but this is changing. The volatile price of metal can now cause major discrepancies in quantity surveying, with price fluctuation changing the cost between the time of specification and purchasing. This uncontrollable price increase has made piping systems a key area of consideration for those in charge of value engineering. It also means that finding an alternative material that can deliver savings can be imperative to a successful project.

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July 2013