Page 13 - CSA INDEX - Spring Summer 2021

It also sends a dangerous message from those within the world
of Building Services to all other built environment professionals;
a message that this engineering world is simple, insignificant,
unimportant, inferior to your world, not worthy of your attention...

And yet in 2020, I am still amazed to see work scopes being
described in terms of M & E, specifications structured as M & E,
quantities being taken and cost plans being configured in terms
of M & E, work being planned using M & E programmes and M &
E contracts being awarded.

All of this is characterised by a lack of clarity and consistency in
defining things such as technical inputs, performance outcomes,
roles & responsibilities, money needed, task durations, sequences The remarkable thing about Building Services is that when
of work, commissioning logic, maintenance regimes and delivered correctly, these systems become more than the sum of
skills required. their parts – something beyond just an assembly of components.
They become the key to success for the construction of any
Even within the same organisations, I see different offices and building. They become dynamically functioning, interconnected
project teams produce crucial documents like cost plans in systems that bring buildings life and make everyday life on
completely different ways and without any discernible structure. Earth possible.
So, the use of the binary term M & Eis hugely problematic.
Given their incredible diversity and importance, an absence
of structure and clarity is the absolute enemy of efficient and
effective execution of Building Services work.

The question the site engineer posed me was:

"Glenn, why don't people take M & E seriously?"

The short answer would be:
"Because M & Eis not a serious term."

It is Building Services that everyone working in the built
environment needs to take seriously. Below is a short manifesto
to help make this happen:

Building Services professionals:

You are working in one of the most technologically-rich,
challenging and important aspects of the modern world.

Your systems enable buildings such as hospitals, schools, offices,
shops, airports, laboratories, data centres, stadiums and homes
to function. You connect and automate the world. You keep
people comfortable, safe, secure and clean. In your hands, you
hold a key to a sustainable future for our planet.
When used by the Building Services community, as it still too
commonly is, it creates a dysfunctional, two-lane starting point Be proud of what you do and take your profession seriously.
for project execution that undermines the ability to manage work Develop a detailed understanding of how your Building Services
in an efficient and effective way. world is composed and classified – and take personal responsibility