COVER STORY
Is sustainable value engineering possible?
industry, the pursuit of sustainability and value engineering have become inextricably linked. As the industry grapples with rising costs and stringent environmental targets, with eco-friendly been more pressing. value engineering, taking it back to its roots while embracing a sustainable mindset. Geberit, explains
Value does not always equal cost
Value engineering has been a mainstay principle of construction for several decades as designers look to decrease project costs by examining the function of each item or element and its associated cost. By weighing the benefit - cost ratio, building design teams often make suggestions for alternate construction methods, designs, or materials that should improve the value of a project. However, over time the concept of value engineering has become misconstrued, often manifesting as a cost-cutting exercise that prioritises short-term savings over long-term value. This is a particular challenge in modern construction. While endeavouring to invest in more sustainable materials and construction methods, businesses face a supply and demand imbalance that often results in sustainable options being more expensive than traditional alternatives. Simply put, rarely do sustainable materials, with their higher short-term costs, meet cost-cutting exercises. This potentially short- sighted approach can lead to the specification of incorrect products, down-specifying materials, and cutting corners – ultimately compromising quality, longevity, and overall project costs, not to mention continually stalling sustainability efforts. Can true value engineering have a place in a world chasing lower costs?
True value engineering goes beyond upfront costs – it’s about maximising the benefits you get for your investment over the long run. When evaluating options, specifiers must look beyond the initial purchasing price and dig deeper to understand the full lifecycle costs and performance implications. How durable are materials? What ongoing maintenance will be required? Will one option operate more efficiently, saving money over time? Piping is a good example where opting for a lower cost product can cause longer term lifecycle issues. Incorrect material choices can
increase corrosion risks and installation projects can quickly run over time and budget when more traditional options fail to offer the same installation efficiencies.
If traditional copper is specified, for example, a site team may have to solder fittings, requiring a hot works permit, rather than enjoy the effortless installation of a press-fit system. A multi-layer piping system could be derogated to metal or plastic. Lower cost products might even be chosen which may not command the same longevity of the required product guarantee. These options may represent a saving at purchasing stage, but often deliver anything but in practice.
Value drivers are not always quantitative, but often qualitative too. As such, value engineering should consider cost management, added quality, and importantly, life cycle and maintenance.
This is where value analysis comes into play.
Value analysis is a systematic process that seeks to improve the value of a product, service, or system by analysing its functions and identifying opportunities for enhancement or optimisation. Value analysis takes a holistic approach, examining both quantitative and qualitative aspects to identify areas for improvement. Through value analysis, project teams can explore alternative materials, designs, or processes that not only reduce costs but also improve performance, durability, sustainability, and the overall value proposition. This process involves a thorough examination of the product’s or system’s functions, identifying unnecessary or redundant features, and exploring ways to simplify or streamline without compromising essential functions.
When designing the new Geberit FlowFit multi-layer piping system, launched in April last year, Geberit successfully balanced value engineering, value analysis and sustainability. The result of nearly a decade of intensive research and development, Geberit FlowFit combines the benefits of multi-layer piping with a patented pressing method. This innovative solution sets a new standard for sustainable piping solutions, offering installers and specifiers a value-engineered product that aligns with environmental best practices. During the manufacturing stage, we invested in facilities with new injection moulding technologies, reducing energy intensity and minimising the logistics. This, in addition to following a circular approach to pre-consumer material reuse and recycling, enables us to sustainably produce high value piping products. We also offer installers the opportunity to return plastic parts removed as part of the installation process, which can be fed back into future production. Value can also be substantiated by understanding the embodied carbon of individual products within the Geberit FlowFit range. We provide Environmental Performance Declarations (EPDs) for all Geberit FlowFit pipes and fittings. This enables project teams to calculate the embodied carbon of individual products and assess the system’s environmental impact as part of wider construction project and building performance measures. By combining all of the above, our Geberit FlowFit multi-layer piping system exemplifies the true essence of value engineering – optimising value with a high-quality system; whilst minimising environmental impact.
www.geberit.co.uk/flowfit
12 BUILDING SERVICES & ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEER MAY 2024
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