DECATUR, GA — A new report and webinar from Safe Piping Matters reveal critical factors that architects, engineers, and contractors must evaluate when considering value engineering of plumbing systems. Using research, industry data, and case examples, they explain the factors design and construction teams should use to select pipe materials that will perform safely and reliably. The full report is available at safepipingmatters.org/value-engineering-in-plumbing-systems/.
“Value engineering represents an important issue that is under-considered for critical water, waste, and fire-protection systems,” said Paul Hagar, Executive Director of Safe Piping Matters. “This report and webinar explain exactly why owners find that many value-engineered plumbing systems deliver ‘no engineering and very little value’ over the long term.”
The new report and webinar cover a range of issues, including:
- Safety & health: How well does a given plumbing system maintain the integrity of protective measures in buildings? Does it protect occupants from exposure to substances with negative health impacts?
- Durability & resilience: What factors affect how long the system will perform to required standards? What factors can put a plumbing system at risk of failure?
- Sustainability: How great an impact does making, operating, and removing a plumbing system have on the environment?
- Liability: What are insurers finding with regard to losses related to building plumbing?
“Design and construction professionals must not over-prioritize cost at the expense of plumbing system integrity,” added Hagar. “When they do, the resulting plumbing issues can increase maintenance and operation costs, cause extensive damage to property, or even lead to loss of life.”