In the evolving landscape of the construction industry, Dame Judith Hackitt's "digital by default" philosophy is not only a call for efficiency and innovation but also a mandate for enhanced safety and compliance. This philosophy underscores the critical need for digital solutions that not only streamline processes but also facilitate meeting safety standards and regulatory compliance in construction projects. The digital transformation, as advocated by Hackitt, provides a framework for creating transparent, traceable, and accountable systems that can significantly improve safety outcomes and compliance evidence.
The introduction of dynaMX®, an online bracket configurator, into this digital ecosystem, represents a significant leap forward in aligning with these principles. dynaMX® is not just a tool for customisation and efficiency, but also a platform designed with safety and compliance at its core. By leveraging the digital capabilities of dynaMX®, users can ensure that the brackets they design, and order meet the highest safety standards and are compliant with relevant regulations.
This article explores how dynaMX® can transform your construction projects.
The core feature of dynaMX® is its ability to automate the bracket configuration process. It does so by using engineering principles, mathematics and algorithms that consider a wide array of project-specific details. Users can input various specifications such as the required load the bracket needs to support, the type of materials they prefer to use, and any spatial limitations they might have. The system then uses these inputs to propose bracket configurations that are not just feasible but optimised for the needs of the project. This level of customisation ensures that the solutions provided are tailored to meet the unique challenges and requirements of each construction project.
Here are some specific parameters that your bracket design can be customised to:
dynaMX® is designed as per the specific load capacities of the MIDFIX MX Channel System. This integration ensures that users can confidently use the generated designs, knowing they are tailored to work with a specific, high-quality tested channel system. However, these design and load recommendations are, therefore, non-transferable to non-MX products.
A critical issue plaguing the construction industry is the widespread practice of installing brackets without the rigorous, evidence-backed design processes mandated by building safety standards, such as those stipulated in the Building Safety Act (BSA). Often, these bracket assemblies play crucial roles in maintaining structural integrity, making their correct installation paramount to safety. Ignoring these requirements not only poses severe safety risks but also exposes contractors to significant financial and legal consequences.
Many contractors bypass consulting with engineering teams for bracket designs, especially for simpler projects, viewing it as an unnecessary expense and an inefficient use of resources. This tendency leads to a widespread reliance on shortcuts and cost-cutting alternatives that compromise compliance and safety.
dynaMX® addresses this pervasive problem by automating the bracket design process, bringing a level of precision and compliance that was previously difficult to achieve with manual methods. It optimises every bracket design for safety and efficiency, aligning with stringent industry standards, yet it does so without the additional costs and delays typically associated with traditional design processes.
Here’s how dynaMX® transforms the industry:
The Building Safety Act 2022 is a legislative framework in the UK aimed at improving building safety, particularly in the wake of the Grenfell Tower tragedy. It introduces stricter regulations for the design, construction, and management of buildings, emphasising the safety of residents. Key aspects include enhanced testing and accountability throughout a building's lifecycle, from design and construction to occupation.
How dynaMX® assists:
Designs Safe Brackets: dynaMX® ensures that every suggested solution is safe, considering load requirements and material specifications in bracket design, and therefore adheres to the latest regulations and standards. One of the critical features of dynaMX® is its ability to perform automated load and stress analysis on the brackets. This analysis is crucial for determining whether the brackets can safely support the loads they will encounter during use without failing, especially as most times M&E brackets are considered safety-critical fixings and therefore require more rigorous attention. Automating these calculations significantly reduces the likelihood of human error, leading to higher-quality outcomes in construction projects. This integration helps prevent non-compliance issues from arising during construction or inspection phases.
Systematisation: dynaMX®, by being specifically tailored to the MIDFIX MX Channel System, exemplifies the power of systematisation in construction design and material selection. This focus ensures that users leverage a suite of products that have undergone extensive testing as part of a cohesive system, providing greater assurance of performance, compatibility, and reliability. The inherent systematisation of dynaMX® means that every component, including the channels, anchors, and fittings, is optimised to work seamlessly together, based on the technical load data and rigorous evaluation supporting the MX Channel System.
Documentation and Traceability: The Building Safety Act requires detailed records of decision-making processes, materials used, and compliance checks throughout the construction process. dynaMX® can generate comprehensive technical configuration reports that serve as part of this essential documentation, ensuring that all decisions around M&E installations are well-documented and traceable.
Expanding on the last point, The Golden Thread is a concept introduced as part of the Act, emphasising the importance of maintaining a record of building information that is accurate, easily accessible, and up-to-date. This information must cover the entire lifecycle of a building, from planning and construction to occupation and maintenance.
By providing a comprehensive configuration report at the end of the designing process, dynaMX® not only supports the creation and maintenance of this Golden Thread, but it also aligns closely with Dame Judith Hackitt's "Digital by Default" philosophy. Dame Judith Hackitt's "Digital by Default" philosophy in construction is a forward-thinking approach that emphasises the importance of integrating digital technology into all aspects of construction and building management. This approach is driven by the recognition that digital technologies can significantly enhance efficiency, transparency, traceability, and greater accountability within the construction industry.
dynaMX® aids in creating and maintaining a digitalised Golden Thread in several ways:
Digital Record-Keeping: dynaMX®, being a digital tool, naturally facilitates the creation of digital records for every aspect of the bracket configuration process. This includes specifications, design choices, load capacities, and compliance details, all of which are integral to the Golden Thread. These records are compiled into the report by the end of the design process, ensuring that contractors have the digital evidence to support their bracket configurations.
Facilitating Information Sharing: The Golden Thread is not just about storing information but also about ensuring it is accessible to those who need it, when they need it. The dynaMX® platform facilitates easy sharing of configuration reports by allocating each completed design with an 11-digit-code that can be shared with relevant stakeholders, including building owners, safety managers, and regulatory bodies. This gives easy access to all the digital information pertaining to the bracket you have configured.
Updates and Revisions: As projects evolve, so too can the specifications and requirements for M&E installations. dynaMX® allows for the easy updating of configurations without the repeated need for consulting design engineers, ensuring that the Golden Thread remains current and reflective of the project's latest state. This adaptability is essential for maintaining compliance over the building's lifecycle.
By integrating dynaMX® into their workflows, M&E contractors are better equipped to adopt and promote sustainable construction practices.
One of the primary ways dynaMX® promotes sustainability is through its advanced material optimisation capabilities. As touched upon, the platform enables M&E contractors to design and configure brackets with the most efficient use of materials, minimising waste and reducing the environmental footprint. By ensuring that materials are used more efficiently, dynaMX® helps conserve natural resources and reduces the overall material costs associated with construction projects.
The precise calculations and customisations available through dynaMX® reduce the likelihood of errors, physical prototypes, and the need for rework, which, in turn, decreases the amount of waste generated during construction projects.
While consulting with design consultants is instrumental for larger-scale, more complex projects, in instances where designs are smaller in scale, common, and easily replicated, automation becomes not only feasible but also effortless.
For example, while trapeze brackets and AHU frames may vary slightly in material and length, the underlying principles and inputs remain consistent. In the time it would take an engineer to create a single 'adequate' solution applicable to every trapeze bracket, automation allows for the generation of multiple optimal solutions tailored to each bracket individually. Since these solutions are based on a fixed set of variables and consistent design principles, automating these designs would mean that contractors would only need to rely on design teams for larger-scale, more complex projects that require specialised attention.
This significantly enhances time management efficiency. When tasks are assigned to the design team, processing the requirements, performing the necessary calculations, and arriving at the final design can be time-consuming. In comparison, utilising a configurator drastically cuts down the design time from potentially 1-2 hours, which is typical when manually handled, to just a few minutes.
Apart from the obvious efficiency that comes with automating bracket configuration, here are a few other ways dynaMX® can speed up your projects:
Reduction of Human Errors: Errors made during manual calculations and configurations can lead to delays and the need for rework, especially in the case of safety-critical fixings that can cause significant onsite risks upon failure. The dynaMX® automated system configures designs that are accurate the first time, thereby saving time that would otherwise be spent correcting mistakes.
Customisable Design Options: By offering customisable design options, dynaMX® reduces the iteration time typically required to arrive at an optimal solution. Users can input their exact project needs, and receive tailored solutions instantly.
Overcoming Communication Hurdles: Coordination issues often arise when working with design consultants, especially when they are not on-site or when multiple consultants are engaged in various parts of the project. dynaMX® enables bracket configuration from any location, at any time, eliminating the need for dependency on external team members. This streamlines the process, cutting down the time dedicated to discussions, clarifications, and approvals, thereby speeding up the overall project schedule.
Documentation: Upon finalising a bracket configuration, the system automatically compiles all relevant data into a detailed report. This all-inclusive approach removes the time associated with compiling information from multiple sources. The accessibility that comes with the 11-digit allocated code also saves time when modifications are needed, as the original configurations and their rationale are readily available for reference.
dynaMX® leverages digital innovation to streamline the M&E contracting processes and offers a comprehensive approach to cost reduction without compromising on quality or efficiency. Here's how dynaMX® achieves this:
Reduction of Manual Labor
As you can gather, by automating the process of bracket configuration, dynaMX® significantly reduces the amount of manual labour required. This automation means that engineers and designers spend less time on tedious calculations and configurations, allowing them to focus on other critical aspects of the project. The reduction in labour hours directly translates to cost savings.
By reducing the risk of manual errors, dynaMX® also reduces the labour time and resources spent on costly reworks.
Optimised Material Usage
dynaMX® calculates the exact requirements for brackets, avoiding overuse of materials and reducing waste. This precise calculation means that projects only spend on necessary materials, which is not only sustainable but also avoids excess purchasing costs.
Compliance and Safety
dynaMX® reduces the risk of compliance issues or safety failures which can lead to fines (e.g. from the Building Safety Regulator), delays, and additional work, all of which have associated costs. Ensuring safety also reduces the risk of accidents, which can have significant financial implications. This is crucial as many M&E bracket assemblies are safety critical in nature.
Scalability
The dynaMX® platform's capability to incorporate additional capacity for future needs significantly reduces the likelihood of costly and disruptive future renovations or expansions. By anticipating and planning for future requirements, dynaMX® helps ensure that M&E installations are not only compliant with current standards but are also versatile enough to meet future demands. This proactive approach to construction design and planning can lead to significant savings in time, money, and resources over the long term.
Accessibility
The best part about dynaMX® is that it is completely free to sign up, offering an immediate and cost-effective solution for the construction industry. This accessibility eliminates the financial barrier often associated with design teams or being compliant, allowing a broader range of contractors and engineers to adopt high-standard, compliant bracket designs without incurring upfront costs. The free access to dynaMX® ensures that all industry players, regardless of their size or budget, can benefit from optimised safety, efficiency, and compliance in their projects.
dynaMX® can significantly bolster the competitive edge of Mechanical and Electrical (M&E) contractors, enabling them to win more projects in the future through several strategic advantages. By leveraging the capabilities of dynaMX®, contractors can not only streamline their operations but also demonstrate a higher level of professionalism, efficiency, and innovation to potential clients. Here are key ways in which dynaMX® empowers contractors in the bidding and execution phases of projects:
Improved Efficiency and Productivity
dynaMX® streamlines the design, planning, and execution processes, making project workflows more efficient. This increased efficiency can lead to faster project completion times, which is a critical factor for clients when choosing a contractor. Being able to promise and deliver on quicker completion times without sacrificing quality can significantly increase a contractor's chances of winning bids.
Demonstration of Technological Proficiency
Utilising dynaMX® showcases a contractor's commitment to leveraging cutting-edge technology for project management and execution, making them stand out in an industry that can lean towards traditionalism and being “set in their ways”. This technological proficiency can be a significant differentiator in a competitive bidding process, appealing to clients who value innovation and efficiency. It signals to clients that the contractor is forward-thinking and capable of handling complex projects with modern solutions.
Safety and Compliance
As discussed above, one of the standout features of dynaMX® is its capacity to assist contractors in complying with the Building Safety Act 2022. Apart from the benefits mentioned, this capability also reassures clients of the contractor’s commitment to safety and regulatory adherence, further enhancing their attractiveness to potential clients.
The introduction of dynaMX® marks a significant milestone in the digitalisation journey of the construction industry. It exemplifies how targeted, innovative solutions can address specific challenges faced by M&E contractors, thereby improving overall project outcomes. As we look to the future, the adoption of digital solutions like dynaMX® will not only redefine the standards of construction projects but also ensure that the industry is well-equipped to meet the challenges of tomorrow. Digitalisation is no longer an option but a necessity for those looking to stay competitive and deliver projects that meet the high standards of quality, efficiency, and sustainability demanded by the modern world.