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imagineyour construction project on time, to budget and working well.

roads hospitals cinemas
railways

power stations machinery theatres houses tower

SIMPLE

An essential guide for clients

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bringing experience

managing risk

adding value savingtime saving money o listening

understandingo using knowledge e delivering

o bringing

the energy of engineers

working for you
Engineers are fundamental to the process of creating wealthand building servic s, infor on

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a

rastruc'c,transpo
a an dev lopment ers engi
sultan wi lead effectiveurban

wellbeingfor our society. Withoutthem the worldwe live in would be avery differentplace. Therewould be no majorbuildings, water and electricity supplyand distribution, roads, rail and air transportand terminals, ports and harbours, telephoneand electronic
communications, major manufacturing and the ability to c ry forward a sustainable development

technology, telec municati s, acoustics, materials te ing, mecha cal, elec nc , sec ,

Management The management of the design and

logisti s, verticaltran portation, intern I buildin env nment and public ealth a rvices.
En

esig , co necting urban spaces transport links. Engineers plan and d ign safe publictransport,

of a complexproject requires strong technical skills and broad experience. Engineers bring professional management services,
execution

on

ntal e

Expert racti cont mpora

. s provi velo

uneers

, highways, railways, dams,

,p

tical solu

bridgesand viaducts, oil and gas supply, tunnelsand pipelines.

commencingwith the development of the strategic planning for the project,through to the management of the design process, and including
procurement, contracts, health and safety, the environment and cost management. Engineers provide the client with timelyand accurate information which can be used to

to
en

ustain

le

entand

Industrialprocesses
Engineersthink through processes, improving a client'sstrategicposition by generating betterways of doing things: functional industrial planning, processoptimisation, functional
process technologies, simulations, benchmarking, logistics planning, effectivechangecontrol, value engineering, projecttiming control, operational and efficiencyadvice.

ental iss es, civil, nd

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an engineer's work.

programme that minimises the on the environment. Everyt ng that we see and do has been ected b

geotec nical, fling, m stal and ri er, water suppl

Building engineers Provide up-to-dat acr the full range of isciplines n ded to design or re urbish 1 ng. Consultants inc ude s uctur , ire, access,facade, otechnical,

at t, wast is osal and rec ling ineering. Consu ants adviseon effici use of terials, energy and environ nt policy and

guide the overall direction and of the process. management

pollut n control. Desig s of nuclear, elec al, hydro, thermal and wind ower g eration and transmission ar II engin ing led.

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(perience o managing risk o adding value

saving time saving money

listenFng o understandingo using knowledgeo delivering o bringing experienceo mar

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sorting the proce

osi r Engineers are a uniq because oftheir hnical a

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The relationship between clients, consultingengineerssnd other members of the integrated team is critical to the success ofany project. Teamwork and clear lines of communication from the very start build success both in the delivery process and the end result. This guide takes into account currentindustrythinking for

o
nt

organisational skills, to elp the achieve eir busine nee . Engin ers have a de under tanding t science and as ot c nstruction and proces

ossi sta a project is an im rtant cision that only you, s the ie , can take. But, how do u choosebetween the consul ng engineerswho have m proposals?

r key p yers, at the earliest

IVisit consultant'soffices, meeting the proposed design teamson their

homeground ITalk to some other clients,assess their levels of satisfaction with the servicesof their consultingengineer IRememberthat lowest price does not necessarily meanbest value This information will enablea best valuechoice of consultantto be made. An early appointment will allow both client and consultantto work together in the definition and planning stages. It is duringthis phasethat the project brief should be developed as partof the contractualagreementbetween the client and the consultant.

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4

integrated teamworking best valuesolutions.

to obtain

ge. heywi elp crest a derstsn 'ng of ba nee and hen d i an evelop a c cise ution. as a ult, a cons tion proj ct is re uired, e gineer then ms ide in reality.
know clear brie note,

ityto

nalyse

d apply

Make your decisionbasedon sound

business principles.

IReview all the data submiffed,

if necessary givingweightingsthat
reflectthe priority and importance that you wish to give to the various categoriesof data

tai able from

sfudherinform on on

I Personal relationships count.

Be sure to selectconsulting
engineersthat you reallybelieve you can work with

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aging risk

addingvalue

saving

time o saving money o listening

understanding

using knowledge delivering

bringing experienceo managing risk

defining your needs

To get the best valuefrom your design professionals, should:

0000
00

agreements and fees basis

Model forms of agreementare available from ACE and provide a

IState the

ise to the brief

usually expectedto information on how II be run:

a good brief

IBe precise,

clearly setting out a description of the projectand why

it is needed

ISetout proposed

design standards, specifications and codes of practice

llnclude any available information such as a feasibilitystudy orsite

investigation

IThe project management systems to be used for changecontrol, risk

and qualitymanagement, and health and safety

more detailedarticulation of the work to be carriedout by the consultant when delivering the brief. These agreementsset down the obligations of the client and the consultant to each other, including the payment

of fees,

A briefing note containingfurther

information on methodsof

IState what technical services are needed, and when the are needed
UShow what work is to

IThe project management system to be used for the consultant's

specific activities

establishingfees can be obtained from ACE.

houseby the client

byjoint working

CONSULTING ENGINEERS: MAKING A COMPLEX WORLD SIMPLE

In the natural world, atructures and living beings have evolved to become

U...

This knowledgeincludes:
UUnderstanding and developing your objectives, making sure that yop get what you need UIdentifying the most appropriate procurement route and contract

totallyappmpriateto function, place and scale. Successfulprojectsfollow this concept and engineersguide this achievement. The result is added value with integrated costeffectiveness,

strategy

Projectsuccess comes through investingearly in a consulting engineer'sexpertise. An engineeron the teamtromvision development onwards provides the confidencefor a projectto go toardsmoothly Engineersare business people. Theywork with organisatiorsto make them more efficient, add value, and deliver quality, In the early stages

Undei standingthe projectprocess

lExploring risks and ways to mitigate them ILook,nq at all desrgn possibilities, weighing up the options to give best value IThinking aheadto the whole life cycle costing ot the projectduring design, constructiunand use IBringing to the whole process the skills needed to promote
responsible use of resources,

ot any projact,

consultingengineerswill sharetheir driven powertul,commercially to knowledge help you by providing the independent client advice recommended by the lalast industry best practice guidelines.

contributingboth to the economic wellbeingand a sustainable future.

)JO

your risks
managed
Everything that we do, in all aspects of life, carries an elementof risk. Risk is also an inevitable part of business. Consulting engineerscan advise you on how to minimise and contain any risks that you may encounter,

YourconsL'ltir to help you turn

Your

ineers early

the development of a collaborative

relationship will ensurethe preparation of a clear and comprehensive brief so essential for success. Engineers bring

ling process will

money. The earlier

the the

Someof the issues that will needto be addressed, from the very start, will include: IRisks associated with ,. and refurbishment

is appointedthe less will be of cost Jes broughtto the attention later in the are more likelyto require
solutions which increase costs.

Environmental issues
IHealthand safety issues

Front-endthinking from skilled, experienced solution providers will deliver an integrated, carefully planned projectthat fully meets the needsof the users and the
objectives

together the bestforward thinking in terms of ideas, value, efficiency and design, whilst taking into account health and safetyaspects,whole life costing and operations.

of your business.

Economic influences

IThe impact ofdelay, or

aboveareas,
up

Involving engineersat an early stage will enablethem to fully understand the client's business objectives, and

C E
Association

of Consulting Engineers

AllianceHouse 12 CaxtonStreet
London

SW1H OOL Tel: 020 7222 6557 Briehngnotes giving furtherinformationon some ofthe issuesraised in this guide are available fromACE at the addressopposite oronl,seat www.ucenet.couk Fax: 020 7222 0750 consultacenetcouk

ov.acenef.co.uk