Detailed Design

Detailed design for building services

Get us in early for cheaper, safer, more efficient builds

Whether it’s a new build, or a major refurb, we help your architects and structural engineers allow for building services from the very start. This saves you time, money, and hassle, and you get better results with a building that’s easier to build, more energy efficient and cost effective to operate.

“Honoris are a small team, but they're committed to providing you the expertise you need, they're passionate about what they're doing, and they’re keen, which has worked well for us.”

Stuart Taylor, Lincoln University Decarbonisation Project Lead, OCTA Project Management

The order buildings are designed in doesn’t always work

Architects start the ball rolling with initial layouts and space planning, but often this can be done with limited consideration for building services’ needs.

When this happens, it results in concept plans that don’t make enough allowance for services. Compromises and changes are needed right from the start. And you run the risk of your building being inefficient, particularly from an energy perspective. There’s a better way to work.

Consider your building services from the start

Buildings work best designed as complete systems rather than individual parts. Consider building services from the start for buildings that work well, are more efficient and more comfortable for work, life, and play.

Get us involved at master planning stage

We’ll provide you and other design team members the info you need to make informed decisions about your building services right from the start.

This helps make your design process smoother, more efficient, and cost effective.

You get more efficient building service solutions. This can mean substantial savings, as services can be 30-40% of a building project costs.

You save energy, reducing your building’s operating costs and carbon footprint.

You get a more accurate understanding of your available floor space for rent revenue from the start.

Our Safety in Design practices mean you’re not exposing contractors or tenants to risk installing, operating, and maintaining building services.

“Honoris are very good at explaining complicated technical things without using technical jargon. Their reports are easy to read. Steve especially explains issues really clearly. He’s great at speaking with our clients”

Rory Crosbie, South Island Regional Manager, Prendos

The building design process

Master planning

You’ll get advice on initial placement of building services, the floor area required, and how to accommodate services in architectural concept plans. Getting your building services in the mix from the start saves you time, money, and stress.
Design features report

Recommendations for heating, cooling, ventilation, lighting, plumbing, drainage, cabling, security, and power for every space in your building. Part of your feasibility study, this report gives detailed info on locations and space required for plant equipment, where risers need to be located to get services around the building, and questions to be resolved to move onto the next stage of design.
Concept

Outline requirements for heating, cooling, ventilation levels, lighting, plumbing, drainage, power supplies, data points, audio-visual, IT, security, and access control. The options we provide are based on your brief to us, and balance cost-effective solutions with energy efficiency, to meet your priorities for your building.
Design

The design stage moves through up to four phases, Concept Design, Preliminary Design, Developed Design and Detailed Design. At each stage we refine our recommendations and requirements and produce a design features report updated with any new information. Typically, the level of change reduces with each phase.
Consent and tender documentation

Your Building Services specifications identify every piece of equipment to be installed, and the compliance requirements for safe installation, operation, and maintenance. While 3D schematic drawings show how the system works, where all your building services equipment fits, how everything's connected, your control points, and what needs to be stripped out if you’re refurbing an existing building.

These documents give enough information for contractors to understand the scope of the project and accurately price your building services. They also show the council you’re compliant with consent requirements.

Our fees for building services design projects

Every building design project is unique, so we quote on a case-by-case basis. However, building design projects typically cost from 0.9% - 1.5% of the construction cost of the project + GST.

You can download two examples of proposals for building design projects below to get a feel for scope of work and costs.

Small Design Proposal

Full Design Proposal

Building design FAQs

Can you work with my architect and structural engineer?

Yes. We prefer to be brought into building projects as early as possible, so we can work with your architect and other contractors to make sure your building services are delivered cost effectively, safely, and efficiently. We allow for coordination to the equivalent of LOD 300 for services covered under our scope of works with architectural and structural elements, on the basis that we agree our coordination approach no later than Concept stage.
How do you do your designs?

For Concept and Preliminary Design, we do PDF mark-up drawings, and for Developed and Detailed Design we do Revit 3D models. We allow for 3D modelling of services covered in our scope, but we don’t cost for designs to be delivered using a BIM approach, unless you request this in your quote.
Do you allow for H1 code compliance in your designs?

This is something we’ll discuss with you in our initial meetings, as it depends on your needs. We can include pricing for the provision of H1 code compliance calculations for building fabric and plant energy. When it comes to your H1 Mechanical Plant review, we can provide costings once your Concept is completed, and we’ve a better understanding of the number and complexity of the systems to be reviewed.
What about water and drainage?

Our scope for incoming water supplies and outgoing foul drainage stops one metre from your building envelope. We don’t include stormwater collection and disposal in our scope of works unless you request this service.

Our proposals assume there’s adequate capacity for incoming power and water and outgoing foul drainage next to your site. Detailed investigations and negotiations with supply authorities will cost more.
How many changes am I allowed to my designs?
All projects change during the design process. Some of this change is considered natural design development, however if you change your brief during design it can add items to oir scope of works or impact on completed works. Changes to your brief can increase both your costs and the length of your programme of work.

The amount of change we allow for within our fees varies as the project progresses, with more change allowed in early design stages and less in later design stages.

When we quote for your project, we’ll breakdown the level of change we’ve costed for each design stage.

Typically, this is as follows:
- Concept: Up to 45% of the design can change.
- Preliminary Design: Up to 35% of the design can change.
- Developed Design: 10-15% of the design can change.
- Detailed Design and Consent and Tender Documentation. Less than 5% of the design can change.

“We’re building surveyors, so we look at the fabric of the building. And Steve and his team are the building services experts. Services are usually the expensive bit of a building. If they go wrong, it costs you lots. So, our clients need that expert services advice to make sure they’re getting value for money.”

Rory Crosbie, South Island Regional Manager, Prendos

Need help with your building services?

Building services are a major part of any build or building and getting them right from the start makes your life a lot easier. So, get in touch, talk to us about your building project, and we’ll tell you what we can do.

Get in touch