Task Assigned
A work-stop order can halt a project overnight. That is precisely what happened to a church build-out inside a busy mall in Oviedo, Florida. National MEP Engineers stepped in to save a stalled MEP design. The client needed an expedited permit, with absolutely no existing as-built drawings to start from. The main scope included restroom code corrections and new electrical and plumbing systems for a breakroom and meeting hall.
Project Timeline
- Phase 1 : The client inherited a frozen project with zero existing drawings. So, our MEP experts first ran rapid site scans to capture actual existing conditions. Our team also absorbed the late-stage client changes to the breakroom layout.
- Phase 2 : At the beginning of this phase, the team executed accelerated mechanical load calculations using the new scans. After that, the team worked on developing proactive plumbing solutions for condensate drainage. An initial, thorough HVAC analysis corroborated that the existing units could bear the new occupancy loads.
- Phase 3 : During the final week of this project, we finalized the complete, code-adherent MEP permit set. This delivery immediately resolved the Fire Marshal’s work-stop order, allowing construction to resume within days without the stress of any delay.
Additional Notes
- The very first challenge was that the project arrived with no as-built drawings, subject to a standing work-stop order. MEP specialists on our team first leveraged point cloud scans and site photos to reconstruct the conditions.
- The capacity of the original HVAC units for the new occupancy load remained uncertain. A preliminary load analysis validated that they can handle it, sidestepping a costly equipment purchase.
- An aggressive 3-week deadline and limited resources put the permit timeline at risk. We used BIM 360 effectively for real-time collaboration to ensure engineering and design progress in parallel.
