Building services typically account for 25-35% of the capital value of a large commercial scheme and their design and installation often sit directly on its critical path. On some specialist projects, such as collocation centres or clean rooms, the value of the services component can exceed 75% and requirements for total system reliability place huge demands on the ability of the services team to deliver.

Irrespective of the scale and complexity of the installation, good-quality design and installation work, effective co-ordination and thorough commissioning are essential for the long-term, efficient operation of the asset.

However, most players in the construction industry will recognise that building services installations could often be designed and constructed in a more efficient way, and that the procurement arrangements adopted could also protect the client’s interests more effectively.This latest article in Davis Langdon’s procurement series examines where some of these difficulties come from and outlines some of the steps that can be taken to secure cost-effective and co-ordinated design and construction.