New construction projects tend to follow a typical hierarchy when it comes to subcontracting the controls and mechanical contracts of any typical commercial or industrial construction project. Typical construction scenarios maintain the controls contractor’s scope to be inclusive of the mechanical subcontractor. With technology advancements and more advanced building systems we see a shift in the typical paradigm where the controls contractor has far surpassed being identified as solely a mechanical tiered subcontractor.

The reality is that the growth of factory OEM controls and increased equipment integration are creating a divided yet blurred line of responsibility. With the demarcation of responsibilities between the controls contractor and the OEM equipment manufacturer, there is an even greater issue of assigning responsibility. As a whole, the controls contractor’s role no longer consists of only dealing within the confines of the mechanical scope, but with the building in its entirety. Responsibilities of today’s controls companies are ever-evolving with the coordination of an increased number of trades as more devices and equipment become integrated into facility management systems for monitoring and control.

How Can We Make the Process Better?

HCT’s solution is to separate the contractual obligations of the mechanical and controls contractors. A resolution resides in hiring the controls contractor direct to the general contractor or owner rather than a combined scope and contract. Ultimately, with a more holistic view of the project HCT, as the facility system’s integrator, is coordinating with all trades much like the GC does. HCT assists in driving the completion and success of the project through its coordination of all the associated trades and their equipment. Alternate valued services in which HCT can assist, is initial system designs to present a clear decisive system engineered around the customer needs rather than basic HVAC environmental performance and ignoring all the other trades system’s requiring integration and thought. When required and consulted, value engineering solutions may not have as much impact on the integrity of the system and needs of the customer if design review incorporates the controls contractors’ expertise from a holistic system perspective.

How Do We Know Our Way Works?

HCT has worked in this capacity in many pharmaceutical and industrial projects, driving a much greater level of control and efficiency to projects because of our direct relationship with the general contractor or owner compared to a third-tier relationship under the normal construction paradigm. This allows HCT to manage and mitigate installation, startup and control issues before the end of a project. Utilizing this model adds an additional layer of support to ensure deadlines are met, potential cost reductions are achieved and most importantly, a superior level of quality is delivered. To learn more about our services and see our specialized application design process at work, browse our portfolio.