SPONSORED ROUNDTABLE | VALUE ENGINEERING The roundtable is sponsored by PIPE DREAM OR REALITY: TRUE VALUE ENGINEERING Value engineering at an early stage will ensure the focus is not just on costs, but also on a better design outcome. This was the conclusion of an expert panel discussion sponsored by Geberit. Amanda Birch reports I n a break from CIBSE Journals roundtable format, Geberit sponsored an innovation evening with key industry panellists and a live audience at the Building Centre, London. Martin Murray, national specification sales manager of piping at Geberit, kicked off the May event by introducing the topic: value engineering versus engineering value. This subject generated an interesting debate, with the discussion raising other issues, including: the implications of the new competency regulations under the Building Safety Act 2022; the importance of early value engineering workshops at the pre-planning stage; and the benefits of collaboration between the design and construction teams. Malcolm Atherton, director, and design engineer at Water Consultants, began by considering whether value engineering on a project goes beyond the cost of the materials and construction methods? Every single project that Im involved with [dealing with above-ground drainage and domestic water services] is about cost. Its never about a suitable alternative, said Atherton. Quite often, the contractor will ask can we change it to a cheaper material, or how can we change things to make the cost come down? Thats their perception of value engineering. Minesh Varia, project director at Hoare Lea, agreed, but added that he has seen a shift in the way clients are expecting a more sustainable approach in projects. Post-Grenfell, he has also seen a heightened sense 28 July 2023 www.cibsejournal.com of scrutiny with projects and greater engagement between fire engineers and building control officers. There is proper value engineering, rather than cost cutting, and the larger, mature clients are wanting a higher standard of product, he said. Ana Santos, principal public health engineer at Aecom, said her experience is similar, and that her involvement with a range of projects including offices, high-end residential and fit-outs has given her a different perspective on value engineering. It depends a lot on the scale of the project, she said. The big-scale projects are normally focused on providing their client with a good sustainable product, while the fit-outs must often be done quickly and cheaply. I think there will be a shift, especially with the Building Safety Act and other changes that will force the way we see value engineering. James Warne, director of Inhabit, is a design engineer leading MEP, civil structures, faade design, and sustainability. He said value engineering comes in different forms and stages of a project, and argued that it is successful when the team focuses on operational outcomes and uses soft landings, which aims to bridge the gap between design and operation by encouraging