More complex installations lead to a more complex decision making process

Rotterdam, 4 May 2016 – Due to ongoing technological developments, installations are getting more and more complex. As a result of that, the roles of different parties in the decision making process are shifting. The role of the consultant/ planner is growing, but also the installation companies stay important. These are some of the results of the Q4 2015 report of the European Mechanical Installation Monitor. The survey is conducted on quarterly basis among 1,200 HVAC installation and plumbing companies in six European countries.The role of planners/ consultants is growing in the installation sectorExisting

By Ralitsa Ruseva
4 May 2016
Installation,
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technologies are evolving rapidly and new technologies emerge. But also the demand for more sophisticated installations rises, because of more critical clients and (end) users and because of all kinds of regulations with respect to the environment/ durability/ energy efficiency etc. This all leads to the fact that installations are getting more and more complex. The ongoing technological developments of installations lead to a shift in the roles of the different parties involved in the installation sector. One of these shifts is that the role of the planner/ consultant is getting more important. When talking about complex installations, it is not just a matter of putting parts together anymore; often multiple calculations need to be made in order to make sure that the installation will operate properly according to the prescribed requirements. So that is why, mainly in the (early) design phase of the project, the knowledge and skills of planners/ consultants need to be used. In all six countries measured in the European Mechanical Installation Monitor a large share of the installers agree with the increasing importance of the planners.

 But also the role of the installer stays important

The fact that a majority of the installers acknowledge that the role of the planner/ consultant is growing, does not mean that they think that their own role is decreasing. The opinions about this statement are quite divided. In the UK and France at least half of the installers do think that their own role in the decision making process is getting less important. But in the other countries more installers reject this statement than agree with it. This especially is the case in the Netherlands and Belgium, as in these two countries a majority of the installers (strongly) disagree with this statement.

The negative attitude of Dutch and Belgian installers towards the statement is in line with other findings of the European Mechanical Installation Monitor. Installers also were asked about the development of the role of several different parties in the last years in the decision making process. It appears that especially in the Netherlands and Belgium a considerable share of the installers (about one quarter up to about 40%) indicate that the role of the installation companies themselves, but also the role of end users is increasing. So it can be said that because of more and more complex installations, more parties are getting involved and want/ need to share their opinions and expertise about it. Overall it is not the case that parties are getting less important, but more parties get involved. For more complex installations a more complex decision making process is observed.