June 5, 2014

ARBS is Australia’s only international trade exhibition for the Air Conditioning, Refrigeration and Building Services industry. This year’s ARBS event in Melbourne attracted over 7,700 visitors over the three days – around 5% higher attendance than the record 2012 show.

The technical seminar series proved very popular with attendees across a range of industries and organisations getting the latest on legislative and technology changes. A.G. Coombs contributed to the series delivering or participating in four of the sessions.

Maximising the Benefits of Integrated Prefabrication

Presented by Mr Warwick Stannus, Group Engineering Manager, A.G. Coombs

The benefits of effective prefabrication strategies can be far reaching beyond the expected gains in programme, quality and cost. The most important benefit in today’s challenging construction environment is, ultimately, its ability to de-risk the project for all stakeholders involved.

Prefabrication involves a range of important supporting activities including prefabrication design; prefabrication supply chain integration including lean production techniques such as just in time scheduling; manufacturing management systems; logistics management and integration; as well as financial modelling and costing systems.

The effectiveness of prefabrication will ultimately be determined by the ability of the project team to leverage integrated BIM workflows, and the ability to leverage integrated project delivery.

For more information, please contact Warwick Stannus on t: 03 9248 2700, e: wstannus@agcoombs.com.au.

Building Tuning/Retro-commissioning – Opportunities Unrealised

Presented by Mr Andrew Smith, Leader – Building Technologies, A.G. Coombs

“It is possible to get up to a 50 per cent performance improvement in old building stock by tuning alone.”

Building tuning will help to lift your building’s environmental rating, extend the life of its plant and reduce your energy bills, as well as improving occupant comfort. You don’t need to replace all your existing building systems to achieve this. For example, A.G. Coombs has helped to move a Sydney-based building from a 2.5-star NABERS rating to 5 stars with no new equipment! And recent experience tuning a portfolio of buildings in the Melbourne CBD shows ROI payback can be achieved in timeframes as short as nine months.

For more information, please contact us.

Building Information Modelling (BIM)

Panel session featuring Mr Warwick Stannus, Group Engineering Manager, A.G. Coombs

The panel session sought to provide a practical definition of a BIM As Built Model.

Warwick Stannus suggested that with constructible Revit Modelling now a reality, the focus is the data embedded in the model and, to move this forward effectively, there needs to be agreement on a national set of shared parameters.

The BIM-MEP^AUS Master Shared Parameter Schedule is a BIM-MEP^AUS controlled document that lists and classifies all shared parameters for use in BIM-MEP^AUS model content and workflows related to design, construction and supply chain integration, as well as facility and asset management requirements. Use of the shared parameters can extend to off model data applications including a range of BIM-to-Field construction and commissioning workflows and e-procurement. Important benefits to designers, constructors, manufacturers, facility managers and owners include Best-of-Breed MEP content for the Australian building services sector, structured and consistent parameter scheduling that enables the industry to reliably and efficiently leverage workflows including design scheduling and BIM-to-Field data exchange, and reduced implementation costs.

A.G. Coombs is working closely with BIM-MEP^AUS on developing the parameter schedule so that they can deliver a true, As Built model to their clients. Being advanced in its constructible Revit^® modelling, A.G. Coombs is already well positioned to deliver an LOD 500 Commissioned As Built model for handover to its clients and Facility Management teams. (The LOD 500 Commissioned As Built model includes manufacturer’s models for all plant, equipment and fittings fully scheduled based on contractors final system calculations and manufacturer’s component models, and Plant and Equipment schedules completed to Commissioned As Built Status).

For more information, please contact Warwick Stannus on t: 03 9248 2700, e: wstannus@agcoombs.com.au.

Calculating Cool: Revolutionising the Air Conditioning Sector

Panel session moderated by Mr Bryon Price, Strategic Development Director, A.G. Coombs

Heard about the benchmarking tool that will reward and encourage best practice in the HVAC lifecycle?

A world-first design and performance rating method for HVAC systems, “Calculating Cool” is set to transform the air conditioning industry when released later this year. The online calculator will assist professionals in the HVAC industry to save energy, take effective control and extend the life of systems. It will rate new HVAC design (final design documentation), new HVAC system installation (less than 12 months in operation) and existing HVAC systems (more than 12 months in operation) in commercial office buildings. And it is designed to align with NABERS and Green Star Design.

The Calculating Cool project is being funded by the federal government Department of Industry on behalf of the Council of Australian Government Commercial Buildings Committee. Sustainability Victoria is managing the project and Team Catalyst is delivering it. The project is expected to be completed by the end of October 2014.

For more information and to test a beta version of the Calculating Cool online rating tool, visit the Calculating Cool website. Alternatively, contact us.

ARBS 2014 was held at the the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre. The event connected over 250 local, national and international manufacturers and suppliers with thousands of industry decision makers, specifiers, engineers, contractors and trade technicians. For more information on ARBS, visit the official ARBS website.