Concepto específico en el Derecho Europeo

Because IAQ objectives are not tabled at the very beginning of the design of a project, it is likely that IAQ related concerns will be neglected due to the lack of integration or inclusion of the major players (architects, mechanical engineers, electrical engineers, IAQ specialists, HVAC specialist, etc.) whose activities have significant impact on the indoor air (IAQ) quality of the building. Some designers stated the importance of integration at the design stage but stated that this was not a regular occurrence. Ideally, IAQ issues or objectives (developed using as integrated design approach) should form part of the client’s business case

or basis of design (BoD) and therefore are accounted for in the design. Furthermore, if things are done in an integrated manner, IAQ objectives would be accounted for during value engineering when the building design is evaluated for delivery of technical and financial benefits.

As a lack of design integration is a barrier to good IAQ in Kuwait, there exists also barriers to integration in the design process. One of the major barriers to design integration is that IAQ specialist, HVAC specialist, as well as other consultants charge an additional fee in order to participate early on the design. There is an added cost to clients/building owners/developers for specialist to attend meetings and review of drawings. Designers (architects) are not able to justify this cost to the clients in ways that clients are comfortable paying the additional cost. As such, clients say ‘no’ to the integrated process. On the other hand, if designers can justify the integrated process was necessary and can show some tangible numbers as to how the process can result into cost savings for the client in the future, clients would be willing to pay stipend required to have the integrated process. In other words, it not enough for project managers or designers to promote the benefits of IAQ design achieved through an integrated process to clients, it imperative for designers or project managers to convince clients of the value of the engagement in terms of numbers and cost savings.

Another barrier to integration is the absence of an attitude of knowledge sharing and management. Many specialists and parties to a construction project do not want to integrate for fear of being irrelevant in the future. They feel that if they share what they know, their knowledge would be stolen and would not be called upon on future projects. Hence, they keep their knowledge to themselves and do not document it.

Jawdeh (2013) outlines the consequences of lack of integration of facilities managers in the design stage, who are one of the major players of achieving good IAQ in buildings. The facilities’ managers are more involved at post-construction stage. Basically, they take over the operation and maintenance of the whole building, including the ventilation system. Therefore, their input at the design stage is very essential. The consequences due to lack of integration of facilities managers (as well as IAQ and HVAC specialists) at the design stage are;

 “interruption to tenants

 dissatisfied customers,

 developing systems solutions inappropriate to requirements

 breakdown in air-conditioning

 unavailability of spare parts,

 operation and maintenance services affected,

 client’s incurred cost and/or loss of profit,

 poor quality of documents (as built drawings, and operation and maintenance manuals etc.),

 absent or insufficient spaces allocated for facilities management staff,

 building management system control problems, chillers operation problems,

 designer’s reputation negatively affected,

 façade cleaning problems, facilities management companies’ bad reputation,

 facilities managers forced to experiment with new products, higher operation and maintenance costs,

 higher operation complexity (large amounts of keys and master key groups), inappropriate space allocations, insufficient system redundancy

 Inability to accommodate space changes (lack of flexibility)

 Lack of comfortable spaces for users

 Outdated materials

 Shorter facility life

 Systems integration problems (e.g. CCTC and access control integration, or fire alarm and lifts integration

 System inefficiency

 Wrong material selection

 Wrong systems installed”

It was revealed in Jawdeh (2013) that facilities managers found that the most significant consequence of lack of integration earlier in the design process, “is the problem of access for maintenance. Whether the task is maintaining HVAC equipment, changing filters, replacing, light bulbs, maintaining pumps or attending a leakage problem, facilities managers face problems during occupancy phase when trying to access different systems.” Access was a

problem, which clearly meant that architects or designers did not consider how their designs could affect the functions or activities of other consultants on the project.

Respondents in this research in the end, agreed that design integration is key to achieving good IAQ on construction projects and that it was necessary so that properly identified client requirement can be translated into useful design information. The state that the drivers of IAQ both in the construction industry and in the government must encourage the integrated design approach which lead to improvements in design and increases design efficiency with respect to good indoor air quality (IAQ).