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Communication Breakdown…Why Lighting Projects Fail/
Iain Ruxton MA(Hons), MSLL, IALD
ILP Summit/Chester/23/09/15
© 2015 Speirs + Major LLP.
What do I know?
© 2015 Speirs + Major LLP.
Introduction
We’ve seen it all, eh?
© 2015 Speirs + Major LLP.
Introduction
• Workers in a brand new office who’ve brought in their own task lights because they’re sitting in the dark.
• Control panels no-one understands.
• Lights that can’t be turned off.
• Uplights that point downwards.
• Wallwashers that don’t wash the wall.
• People waving their arms to keep the lights on.
© 2015 Speirs + Major LLP.
Introduction
• Design and Construction is a process.
• Process depends on structured communication.
• We have complex systems for managing that communication.
• Yet projects often fail, at least initially, to deliver the design intent.
• Why?
© 2015 Speirs + Major LLP.
Introduction
Who has to communicate?
© 2015 Speirs + Major LLP.
Cast of Characters
Client LightingDesigner
Project Manager
Contractor InstallerArchitect End UserManufacturer (Luminaires /
Controls)
© 2015 Speirs + Major LLP.
Introduction
What are those communications?
© 2015 Speirs + Major LLP.
Communication 1 - Briefing
Who?Client, architect, lighting designers
What?Brief
What goes wrong?Poor briefsPoor budgetsPoor understanding of briefs
Issues?Indirect relationship?Inexperience?Complacency?
© 2015 Speirs + Major LLP.
Communication 2 – Concept Design
Who?Client, architect, lighting designers
What?Lighting Concepts
What goes wrong?Concept poorly explainedConcept not understoodNo clear sign-off
Issues?Indirect relationship?Inexperience?Fear?Insufficient time?
© 2015 Speirs + Major LLP.
Communication 3 – Technical Design
Who?Client, architect, lighting designers, project managers, manufacturers/suppliers
What?Design documentation
What goes wrong?Concept vanishes from the stageTechnical documentation doesn’t explain design intentClient consultation reduces – lighting not important enough
Issues?Priorities misunderstoodTechnical misunderstandingsCosting wrongVE, where “value” is confused with “cost”
© 2015 Speirs + Major LLP.
Communication 4 – Construction
Who?Architect, lighting designers, project managers, contractors, installers, manufacturers/suppliers
What?Design documentation, RFIs, pragmatism
What goes wrong?Installation mistakesMisunderstandings of equipmentOmissionsInappropriate substitutionsNo/bad focus
Issues?Insufficient direct communication
© 2015 Speirs + Major LLP.
Communication 4 – Construction
Who?Architect, lighting designers, project managers, contractors, installers, manufacturers/suppliers
What?Design documentation, RFIs, pragmatism
What goes wrong?Installation mistakesMisunderstandings of equipmentOmissionsInappropriate substitutionsNo/bad focus
Issues?Insufficient direct communication
© 2015 Speirs + Major LLP.
Communication 5 – Controls CommisioningWho?Lighting designers, contractors, installers, manufacturers/suppliers, end-users
What?Design documentation, RFIs, pragmatism
What goes wrong?System doesn’t deliver conceptBad interfacesSystem assumptions don’t match reality
Issues?No managementInsufficient briefing to controls engineerNo interface designNo briefing from / to end-users
?
© 2015 Speirs + Major LLP.
Communication 5 – Controls CommisioningWho?Lighting designers, contractors, installers, manufacturers/suppliers, end-users
What?Design documentation, RFIs, pragmatism
What goes wrong?System doesn’t deliver conceptBad interfacesSystem assumptions don’t match reality
Issues?No managementInsufficient briefing to controls engineerNo interface designNo briefing from / to end-users
?
© 2015 Speirs + Major LLP.
Communication 6 – Handover
Who?Lighting designers, contractors, installers, project managers, end-users
What?O+M manuals, training?
What goes wrong?MisuseMisunderstandingDisatisfactionThings easy to fix stay forever
Issues?No direct contact between designers and usersNo post-occupancy conversation
© 2015 Speirs + Major LLP.
Communication 6 – Handover
Who?Lighting designers, contractors, installers, project managers, end-users
What?O+M manuals, training?
What goes wrong?MisuseMisunderstandingDisatisfactionThings easy to fix stay forever
Issues?No direct contact between designers and usersNo post-occupancy conversation
© 2015 Speirs + Major LLP.
What can we do about it?
• Re-design the workflows
• Share design intent with manufacturers/suppliers, not just spec and qtys – maintain integrity from both sides.
• Share design intent through the whole construction contract chain… from designer to installer.
• Keep conceptual design in technical documentation.. All the way to O+M manuals.
www.speirsandmajor.com/
@iainlightsstuff
Thank You
