Dipping Outlines Role of Engineer from Project Start to Finish

Writing for the American Society of Plumbing Engineers (ASPE), ESD Technical Director for Plumbing Engineering James Dipping says projects have a much higher chance of success when the engineer fully understands their place in the design/bid/build (D/B/B) process.

In a recent edition of the ASPE Pipeline newsletter, Dipping contributed the article “What Is the Engineer’s Role in the Design/Bid/Build (D/B/B) Project Process?” where he breaks down each step of a project. Dipping says this information is especially valuable for junior engineers new to the architectural consulting industry.

In the article, Dipping says “At first it might seem easy to understand your role as an engineer in the construction of a building. You might tell your friends or family that you design plumbing systems and that you determine the routing and size of pipes, select pumps, etc. But how does any of that end up as real piping on a project?”

The article goes on to answer that question and more by providing a definition of D/B/B, outlining owner project requirements (OPR) and design stages, and then finishing with an overview of how engineers fit into the process of creating documents, bidding, and construction administration.

Dipping concludes by saying “If an engineer understands their role in the D/B/B process, it allows for a smooth bidding process and a cleaner construction process. When those are successful, the project has a much higher chance of success.”

James Dipping brings more than two decades of experience to his role as technical director, plumbing engineering. He freely shares his knowledge with other industry professionals to further ESD’s mission to improve society through the built environment.

For more information on how our engineers can help with your project or how plumbing engineering may impact your facility, reach out to ESD’s Plumbing Engineering team.