How temporary works specialists can support consulting engineers

Find out how support from temporary works specialists like Coates can save time and money on your next project.

Coates recently hosted a series of Temporary Works Forums across Australia. These events brought together expertise from Coates, industry and academia to discuss best practice and innovation in temporary works. Confusion around when to engage temporary works expertise – and the value in doing so – was a recurring theme throughout these events.

“There are many consulting engineers out there who don’t know who to turn to for temporary works support,” explains Darren Browne, Temporary Works Engineer at Coates. “It seems there’s also a lack of clarity on when and why to bring this type of expertise into construction projects.”

So when is the best time to engage a temporary works specialist? And what value does this type of partnership bring?

When should you engage a temporary works specialist?

According to Darren, the earlier consultants bring temporary works expertise into a project, the better.

“When Coates comes into projects retrospectively to help resolve issues, naturally our approach is going to be quite reactive,” says Darren. “While we offer great problem-solving support and innovation at any stage, early involvement allows us to help customers achieve much better project outcomes.”

“Construction businesses are always looking for ways to reduce cost and minimise risk,” Darren continues. “This early involvement also allows Coates to create safer temporary works solutions and enables more efficient and cost effective designs to speed up construction and reduce disruption on site.”

When does specialist temporary works support add value?

Coates works closely with clients ranging from consulting engineers to project developers. Our specialist team offers support throughout the project lifecycle, from project feasibility through to temporary works design, installation and certification.

Pre-tender

As well as delivering on prescribed briefs, getting involved before projects go to tender allows Coates to help influence how the project team approaches the overall design and delivery of temporary works.

“When Coates is brought in early enough, our approach can help to influence the viability of the site and temporary works design, and the suitability of different systems and solutions,” says Darren. “Often projects won’t go ahead or progress to tender because the project cost or complexity is too great, but the efficiencies Coates creates through our design process and experience can actually help to make some projects more viable.”

Early involvement also allows Coates to support customers in designing better solutions, reducing the time it takes customers to deliver on critical tasks, and saving customers weeks, even months, on construction schedules.

During and after tender

After project tenders have been issued, the opportunity still remains to consider alternative systems and approaches to deliver temporary works much faster, more safely and cost effectively than through conventional shoring methods.

“Coates offers bespoke solutions, delivered using proprietary systems that can add value to projects at many different stages, and in many different ways” says Darren. “Not only are these solutions safe and readily available, but they also save customers considerable time and money.”

When steel is in short supply

For large projects traditional temporary works require a significant amount of steel, and current steel supply shortages will make it difficult for many projects to stay on schedule and budget. While there are other structural steel replacement systems that customers can use, these alternatives still need to be custom fabricated and demolished at the end of the job.

“Coates is able to offer a degree of security and assurance for temporary works customers, with all of our proprietary equipment designed for purpose and readily available, with the flexibility to match what is required,” says Darren. “This means we can support these larger projects in a lot less time, and a lot more cost effectively than we could using a conventional temporary works approach.”

Help whenever it’s needed

Coates offers valuable guidance at all stages of an engagement.

“Whether customers need help assessing the viability of a new site or designing, installing and certifying large temporary works solutions, a wealth of experience is available whenever customers connect with our team,” says Darren. “And the best part is that it doesn’t cost a thing to pick up the phone and talk to our team.”

“And by presenting different ways of approaching temporary works our aim isn’t to limit customers to incorporating our products or our approach,” Darren concludes. “We are driven by a desire to create options for our customers, and to allow them to open their projects up to strong, safe and effective temporary works alternatives.”

To discuss your temporary works challenges, or for advice finding the right approach for your next project, contact Coates Engineering Solution today.