‘Enlightening’ topics

We knew we would have to look at the impact of the global financial crisis on the MEP sector sooner or later, but how to do so without driving our readers to despair?

However, MEP contractors are generally a noses-to-the-grinding wheel kind of bunch, so it was no surprise that all the major players who spoke to Alison Luke about current market conditions were remarkably resilient, and even cautiously optimistic, in their comments.

Basically the MEP sector is faced with three scenarios at present: the outright cancellation of projects, the deferring of projects, or extending projects. What is more worrying is the reverberation down the contractual chain, and the impact on cash flow, in particular, which is hampering large contractors and small companies alike. Not all is doom and gloom, however, as some equipment prices, together with ancillary inputs costs like steel, have fallen sharply.

It is likely that, at the end of the day, the downturn will help to sort the wheat from the chaff in the sector, as companies will now be forced to maximise their operational efficiencies. In short, MEP contractors will have to become much smarter and more flexible in the way they do business, right from the tender and design stage to finally getting the money into the bank.

Other ‘hot' topics in February issue of MEP Middle East include an in-depth look by Peter Ward at the role of lighting in sustainable building design. It may once have been relegated to the realm of architectural frippery, but lighting is playing an increasingly important role in energy efficiency and ‘green' building.

Peter also reports from the coal-face of the World Future Energy Summit in Abu Dhabi, plus we take a closer look at some of the exciting technologies on the cards for the world-class Masdar City project.

In our Big Interview in February issue of MEP Middle East, Jeff Willis from Arup talks about how to deal with the intellectual and practical demands of the MEP sector, as well as the increasing role the sector is having on ancillary fields like urban design. Jeff also issues a clarion call for developers to involve MEP contractors much earlier in the design process, which will help to obviate many unnecessary problems - not to mention added expense.

Thus the message is clear. Although there is probably still much pain to be endured in the short term, the MEP sector is doing its best to adapt successfully to the brave new world out there. That it is also managing to do so with no small measure of brio is a sterling testament to the caliber of its people.

Gerhard Hope is the editor of MEP Middle East.

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