General
Services in the areas of planning and construction supervision are compensated through architectural and engineering services, which are carried out by various architects and specialist planning offices for the respective trades. These services are performed as closely as possible in accordance with the client's wishes, as long as they prove realistic and feasible given the financial budget and the recognized technical standards. Both the architect and the engineer are individuals who are also legally entitled to use their professional titles (cf. Bschorr 2014: p. 9). Alternatively, for various specialist trades, specialist planners are also permitted, who can demonstrate a minimum qualification for the specialist planning of a respective trade through alternative means, such as a master craftsman's certificate or a degree as a state-certified technician. Regardless of the legal minimum qualification for professional suitability, the personal project and professional experience of the individual architect or specialist planner plays a major role, which can have a significant influence on the error or success rate during project planning. The respective service providers eligible for this are generally appointed at the discretion and assessment of the client, naturally also under the influence of
recommendations and reference records from previous projects of the architects and
engineers.

The planning and construction supervision of the building structure as well as the building
submission for a construction project is carried out by at least one architect. For the further
specialist planning trades such as electrical engineering, supply and disposal technology, building physics in structural engineering, or for example structural planning, additional
so-called specialist engineers or engineering and planning offices are commissioned. In practice, the architect emerges as the superior and representative spokesperson for all trades and integrates the planning documents produced by the respective specialist engineers during the planning phases into their actual design and execution planning, in order to present these as a holistic work. In this process, all planning steps necessary for the correct execution of the planning for each specialist trade are generally specified in accordance with the recognized fee schedule for architects and engineers. These typical services range from the initial assessment through to execution planning, tendering and awarding, construction supervision during the building phase, and property management as well as defect management after the completion of the construction project. The architects and engineers supervise the project either partially or throughout the entire project process from the initial assessment to the completion of the construction project, depending on the client's wishes.

Building services engineering generally encompasses all building technology trades, including energy technology systems (such as electrical systems, gas and water systems, or heat generation systems), systems for material disposal (such as wastewater systems, etc.), or telecommunications systems (such as data networks, security technology, fire alarm technology, etc.).

Typical Planning Participants and Their Responsibilities

Architect:
Object planning regarding structural construction trades (cost group 300), for the purpose of
shell construction, structural finishing trades including the general coordination of specialist planning participants. The architect's focus is primarily on the conceptual / design aspects (including technical interface concerns).

Engineers for Building Services Engineering (TGA):
Specialist planning services regarding building technology trades, such as
plumbing, heating, ventilation technology, high-voltage systems, telecommunications,
fire alarm technology, fire suppression systems, elevator systems, building automation, and other building technology trades.

As a rule, TGA trades require several specialist engineers, as the specialist disciplines are classically divided as follows:
– Specialist engineer for heating, plumbing / supply technology
– Specialist engineer for ventilation technology
– Specialist engineer for electrical engineering / energy technology
– Specialist engineer for fire suppression systems

Further specialization within these specialist disciplines is also common and is coordinated internally by the engineering offices accordingly.

Structural Engineers for Structural Planning / Statics:
Specialist planning services regarding the structure, in terms of actual technical feasibility (focus on the technical aspect). Load-bearing capacity, foundations, structural concerns in general, and building physics aspects of construction technology in terms of shell construction are the main tasks here.
In general, this part is also to be considered part of building physics.

Engineers for Building Physics (Sound Insulation / Thermal Insulation):
Specialist planning services in terms of thermal insulation and sound insulation in relation to the construction project, in which the specifications and concepts for fulfilling building energy efficiency and sound insulation requirements are generally reviewed, planned, and continuously coordinated with the other specialist planning participants.
Also often given as contract packages for 'sound insulation experts' and 'energy consultants'.

Engineers for Structural Fire Protection:
Specialist engineering offices that plan and advance the structural fire protection for the building, developing these in coordination with the fire department and the other specialist planning participants (in particular the architect and TGA engineers), and present them in a final auditable manner. In this process, fire compartments, measures for building-related fire suppression, escape routes, etc. are processed and discussed with all parties involved. This concept ultimately reaches the inspection expert and is fundamental for the so-called 'fire protection level 2'.

Landscape Architects / Open Space Planners:
These specialist participants oversee the exterior and open space planning during the planning phase, such as: playgrounds, gardens, courtyards, driveways, etc. There is also close collaboration with the TGA engineers here, for example in terms of open space drainage, external routing for pipeline systems, exterior lighting, empty conduit planning for outdoor areas, and similar topics.

Other Expert Consultants:
Depending on the size and type of construction project, additional expert consultants are also to be involved to accompany the planning, such as:
– Soil experts for the condition of the ground
– Experts for the assessment of vibration (vibration expert reports)
– Surveyors
– Expert consultants for evidence preservation procedures
– Expert consultants for unexploded ordnance clearance work
– Ventilation experts for garages / underground car parks
– and further specialist experts for each respective matter

During the construction process itself (after specialist planning and tendering have taken place), additional engineering and expert consultant services are also taken into consideration (depending on the construction project and type of building), such as:
– SIGEKO (Safety and Health Protection Coordinator)
– Building authority-approved expert consultants for certain specialist areas
– Inspection experts for certain specialist areas (building authority-approved)

For construction supervision / specialist site management of the construction process for the respective areas, architects and TGA engineers are typically deployed, ideally those participants who were already involved in the planning processes through to the tendering stage.

Our Engineering Office for TGA
As an engineering office in the field of building services engineering, we stand solidly and professionally by your side throughout the entire planning and construction process.
You do not need to assign us tasks and wait for a response – we work proactively and define the work packages and next steps for you in advance (with the necessary interfaces to be considered), so that you can be confident that our services can proceed unhindered from phase to phase – while simultaneously eliminating construction process disruptions.