General
Since the client generally lacks any professional qualification for the construction project to be realized and is rarely equipped to handle official and public-law obligations, a project manager is usually commissioned for most construction projects to act on behalf of the client towards all other project participants, planners, and executing construction companies. The construction project manager is thus employed as a representative in matters that would basically concern the client or building owner, to relieve the building owner temporally, organizationally, and professionally. All tasks such as establishing and updating schedules, financial control of the budget, as well as coordination of persons and companies involved in planning and construction are now performed by the project manager. Additional necessary and supplementary
tasks in the area of controlling within the project team are carried out by him alone
(cf. Preuß & Schöne 2010: p. 45). Since to this day no professional minimum requirements are legally imposed on a project manager, it lies solely in the hands of a building owner to employ a suitable project manager. Ideally, the project manager can demonstrate the necessary competencies and solid construction management knowledge to ensure smooth construction project execution. Depending on the complexity of the construction project, it is quite common for private construction projects that the planning architect or general planning contractor simultaneously takes on the tasks of a project manager. However, this form rarely occurs in public construction, since here, purely on the principle of impartiality, project management is employed as an independent entity vis-à-vis the other project participants.

Meanwhile, project management is divided into specialist areas for more complex construction projects. Thus, in addition to the actual construction project manager, the MEP project manager stands out quite prominently, who specifically handles the complex MEP processes / coordination of MEP specialists/engineers, with whom the construction project manager himself can no longer communicate at eye level on such a complex professional level.

It also happens not infrequently that certain construction projects involve pure specialist measures / renovation and reconstruction measures in certain specialist areas, such as the complete renovation of sanitary facilities in a school building or the construction of a solar park. Specifically for this, the actual construction project manager (with the professional background knowledge of a construction engineer) is not exactly the ideal choice, which is why specialized MEP project managers are used here.

Tasks & Service Package Project Management

The AHO
As with classic engineering services (which are governed by the HOAI), there is also a kind of regulatory framework and fee schedule for project management in construction. Based on the task areas of the AHO (Committee of Associations and Chambers of Engineers and Architects for the Fee Schedule e.V.), the service spectrum as well as its contents and remuneration can be better understood and compared.

The AHO Action Areas
The action areas of the AHO are structured as follows:

A – Organization, Information, Coordination and Documentation
B – Qualities and Quantities
C – Costs and Financing
D – Schedules, Capacities and Logistics
E – Contracts and Insurance

Further elaboration of these action areas is not treated further in this article, but can be found in appropriate literature.

The AHO Project Phases
The AHO knows not only action areas but also individual project phases in which the individual action areas actually take place. The project phases of the AHO are more or less oriented to the typical service phases of the HOAI (which specialist planners/engineers orient themselves to in specialist planning and construction supervision) and are divided as follows:

1 – Project Preparation
2 – Planning
3 – Execution Preparation
4 – Execution
5 – Project Completion

More details can be found in appropriate literature.

Our Engineering Office for MEP
As an engineering office in the field of mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems, we stand by you solidly and professionally throughout the entire planning and construction process.
We also offer specialist project management / MEP project management in the area of mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems and comprehensive energy renovation (energy efficiency) to accompany your project from A – Z in all matters – for your security.