MEP shop drawings and coordination across the UAE 

Scope of work

• Review of tender and IFC drawings to identify missing information, design conflicts and space shortfalls before shop drawing production starts.
• Preparation of discipline shop drawings for HVAC, plumbing, drainage, firefighting, fire alarm and electrical, at a scale and detail suited to installation.
• Combined services coordination drawings layering every service in ceiling voids, risers and plant rooms, with sections at congested points and agreed elevations.
• Builder's work drawings showing sleeves, slab openings, wall penetrations, plinths and access panels so civil trades build them in the right place.
• Plant room and riser layouts with maintenance clearances, valve access and equipment removal routes checked against manufacturer requirements.
• Material and equipment submittals, method statements and technical compliance sheets checked line by line against the project specification before consultant submission.
• Revision control and as-built updates as site conditions change, managed through document control under our QMS structured to ISO 9001 requirements.

Systems we install

• Ductwork with AHU and FCU connections, fresh-air and exhaust routes and damper positions.
• Chilled water, condensate and refrigerant pipework with insulation thickness allowed in clearances.
• Water supply, drainage, vent and rainwater pipework with gravity falls checked on sections.
• Sprinkler mains, branches and head layouts checked against reflected ceiling plans.
• Cable trays, trunking, busbar runs and lighting layouts with segregation distances shown.
• Fire alarm, BMS and low-current containment routes through risers and ceiling voids.

Codes, standards and approvals

• Consultant specifications and project drawing standards for layers, scales and title blocks.
• UAE Fire & Life Safety Code of Practice requirements reflected in fire system layouts.
• Utility requirements of DEWA, SEWA, ADDC or the relevant authority shown in electrical and water drawings.
• Municipality and Civil Defence submission formats where shop drawings support approvals.
• UAE Fire & Life Safety Code of Practice (UAE FLSC) — national code governing fire-fighting, fire alarm, smoke control and egress

UAE site and climate challenges

• Chilled water and fresh-air ducts in humid UAE ceiling voids sweat if insulation is crushed or vapour barriers break at hangers. Coordination drawings allow space for full insulation thickness and proper supports so the vapour barrier stays continuous.
• Condensate drains need falls that are often lost in tight ceilings, leading to overflow stains on finished ceilings. We check condensate routes and falls on sections early and route them to approved discharge points before ceiling heights are fixed.
• Roof plant in summer needs clear airflow around condensers and access for washing off dust. Roof layouts show clearances, walkways and hot-air discharge directions so equipment is not boxed in by parapets or screens and does not recirculate its own exhaust.
• Exposed external pipework on roofs and facades expands and contracts with large daily temperature swings. Our drawings show expansion loops, guides and anchors so joints and supports are not stressed after the first summer.

Decisions to make early

• Ceiling height versus service depth: architects want higher ceilings while services need depth, so coordination sections show exactly where bulkheads are unavoidable and the decision is made with facts rather than site improvisation.
• 2D coordination versus 3D model-based coordination: 3D models catch more clashes in complex towers and hospitals, while well-cut 2D sections are faster and adequate for villas and simpler low-rise buildings.
• Installation priority in the void: large ducts and gravity drainage usually get priority, with pressurised pipes and cables routed around them, but local exceptions must be agreed and recorded on the drawings.
• Access panel locations: aesthetics push for fewer panels, but valves, dampers and FCUs must remain maintainable, so panels are positioned on drawings with the interior designer rather than left to the site team.

What you receive at handover

• Discipline shop drawings approved by the consultant.
• Combined services coordination drawings with sections at congested zones.
• Builder's work and openings drawings for civil trades.
• Material submittals and method statements.
• As-built drawings issued at handover.

Relevant Manolia projects

Frequently asked questions