1. Project Title
  • Boiler House Distribution Pipework FEED
  1. Project Summary
  • The project involved the front-end engineering design of new utility distribution pipework associated with a replacement boiler house at an operational food-manufacturing facility.
  • The distribution network included steam, condensate, natural gas and town water services routed between the new boiler package and the existing plant.
  • DMD developed a coordinated 3D FEED model, supported by laser scanning, site verification, cost-development isometrics and a bulk material take-off.
  • A structural integrity assessment was undertaken to confirm the feasibility of the proposed pipe bridges, road crossing and interfaces with the existing building structure.
  • The completed FEED package was intended to support a budget estimate with an accuracy of approximately ±10% and provide a defined basis for detailed design.
  1. Sector
  • Food and Dairy Manufacturing
  • Energy and Process Utilities
  1. Project Location
  • Wales
  1. Client Challenge
  • The client required a new site-wide distribution system to connect the replacement boiler house with the existing manufacturing plant.
  • Proposed routes crossed existing infrastructure and required a new pipe bridge over a single-storey building and a separate pipe bridge across an operational roadway.
  • The suitability of the existing roof structure and surrounding infrastructure needed to be established before the project could progress.
  • The FEED package also needed to provide sufficient definition for reliable fabrication pricing without progressing prematurely into full detailed design.
  1. DMD Scope of Work
  • Site visits and engineering walkdowns
  • 3D laser scanning and point-cloud processing
  • Development of new piping systems
  • Structural review of proposed pipe bridges and existing roof infrastructure
  1. Engineering Disciplines
  • Piping
  • Civil
  • Structural
  1. Project Delivery Approach
  • A laser scan of the relevant project areas was completed and processed to establish an accurate spatial record of the existing facility.
  • Steam and condensate routes were arranged with consideration for thermal movement and the requirements of future formal stress analysis.
  • The developing model was subjected to clash detection, internal quality checks and structured 30% and 60% design reviews.
  • Drop-out isometrics and a bulk material take-off were extracted from the model to improve budget-cost certainty.
  • Structural surveys and calculations were undertaken to assess the proposed road crossing, the pipe bridge above the existing building and the existing roof structure.
  • Areas of structural concern were identified and preliminary solutions developed to allow progression into detailed design and fabrication.
  1. Key Engineering Features
  • New boiler-house utility distribution infrastructure
  • Steam, condensate, natural gas and town water services
  • Integration with an existing operational manufacturing facility
  • New elevated pipe bridge over an existing building
  • New pipe bridge across an operational roadway
  • Structural assessment of the existing roof infrastructure
  • Routing developed with consideration for thermal expansion
  • Coordination of piping routes with future stress-analysis requirements
  • FEED development to support an approximately ±10% budget estimate
  • Design-risk identification before detailed design and fabrication
  1. Key Deliverables
  • Registered laser-scan and point-cloud information
  • 3D Navisworks model
  • Bulk piping material take-off
  • Structural integrity calculations
  • Civil and structural assessment report
  • Identification of structural and design risks
  1. Technology and Software Used
  • Autodesk Plant 3D 2024
  • Autodesk Navisworks
  • 3D laser scanning and point-cloud technology