‘The first time’ with TECEsystem: The Ingelheim housing association renovates 29 flats with TECEsystem
The housing association Ingelheim am Rhein GmbH is creating new living space in the Frei-Weinheim district of Ingelheim, in the middle of an established residential area. Among other buildings, 29 residential units are being renovated to improve their energy efficiency. ‘We opted for industrially prefabricated installation walls from TECEsystem for the sanitary facilities,’ explains Burak Baser from WBI. These are being used in five three-storey residential buildings. This allows new supply lines to be installed efficiently and in accordance with standards during the renovation of the pipes.
Safety in renovation projects
The industrially prefabricated installation walls arrive at the construction site completely prefabricated from the factory at just the right time. Saving time on the construction site and reducing errors are crucial factors in interior construction. Everyone benefits from this: the client, because they can start renting out the property more quickly. The planner, because the planning, tendering and execution process is optimised. The contractor, who can transfer the warranty for the prefabricated installation wall with all fixtures and fittings to the system manufacturer and work much more efficiently on the construction site during installation.
Recommended by the planner
‘The planner incorporated the TECEsystem concept into the project at an early stage. Contact with TECE was established in service phase 3. We already had experience with serial refurbishment, but not with the use of industrially prefabricated installation walls,’ explains Burak Baser.
Planner Tomé Rodrigues, owner of rbp Rodrigues Planungsbüro TGA, recommended TECEsystem. ‘We suggested TECEsystem to WBI, which had no previous experience with it. To save time, to make the interface clear and to ensure safety. The time advantage is the key factor,’ says Rodrigues.
Modular construction also optimises the work for the planner, for example when drawing up the specifications: ‘Many small components are part of a finished item, namely the manufacturer's individual installation wall, which is created jointly during the planning phase. The walldeveloped during the planning phase then ensures that the project can be executed without any additional work,’ explains Rodrigues.
The implementation plan with pipe network calculations was sent to TECE by rbp Rodrigues Planungsbüro TGA. Once commissioned, TECE creates the production drawings for the individual installation walls with the corresponding pipe dimensions. Before final construction, technical project managers engineers check all relevant dimensions and details on site and inspect the delivery and unloading conditions. In close cooperation with the executing company and the planning office, a final check and approval of the production drawings is carried out. Burak Baser sums it up as follows: ‘The efficiency is unbeatable. The cooperation with TECE was excellent and closely coordinated from the very beginning. I am thrilled with the product.’
Jump to the construction site
Shafts with half-height pre-wall panels are used. Two fitters carry the walls to their destination. They align them and install them. ‘With conventional construction methods, we would have had to at least double the manpower,’ estimates Burak Baser. "That's a significant advantage in renovation work: If everything is as well planned as it is with TECE, we'll be done in two or three days. What would otherwise take two or three weeks," explains planner Rodrigues. In times of skilled labour shortages, this reduces the need for specialist personnel, there is less risk of defects and construction delays, and therefore far fewer errors than in conventional construction. Burak Baser was quickly convinced: ‘You could see how fast it was going right from the first delivery. The first installation walls arrived for the topping-out ceremony and two days later the rough installation was already complete. Such efficient implementation is remarkable. That speaks in favour of serial renovation at this point,’ he summarises.
Good experiences are convincing
Rodrigues has been planning with TECEsystem for many years whenever the opportunity arises. ‘TECE is very well positioned, very quick to respond, and if there are any problems, the employees get stuck in and find a solution quickly. It's a good working relationship,’ he explains.
And Burak Baser? ‘There's no reason not to use prefabricated assemblies again in the future. Serial renovation is not only an excellent solution for old buildings – I also see great potential in new buildings. The housing market is so tight – we're delighted when we can achieve our goals more quickly and create living space with a system like this.’