Prefab MEP is the logical end of every shop-built scope on this list, and it fails for one reason: the frame comes from one shop, the spools from another and the duct from a third. Buy it from a plant that builds all three.
Sourcing prefab mep for a data center project? Call 601.892.5017 or email collin.t@fabtekindustries.com — send the drawings and the spec and we quote to print.
- Scope modules from the coordinated model: corridor sections, mechanical room modules, risers, connection kits.
- Name the trades inside the module and where the electrical scope line sits (supports and raceway vs. wiring).
- Qualify on structural, code piping, sheet-metal and enclosure fabrication in one plant, plus module-to-module fit-up.
- Module size is set by transport and the building opening; fix both before detailing.
What you are buying
A prefabricated MEP assembly is a structural module built off site with services installed: a utility corridor section with pipe spooled and hung, duct and tray in place, busway and lighting supports set and panel enclosures mounted; a mechanical room module with pumps, exchangers and manifolds piped; a stacked riser module for multi-story halls; and the match-marked connection kits that join modules on site. It is fabricated from the coordinated model, hydrotested and leak-tested as a unit, finished, and lifted into the building as one piece.
Where it sits in the project
GCs and developers buy modules to compress schedule and cut site labor; mechanical and electrical contractors buy them as their own prefab built elsewhere; modular data center OEMs buy them as subassemblies. Modules go in as the structure closes, which means the coordinated model has to be signed off early and the transport and opening limits fixed.
What to put in the RFQ
| Coordinated model | BIM with all services routed and clash-resolved; module boundaries and splice locations |
|---|---|
| Trades included | Piping spec and isos, duct standard, tray and raceway, busway supports, panel enclosures; electrical scope line |
| Equipment | Owner-furnished pumps, exchangers and panels set in the module, with certified data |
| Frame | Design loads, lifting and splice provisions, finish |
| Module limits | Transport envelope, building opening, crane capacity, set sequence |
| Testing | Hydrotest of piping on the module, duct leakage, dimensional check against the model, witness points |
| Connection kits | Closure spools, flex connections, splice hardware, match-marking standard |
How to qualify a fabricator
- Every trade's metal under one roof. Structural frame, Section IX piping, heavy duct and panel enclosures from the same plant.
- Module-to-module fit-up. Adjacent modules fitted together before shipment so site joints close.
- Model-based detailing. Fabrication from the BIM, with the fabricator flagging clashes before cutting.
- Lifting and transport engineering. Modules designed to lift level and ride without racking.
Lead time, sequencing and delivery
Release from the signed-off model by hall or corridor. Modules are built, tested and fitted to their neighbors in sequence, then shipped in set order with their connection kits and lifting plans. Later halls release against retained module drawings.
Common mistakes
- Modules from a frame shop that subcontracts the services. Three vendors' tolerances meet at every splice.
- Detailing before transport limits are fixed. A module that does not fit the route or the opening is rebuilt.
- Electrical scope line left vague. Say whether wiring is in or out.
- No module-to-module fit-up. Site joints that have never been closed before do not close.
How FabTek supplies it
FabTek fabricates prefabricated MEP assemblies at four plants in Hazlehurst, Mississippi, where the structural frames, spools, duct, multi-trade racks and panel enclosures are built under one roof, assembled to the coordinated model, tested as units and fitted to their neighbors before shipment.
Frequently asked questions
What is a prefabricated MEP assembly?
A structural module built off site with mechanical, electrical and plumbing services installed on it, delivered and connected as one piece instead of installed trade by trade in the field.
How big can a prefab MEP module be?
As large as the transport route and the building opening allow, split at match-marked splice joints; the crane capacity and set sequence also limit the piece size.
Does the module fabricator do the electrical wiring?
Scope varies. Many fabricators install the electrical supports, enclosures and raceway and leave wiring and terminations to the electrical contractor; the RFQ should state the line.
Who fabricates prefabricated MEP modules for data centers?
FabTek Industries fabricates and tests utility corridor and mechanical room modules at its Mississippi plants, with the frames, spools, duct and enclosures built in-house, for GCs, developers and modular data center OEMs.
