Availability of Experienced Labor

Typical construction practice may also vary according to geographic region. Often, it may be because of climate, but sometimes it is simply because of contractors being slower to pick up a new technology. For instance, although Pex piping is fairly widely used now, it did not have uniform regional acceptance across the country until recently. Tile roofs and stucco exterior wall finishes are much more common in the Southwest than they are in the Northeast.

Although innovative construction technologies may, by definition, not be “typical practice,” the availability of experienced installers should be taken into account when considering both initial installation and maintenance in the future. If the closest installer of a technology you are considering is 100 miles away, it may be more expensive to procure and install and harder to obtain regular servicing and maintenance.

If your facility has a maintenance staff, their skill set is a related consideration. Consider the learning curve that will be required to ensure that your staff understands the day-to-day operation of the equipment or systems in the building and has sufficient knowledge to troubleshoot small issues and identify larger issues that may require the skills of an expert technician.