The Most Common MEP-Related Change Orders—and How to Avoid Them
Change orders are rarely the result of a single mistake. More often, they stem from early assumptions that didn’t fully account for how a project would actually be built, used, or approved.
Mechanical, electrical, and plumbing change orders are especially disruptive because they tend to affect multiple systems at once — cost, schedule, and coordination across trades.
While no project eliminates change orders entirely, many of the most common MEP-related ones are predictable — and preventable.
Why MEP Change Orders Hit Hard
MEP systems are tightly interconnected with architecture, structure, and site conditions. When changes occur, they often ripple across disciplines.
MEP change orders frequently:
Appear later in construction
Affect multiple trades simultaneously
Carry both material and labor impacts
Introduce schedule risk
Understanding where these change orders typically originate is the first step toward reducing them.
The Most Common MEP-Related Change Orders
Late Utility Revisions
Changes to electrical or gas service after construction has started are among the most expensive to address. These often stem from:
Inaccurate early load assumptions
Utility requirements clarified late
Equipment lead times driving substitutions
Early verification of service capacity significantly reduces this risk.
Insufficient Space for Systems
Ceiling conflicts, undersized shafts, or tight equipment rooms are frequent sources of change orders. When systems don’t physically fit as expected, workarounds are required — often at a premium.
Validating spatial requirements early helps avoid these late surprises.
Equipment Substitutions
Long lead times or procurement issues can force equipment changes mid-project. Even functionally equivalent substitutions may require:
Electrical changes
Structural modifications
Control or performance adjustments
Early equipment planning helps teams understand where substitutions are likely — and how to mitigate their impact.
Code Interpretation Clarifications
MEP systems are heavily code-driven, and interpretations can vary between jurisdictions or inspectors. Late clarifications can lead to:
Added devices or capacity
Revised layouts
Additional inspections or testing
Early discussions with authorities help reduce these surprises.
Base-Building Limitations in Tenant Improvements
In tenant improvement projects, assumptions about existing capacity often drive change orders. Electrical, HVAC, or plumbing infrastructure that appears sufficient may not support actual tenant needs.
Early verification of base-building systems helps avoid reactive changes during construction.
How This Plays Out by Project Type
Multifamily
In multifamily projects, change orders often repeat across units. A single issue — such as shaft congestion or equipment clearance — can affect dozens of locations.
Early resolution prevents small problems from multiplying.
Commercial and Office
Commercial projects tend to experience change orders when tenant needs evolve or assumptions about future flexibility prove inaccurate.
Clear documentation of system intent and capacity reduces ambiguity when changes arise.
Tenant Improvement Projects
Tenant improvement projects are especially sensitive to late discoveries. Existing conditions, undocumented modifications, and hidden constraints frequently surface once work begins.
Early investigation and coordination help shift discoveries earlier, when solutions are less disruptive.
Reducing Change Orders Through Better Alignment
Projects with fewer MEP change orders tend to share several traits:
Early validation of utility and capacity assumptions
Clear spatial coordination before construction
Intentional system sizing and equipment planning
Ongoing coordination as design evolves
These steps don’t eliminate change — they reduce the severity and frequency of changes that carry the highest cost.
A Practical Perspective on Change Orders
Change orders aren’t a sign that a project has failed. They’re a reflection of complexity and uncertainty.
However, when the same types of MEP change orders appear repeatedly across projects, it’s a signal that early coordination and alignment can be improved.
Reducing change orders isn’t about assigning blame. It’s about creating clarity earlier, when decisions are easier to adjust and far less expensive to change.