Glossary
TGA (building services, MEP)
TGA (building services, MEP) is the Technische Gebäudeausrüstung of a building: its technical systems, from water, gas and wastewater pipes to heating, ventilation, electrical power and building automation.
In short
TGA stands for Technische Gebäudeausrüstung, the technical systems of a building. In English the terms are building services or MEP.
TGA planners (Fachplaner TGA) plan these systems and write the LVs. Installers build them, and technical wholesalers and manufacturers supply them.
In cost planning under DIN 276 the matching cost group is 400, „Bauwerk – Technische Anlagen“.
Example
A planner writes the LV for the TGA of a building. The trades are Sanitär, Heizung, Lüftung/Klima (SHK), Elektro and Gebäudeautomation. Under HOAI § 53 Abs. 2 the technical equipment of a building comprises these groups of systems:
Abwasser-, Wasser- und Gasanlagen (wastewater, water and gas systems)
Wärmeversorgungsanlagen (heat supply systems)
Lufttechnische Anlagen (ventilation and air-handling systems)
Starkstromanlagen (power installations)
Fernmelde- und informationstechnische Anlagen (telecommunication and IT systems)
Förderanlagen (conveying systems)
nutzungsspezifische Anlagen und verfahrenstechnische Anlagen (use-specific and process systems)
Gebäudeautomation und Automation von Ingenieurbauwerken (building automation and automation of engineering structures)
The list shows the scope of the technical equipment. An LV for a single trade, such as sanitary, covers only part of it. An LV for the whole TGA can cover several of these groups at once. Projects like this belong to project business.
What to watch for
TGA bills of quantities are long and product-heavy, with many manufacturer-specific items.
Leitfabrikate are common, so check each named product for equivalence.
Match products on the long text, not the short text. Norms and dimensions are in the long text.
Many manufacturer-specific items mean many questions to manufacturers. Plan time for them early, before the offer deadline.
Not to be confused with
Haustechnik: an everyday word for much the same systems. It overlaps largely with TGA.
Gebäudetechnik: another everyday term that overlaps with TGA.
MEP: the US term for mechanical, electrical and plumbing work.
Other meanings: the abbreviation TGA also has other meanings, in medicine and as an image file format.
Related terms
Objektgeschäft (project business in German wholesale)
Objektgeschäft (project business) is business tied to one specific construction project, the Objekt or Bauvorhaben. It usually starts with a tender that includes a bill of quantities, unlike the day-to-day stock and counter business.
Or equal (brand name or equal)
Or equal (brand name or equal) is a specification clause that names a product as the standard and allows an equal product that meets the salient characteristics stated in the specification. The offer has to identify the product it offers.
STLB-Bau (German standard specification texts)
STLB-Bau (Standardleistungsbuch für das Bauwesen) is a digital, dynamic text system with standard wording for VOB-compliant tender texts. Its texts are organised by trade.