Hard and Fast: Creating Efficiencies at the Intersection of Concrete and MEP

By

Jacob Kunken

and Diane McCormick

Last Updated May 29, 2026

By

Jacob Kunken

and Diane McCormick

As construction changes, so does concrete. On the jobsite, specialty contractors recognize the unique demands of concrete when it comes to planning, logistics and pouring. By keeping pace with new developments while following the fundamentals of interacting with concrete, MEP contractors can manage their own jobs efficiently and cost-effectively. 

Challenges of Concrete Planning and Pouring

Every grade and type of concrete relies on chemical reactions to establish its compressive strength and durability. If a load of concrete is allowed to languish, it will set and become an expensive, useless rock.

When the clock is ticking, the logistics of concrete ripple into every aspect of the jobsite. Concrete pours demand a highly intricate choreography, especially in heavy civil construction and other jobs consuming immense quantities.

There's only a certain amount of time that concrete trucks can stay staged, so everything needs to go right. When there's an error, you need to inform so many folks so that these trucks either don't waste the concrete or they shift their schedules to accommodate for whatever might be happening on the jobsite.

Jacob Kunken

Solutions Engineer, Heavy Civil

Procore Technologies

During any pour, the concrete company might be juggling multiple jobs, dispatching trucks and assigning crews for just-in-time delivery. At the same time, third-party inspectors could be dispatched onsite to test for qualities such as flow consistency.

On-site, extensive prep work includes more than installing rebar and erecting forms. Site conditions must also be addressed and stabilized, with assessments on questions such as the need to dewater or to remove or infill soil.

The MEP x Concrete Connection

Long before trucks roll onto the jobsite, coordination and planning set the stage for seamless collaboration among MEP trades and concrete contractors. To avoid the error-prone and costly practice of cutting and boring set or cured concrete, concrete is increasingly being framed out for penetrations before the pour.

In these cases, the designers might prepare plans for concrete contractors to follow, or GCs will lead MEP and concrete teams in collaborating to plan and frame out the penetrations.

Framing out beforehand adds time to the concrete pour, but it also allows the trades that follow to move more swiftly. Especially in urban settings, preplanning mitigates risk by keeping the number of people and machinery onsite to the minimum needed to integrate MEP systems with concrete.

The demands of the schedule, the job and the availability of labor can dictate whether GCs and their specialty contractors can plan in advance. Framing out is also trickier for the vertical pours impacted by gravity than the simpler horizontal pours.

The immutability of concrete makes it a strong candidate for preventing rework through advance alignment of tolerances and specs. For example, air handling units, boilers and other MEP equipment often sit on concrete pads built to accommodate their specifications.

That’s when it’s important that the MEP, concrete and general contractors collaborate to guarantee adherence to scope and proper preparation of the concrete pad.

Preplanning can also facilitate coordination of first-floor or basement slab pours, when MEP contractors have the chance to embed their pipes, conduits or sleeves on rebar cages before pouring starts.

Embedding is an efficient technique for projects like multifamily housing where every kitchen has an island connected to water and power. The GC must take care to account for underground installation of all the trades, but when embeds are possible, they save time in logistics, coordination and execution.

Concrete Is Universal

In construction, concrete is universal. Like the MEP trades, the work of concrete logistics, planning and installation is performed by specialists, skilled in delivering high-quality results while mitigating risk and creating operational efficiencies.

And it’s all performed under high-pressure timelines, because concrete won’t wait. Focused coordination among concrete contractors and the MEP trades prepares jobs for smoother implementation and optimal outcomes.

Written by

Jacob Kunken

Solutions Engineer, Heavy Civil | Procore Technologies

29 articles

Jake Kunken currently works as Solutions Engineer for Procore's Heavy Civil division. He brings 14 years of experience working in various construction roles in New York and Colorado, including laborer, assistant carpenter, carpenter, assistant superintendent, superintendent, construction manager, safety manager, and project manager. Jake also spent time in EHS as an environmental engineer for Skanska. He’s worked on more than 40 commercial projects from ground-up, to heavy civil, hospital work, and tenant improvement. Jake studied Ecological Technology Design at the University of Maryland.

View profile

Diane McCormick

Writer | Procore Technologies

57 articles

Diane McCormick is a freelance journalist covering construction, packaging, manufacturing, natural gas distribution, and waste oil recycling. A proud resident of Harrisburg, PA, Diane is well-versed in several types of digital and print media. Recognized as one of the premier voices in her region, she was recognized as the Keystone Media Freelance Journalist of the Year in 2022 and again in 2023.

View profile