ELV Deliverables by RIBA/RIAI Work Stage in Ireland

ELV design is not a single deliverable — it is a programme of deliverables that evolves through the RIAI work stages. Understanding what ELV deliverables are appropriate at each stage — and critically, why producing Stage 4 deliverables at Stage 3 or Stage 2 deliverables at Stage 4 is problematic — is essential for Irish project managers, architects and M&E consultants who are managing ELV consultants as part of a design team. This guide maps the ELV deliverable requirements to each RIAI work stage, with specific reference to Irish NDP projects, BC(A)R documentation requirements and ISO 19650 LOD progression.

Why ELV Deliverables Must Be Staged — Not Issued All at Once

ELV design deliverables are staged because each stage of design depends on information that only becomes available as the project develops. A Stage 2 fire alarm category cannot be determined without a fire risk assessment — which requires the building layout to be sufficiently defined. A Stage 3 detector layout cannot be clash-checked in BIM without a coordinated structural and MEP model — which only exists at Stage 3. A Stage 4 cause-and-effect matrix cannot be signed off without the MEP engineer's AHU layout and the architect's door release strategy — both of which are Stage 3 outputs. Attempting to produce all ELV deliverables at once — regardless of what information is available — produces design that will need to be revised as the project develops, creating abortive work and programme overrun.

RIAI Work Stages — A Quick Reference

The RIAI work stages used on Irish building projects are: Stage 0 (Strategic Definition), Stage 1 (Preparation and Brief), Stage 2 (Concept Design), Stage 3 (Developed Design), Stage 4 (Technical Design), Stage 5 (Construction), Stage 6 (Handover and Close Out). This broadly aligns with the RIBA Plan of Work 2020 stages used on many UK-influenced Irish projects. The key design stages for ELV are Stages 2–4; Stage 5 is construction support; Stage 6 is handover documentation.

ELV Deliverables by Stage

ISO 19650 LOD Progression by RIAI Stage

For Irish NDP projects mandating ISO 19650 BIM, the LOD progression for ELV discipline models aligns with RIAI stages: LOD 100 (conceptual spatial placeholder) at Stage 1–2; LOD 200 (approximate size, shape, location and orientation — spatial coordination concept) at Stage 2–3; LOD 300 (dimensioned, specified, coordinated) at Stages 3–4; LOD 400 (fabrication-ready, manufacturer-specific content) in Stage 5 construction; LOD 500 (as-built, verified against site installation) at Stage 6 handover. HSE Capital Programme and OGP public works Employer Information Requirements (EIR) specify the LOD expectations explicitly for each discipline at each stage.

ASDV's Deliverable Schedule for Irish NDP Projects

ASDV produces a project-specific ELV deliverable schedule at Stage 1 appointment — mapping each deliverable to its RIAI stage, issue date, CDE location and review period. This schedule is incorporated into the project's BIM Execution Plan (BEP) for ISO 19650-mandated commissions. The deliverable schedule is updated at each stage gate to reflect any programme changes, with the assigned certifier's review requirements specifically accounted for at Stage 4.

See our ELV design consultant Ireland service page for the full scope, and our ELV resource support Ireland page for extended design team augmentation for NDP pipeline management.