Engineering Blogs

Expert perspectives, project updates, and industry best practices for the UK’s most highly regulated engineering sectors.

Welcome to the O'Hare Engineering Blog

At O'Hare Engineering Design, our multidisciplinary team is constantly navigating complex challenges across the Nuclear, Pharmaceutical, Chemical, and Energy sectors.

In our blog, we share our technical expertise, behind-the-scenes looks at our 3D modelling and laser scanning workflows, and deep dives into the latest regulatory compliance standards. Whether you are looking for advice on brownfield retrofitting, tips for streamlining your mechanical design process, or project case studies, you will find it here.

Explore Our Services

Latest blogs

Bringing Dead Plant Drawings Back to Life

Bringing Walking Dead Plant Drawings Back to Life

by Martin O'Hare • 20 October 2026

There’s nothing quite like that sinking feeling when a shortcut you took months (or even years) ago comes back to haunt you… Over the years, production lines get added, equipment gets moved, pipework takes a different route and the odd “temporary” fix somehow becomes permanent.

Taking the Guesswork Out of Stress Analysing in Chemical Plants

by Martin O'Hare • 2 July 2026

Stress testing is often treated as a box-ticking exercise. But in reality, it plays a key role in delivering safe, reliable chemical plant projects. One of the biggest challenges? Working from outdated or incomplete data that doesn’t reflect what’s actually on site.

Piping Isometrics: The Most Overlooked Safety Document in Process Plants

by Martin O'Hare • 1 April 2026

Piping isometrics often don’t get much attention until something goes wrong. In highly regulated industries like chemical and petrochemical processing, that documentation is critical. Without it, proving compliance, passing audits, or demonstrating that a system is safe to operate can become extremely difficult.

How Energy Price Surges Are Shaping Petrochemical Plant Engineering

by Martin O'Hare • 26 February 2026

How Energy Price Surges Are Shaping Petrochemical Plant Engineering

The Gap Between Consumer 3D Scanners and Scanners for Professional Engineering Design

by Martin O'Hare • 22 January 2026

Consumer 3D scanners have become increasingly capable and accessible over the past few years. As a result, many people now encounter 3D scan data long before they encounter a professional survey.

Reverse Engineering One Gingerbread House At A Time

by Martin O'Hare • 9 December 2025

Ever wondered how to make a gingerbread house that actually stays up under the weight of all that icing and chocolate? At O’Hare Engineering, we spend our days reverse engineering complex pipework and vessels in chemical plants across the UK. It’s all about precision, planning, and making sure everything fits.

How Accurate Is Accurate Enough With Laser Scanning Tolerances?

by Martin O'Hare • 1 December 2025

When you’re investing time and budget into a 3D laser scan or model of your complex chemical plant layout, it’s natural to ask the question: how accurate do we really need it to be? In practice, “perfect” accuracy is rarely achievable, and, just as importantly, it’s not always necessary.

Clashes in the Night! How To Avoid Design Nightmares Before They Hit Site

by Martin O'Hare • 24 October 2025

Clashes in the night... they’re not just a Halloween thing! We’ve all had those last-minute “how did that happen?” moments on site. This blog breaks down how we catch clashes early using laser scanning, 3D modelling, and proper coordination.

BIM & 3D Piping Design: What Mechanical Designers Really Need to Know

by Martin O'Hare • 3 October 2025

Most people think they know BIM. But when you scratch beneath the surface, especially in mechanical and piping design, it seems like a lot of people are still using the word without actually understanding what it means. I’m exploring what BIM really is, why Revit doesn’t always do the job in piping design.

Why Site Awareness Is Critical for Reliable Design

by Martin O'Hare • 23 August 2025

Designing for real-world conditions starts with understanding the site, not just the drawings. Even with the best tools, if we don’t have the right context, things can slip through the cracks. A quick site visit or an outdated scan often isn't enough to support reliable design decisions.

Have a Complex Engineering Challenge?

If you are currently planning a facility upgrade, mechanical routing project, or structural assessment, our team is ready to assist. Contact us today for a free, no-obligation consultation to discuss your exact requirements and discover how our multidisciplinary approach can de-risk your project.