---
id:
aliases: []
tags:
  - risk
---
# Gold Plating

Gold plating, also "overengineering", is the frustratingly common design practice
of arbitrarily requiring components or methods far more stringent than typical.

In [[construction-estimating]],
such cases quickly reveal every error of assumption made by the estimator.

## Example: Aluminum Feeders ILO Copper

The typical value engineering option for electrical installations
is to use aluminum wiring in lieu of copper above a certain size.
Assuming competent installation, such an option is strictly functionally equal to the design.
There is _no_ difference to capacity, future expansion, or long-term maintenance.
Moreover, the substitution is invisible to the client,
such that they would have to employ an electrician
to determine whether it had been taken.
Despite this, copper wiring is still a common specification default
because clients care about that sort of thing for some reason.
