MECHANICAL, ELECTRICAL & PLUMBING

Mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) refers to these aspects of building design and construction. In commercial buildings these aspects are often designed by an engineering firm specializing in MEP. MEP design is important for design decision-making, accurate documentation, performance and cost-estimation, construction planning, managing and operating the resulting facility.

Typically designed by specialised consultants and contractors, MEP systems can present complex challenges in terms of coordination and detailing. They must satisfy multiple objectives and criteria for design, installation, commissioning, operation, and maintenance.

Creating energy-efficient buildings requires the finely orchestrated efforts of experts from a broad range of disciplines. MEP engineers are integral to this process, analyzing everything from airflow and thermal environments to acoustics, lighting and water usage.

Having MEP engineers in-house also promotes sustainability by giving us more control over life-cycle costing (LCC), an increasingly critical consideration for any architectural project.

Some of the challenges involved include:

• Spatial co-ordination; avoiding hard and soft clashes.

• Multiple parts functioning effectively together as a single system.

• Complex installation, testing operation and maintenance procedures.