Any project is successful when the right team works on it. For any construction or renovation project, an MEP (Mechanical, Electrical, and Plumbing) consulting firm is just as important as an architect or a builder. MEP engineers work closely with architects and owners throughout design, construction, and operations processes, analyzing and evaluating system options in the context of the entire project. This approach allows MEP engineers to implement systems that integrate with building architecture and perform as designed as well as creating a safe environment for human use.
MEP engineers can assure that your construction or renovation project will optimize your building’s performance and minimize its operating costs. With the current demand of technologies and systems operating in modern buildings, combined with efforts to strive for sustainable design and LEED accreditation, an MEP engineer can provide successful coordination of building systems and operations while optimizing the building owner’s investment. Unlike individual advisors MEP consulting advisors offer efficient services. Moreover, MEP needs are the fundamental requirements of modern construction projects.
With no doubt, MEP consulting engineers are definitely an investment, such that, you pay for a professional service to make sure your building systems operate optimally during their service life. This yields tangible financial benefits such as lower operating costs and improved productivity, along with qualitative benefits such as improved comfort and safety for occupants. If you are developing commercial space for rent, MEP engineering services can also give you a competitive edge: a building that offers high-performance systems is likely to attract more tenants. For example, energy efficient heating and cooling systems are selling points in office spaces for rent. Partnering with a solid MEP engineering team is essential when designing a building with high-performance systems or unique requirements.
When it comes to constructing a fully optimized and efficient building, an MEP engineer can bring the expertise you need. MEP engineering services extend beyond the traditional boundaries of mechanical, electric, and plumbing engineering. Their services may include; HVAC installation and maintenance, plumbing design including storm water management, lighting design, emergency power systems, industrial exhaust systems, etc. according to the project requirement. It is recommended to schedule a meeting with the MEP Consulting Firm to discuss about the project needs before moving ahead.
There are various reasons why MEP consultants are highly important for any building or renovation project. The experts certainly know the best. These consultants aim at providing services that utilize environment friendly products in order to reduce excessive consumption of resources. Here are the 12 reasons why you should considerably hire a MEP Consulting Engineers:
- Mechanical – For any building project, residential or commercial, heating and ventilation services are essential. This is where the MEP engineers step in. They are responsible for the installation and maintenance of air conditioners, heaters, exhaust and smoke control. An MEP consultant will ensure their designs provide comfort and run efficiently. Whether it’s determining if an under-floor air distribution (UFAD) system is the best way to heat and cool your building, or which automation techniques can best help your HVAC system conserve energy, an MEP consulting engineer can ensure your system is designed and installed to run efficiently, deliver maximum occupant comfort, and maintain environmentally-friendly standards.
- Electricity and lighting: Electrical services are indispensable. Your project will be incomplete without electricity and lighting. MEP engineers can design systems and suggest equipment and automation techniques that can help a building to reduce its lighting consumption by 20-60%. By incorporating natural daylight and adding sensors and energy-efficient light fixtures, MEP engineers can not only reduce electricity usage and costs, but can provide a more comfortable indoor environment for occupants. MEP consultants are not only responsible for lighting but also other electrical services such as fire alarms, security systems, smoke alarms etc.
- Plumbing: Plumbing design incorporates fire suppression, storm water, sewer, natural gas, drinking water, irrigation water and other special water and waste systems. MEP engineers can ensure plumbing design and equipment are operating at a level most efficient for your building, and can also integrate water conservation techniques and other design strategies that will make your building more eco-friendly and more cost-effective.
- Energy conservation: Efficient energy management solutions are the basic requirements of most of the engineering firms. While HVAC, electrical, and plumbing design can all contribute to reductions in energy usage, an MEP engineering consultant can implement a number of other energy management solutions that can make your building more sustainable. Using environmentally-preferable product in building and renovation phases and incorporating renewable energy sources are just a couple of ways that MEP engineers can enhance design and operations in order to reduce energy consumption.
- Fire alarms and protection: For improved safety, Fire alarm is an important addition. Sprinkler and fire suppression systems can require a lot of coordination during design and implementation processes. Not only do these systems need to meet building code requirements, but they also need to meet the needs of different areas of your building. MEP consulting engineers can sync fire and plumbing design, and even introduce dry fire hydrants or other systems that heighten environmental efficiency by utilizing non-potable water sources.
- Building automation: Building automation systems are centralized networks of hardware and software that control a building’s HVAC systems, indoor and outdoor lighting, security, fire alarms, and any number of other mechanical, electrical, or plumbing features in the building. Automation systems help maintain a building’s optimal operational performance levels and ensure the comfort and safety of building occupants. It also allows you to track all data from a single central command, which allows faster error detection and simplifies the maintenance process. MEP consultants can design effective control systems that can help you monitor your building’s performance and reduce energy consumption.
- Effective design for long-term value: Whether you’re constructing a new building or renovating an old one, using the latest technologies, MEP engineers can help you build the most cost-effective electrical, mechanical, or plumbing systems that will provide worthwhile solutions for your construction and renovation projects, by using high-quality materials that can withstand time, normal wear and tear, and weathering. These designs should not only utilize the most current and efficient technologies, but provide flexibility and foresight to ensure your building and its equipment will maximize their lifecycles and minimizes the need for renovations for years to come. MEP consultants can also follow up with commissioning efforts every 1-3 years to determine if your building systems are operating at an optimal level. Retro-commissioning can identify changes in your building’s operations and make sure that new systems are continuing to function as designed.
- Indoor environmental quality: While focusing on creating an ecofriendly environment for the outdoors, it is also vital to build a safe and healthy environment indoors. Indoor environment quality refers to the use of natural daylight, moisture control, optimizing systems etc. The indoor environmental quality of a building can have a significant impact on occupant health, comfort and productivity. For schools and businesses, this can mean fewer sick days, more productive students and employees, and better moods for everyone in the building. There are a number of ways to improve a building’s environmental quality, whether it’s maximizing the use of natural daylight or optimizing HVAC systems for ventilation and moisture control to remove odors and airborne pathogens. MEP consultants can help recognize which methods will deliver the greatest improvements to your building’s indoor environment.
- Water conservation: Mechanical and plumbing system designs can lower the amount of water your building consumes, and in turn, reduce your water bill. MEP consultants can help you incorporate low-flow fixtures in bathrooms, insulate your piping, utilize alternative water sources, optimize landscape design to minimize water use, and improve efficiency of HVAC systems.
- Optimizing operational and maintenance practices: MEP consultants can identify materials and systems that will require less water, energy, and toxic chemicals and cleaners to maintain, streamlining maintenance procedures while making your building more eco-friendly. They can customize these systems in order to ensure the best for your building, and ensure that maintenance requirements remain simple and maintenance workers are properly trained and can easily maintain all equipment and maximize product lifecycles.
- Cost Efficient – Every project that you take up has a stipulated budget that needs to be followed. With the help of MEP engineers not only do you manage to stay inside budget but also end up with systems that will be cost efficient in the long run.
- Expertise– It is always better to leave the job in the hands of the one that knows the best. MEP consultants are highly trained and experienced in their field. They work closely with architects and owners to provide successful coordination of building systems.