Engineering

Remember when strangers used to be nice for no reason? The grocery guy threw in an extra apple for free and with a smile or the baker handed you a sweet bun as he wrapped . . .

It may be a new buzzword now and it may be worthwhile to incorporate sustainability into building design for new buildings, but what about existing buildings? How do we ‘green’ an existing structure . . .

Learning about water, sewerage and hydraulic system design may not be every child’s dream and ideal in Australia, but in the past few decades, hydraulic engineering in buildings and hydraulic design . . .

Though building engineering design may necessarily navigate through a multitude of challenges, one of the prime aspects of MEP design is the creation of reliable and accurate HVAC design . . .

Steady progress is constant in the design workflows and construction planning of AEC projects globally. However, it is still possible to spend precious man-hours on repetitive design and documentation . . .

Hospitals have so much going on - consultation, treatment, operations, physiotherapy, catering, biological waste and healing environments. There’s so much to manage, so much to do and so much . . .

It’s a win-win equation for the construction industry and the environment, a distinct rarity. The construction industry has come under repeated fire for environmental damage in countless ways – construction waste, air, water . . .

Both part of the British Commonwealth and also the spirited Ashes cricket series, does the commonality between Australia and the UK extend to fire design guidelines for buildings as well? Both countries have had their share of building . . .

What makes commercial buildings productive? Well, in essence, they should have an environment, system or workflow that encourages inhabitants to perform their tasks to the best of their ability. Commercial buildings may consist of office . . .

As author and psychiatrist Scott Peck once said, ‘Share our similiarities, celebrate our differences.’ Building engineering consultants and contractors share certain similarities, but the differences offer an almost holistic resolution . . .

Going ‘green’ is an ideal concept that is fast becoming a necessity, rather than a preferred option. In the global construction industry, there is an increasing drive . . .

Shopping malls alternate between being mundane, functional or a venue for amusement, based on customer needs. Since many customers visit shopping malls at any given time for any given reason . . .

It’s inevitable. Amid the chaos of rising energy prices, climate change and depleting energy resources, solutions must be explored. In a world where building construction consumes the lion’s share of energy, the use of building energy...

Just a little bit like good parenting, CDP, or the contractor’s design portion, is all about taking responsibility. Contractual obligations define the specific project parts that the contractor agrees to design...

We, as building occupants no longer accustomed to living in the wild, take for granted the level of comfort we enjoy indoors. Well ventilated rooms that are temperature controlled, running water and lights and gadgets that make...

As building construction accounts for over one-third of global energy consumption and nearly 40% of total direct and indirect carbon dioxide emissions . . .

Building Information Modelling (BIM), a 3D model-based process to efficiently design, construct and manage buildings, fits into different sectors of building design . . .

Changes galore – that’s what the UK construction and housing market has seen in the past critical few years. The effects of Brexit, the pandemic and economic policies have resulted in increased demands on the UK housing...

Doing the right thing is becoming increasingly popular in construction. Thus, sustainability is not just a hot topic or concept, it is now a concept that can be and must be implemented as much as possible...

It can be chaotic. Scores of people on site, endless meetings, a steady stream of RFIs and submittals being created, materials being loaded and unloaded – managing a building construction project . . .

Star Wars fans will always remember the thrill of their first introduction to light sabres, the oh-so-cool laser swords. Though maybe not as exciting, laser scanning procedures in construction have a certain

Fires are unpredictable. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) is an analytical tool that predicts or calculates fluid flows and can be used by fire design service providers to help design an effective fire protection . . .

Parameters for office design include advanced technology, safety, comfort and security, all while being environmentally friendly. Flawless mechanical, electrical and plumbing (MEP) systems design is crucial . . .

‘The best laid plans of mice and men’ is a famous line from a poem about a mouse whose nest was destroyed by the poet Robert Burns. Men also create designs for their own nests that somehow don’t always work out...

A long time ago, somewhere in the Third World, a large, luxury-fitted, modern apartment complex was built in record time and apartment units were sold, only for residents to discover that their beautiful chrome-plated bathroom fixtures...

Function and aesthetics must merge flawlessly in bathrooms. To enable this, bathroom design needs thought, expertise and seamless execution. Prefabricated bathroom modules or bathroom pods are a convenient . . .

Building Information Modelling (BIM) has transformed the process of construction, bringing with it a wave of benefits. The use of BIM technology and BIM services in the segment of quantification . . .

Hospital patients are one of society’s most vulnerable groups, which makes it imperative that healthcare facilities make them comfortable and safe for the duration of their stay. As the cost of healthcare and hospital stay in the . . .

Manufacturers in the AEC industry deal with special requirements, special equipment and special clients. There is an equally special process – the BIM (Building Information Modelling) process – which manufacturers, specifically . . .

Most modern schools and universities offer Internet and free Wi-Fi facilities to their students and accept class work sourced from the Internet. Today’s educational institutes have integrated the use of computers, tablets . . .

Current hero in the construction industry, prefabrication is something everyone wants a piece of – literally. As prefabrication extends to modular construction services, the creation of different types of MEP . . .

Plant rooms may call to mind the concept of greenhouses, but they are far less pretty in the MEP (mechanical, electrical, plumbing) landscape. Dedicated to housing mechanical equipment and related electrical . . .

Construction, much like other industries across the globe, must face a new world order – one that takes climate change, green building and the mantra of reduce, reuse, recycle into consideration . . .

Anything and everything can be improved, and when it comes to improving building design, software tools that offer accuracy, versatility, ease and speed are sure to find popularity. Hevacomp is one such entity that has . . .

Right up until the mid-1990s, most schools and universities did not offer Internet and free Wi-Fi facilities to its students or accept class work sourced from the Internet. In fact, it was around . . .

Today’s MEP engineer or architect wants to choose the most appropriate components or fixture from many different brands in the shortest possible time. Clear and detailed communication of product information . . .

The main advantage of MEP designers in India for Western construction? A single source for MEP design services being effectively delivered in the shortest time, at a cost-effective rate. There are MEP consultants in India . . .

It’s almost like diving into the unknown – except, it doesn’t have to be. When a Building Information Modelling (BIM) manager has to make the decision to outsource the BIM MEP services of his/her project . . .

Nobody wants to think about plumbing until it stops working or becomes faulty, but plumbing design services are of paramount importance for both the comfort of building inhabitants and the health and life of the building. Part of the wider ambit of MEP . . .

Ideal and effective MEP (mechanical, electrical, plumbing) design at its early stages can quickly and devastatingly spiral into a nightmare for installation purposes without the right mechanical design . . .

Due to its multifaceted benefits, building information modelling (BIM) is rapidly gaining traction in the AEC industry as the key pre-construction planning, construction management and post-construction . . .

Changing winds bring changing times, and for the AEC (architecture, engineering, construction) industry, one of the most sweeping changes that blew in was the arrival of Building Information . . .

Maintaining deadlines in the AEC (architecture, engineering, construction) industry will be of paramount importance as global firms adjust to changing environments. Reducing rework and increasing process . . .

Developments in the building services, or MEP (mechanical, electrical, plumbing), industry have created milestones. Most of these developments have found contribution from within the industry . . .

3D MEP coordination, also known as 3D M&E coordination, is a key element of MEP design concerned with spatial configuration and the layout of building services trades (HVAC, pipe work, public health . . .

Progress has made a steady march in the building services design industry recently. The majority of developments can be attributed to have come from within the industry. A few have come from other . . .

Construction and the MEP (mechanical, electrical, plumbing) industry, also known as the M&E industry, owes a debt to the technological advance we know as Building Information Modelling (BIM) . . .

In the United Kingdom, as in many parts of the world, plumbing or public health design has seen changes, advances and new requirements. Creating plumbing and piping plans can be difficult, as a building’s plumbing system typically consists . . .

With the increasing complexity and functionality of each system, MEP (mechanical, electrical, plumbing) activities are not confined to the traditional mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems, but also include fire . . .

One of the most integral practices undertaken in the pre-construction phase, MEP (M&E) coordination demands special attention from all the AEC professionals involved in a project. This process . . .

‘It takes a village to raise a child,’ a wise African once said. Well, it takes several teams of professionals to raise a building, and like the squabbles of family members, intense but well meaning, structural engineers . . .

The short answer is that an MEP consultant provides a spatially organised design that meets the intended needs of the customer’s site. An MEP contractor makes sure that construction adheres to the intended . . .

‘Getting in tune with nature’ is a ringing chorus around the world during the growing clamour for practical measures against climate change, virulently contagious diseases and out-of-control carbon emissions . . .

Behind every building constructed for optimum human comfort is an efficient building services system. Ideally, this system, also known as an MEP (mechanical, electrical, plumbing) system . . .

In a constantly changing world, the methodologies and technologies of creating buildings are keeping pace with other lifestyle changes as efficiently as possible. As architects progress to creating virtual building . . .

Who’s the big bad wolf when it comes to using natural resources? The construction industry. Construction is responsible for approximately 36% of global energy use and 40% of global carbon dioxide emissions . . .

Design for manufacture and assembly (DfMA) has been weaving a spell in the AEC (architecture, engineering, construction) industry for some time, and it has been especially potent . . .

It’s generally a stuffy area to begin with. There’s something vaguely claustrophobic and mildly unpleasant about underground or basement car parks. Imagine how scary a fire would be in such car parks . . .

The ‘green’ mantra in construction is no longer just a chant by new-age bohemian-type architects and engineers. Green buildings are becoming a necessity in many countries and an increasing number of building regulation . . .

Where are we now in terms of technological influencers in the construction world? In 2020, the AEC industry is sure to exploit the following influencers, both in terms of software and technologies . . .

When something makes your life easier, why not use it? Design for Manufacture and Assembly (DfMA) is a building construction practice that involves integrating factory-built building components or modules . . .

It’s beyond debate. The importance of MEP (mechanical, electrical, plumbing) systems and their components in the construction industry are critical. How these components and systems are placed or fastened . . .

People often console one another by saying every family is dysfunctional, but in the world of MEP (mechanical, electrical and plumbing) engineering, a family is certainly a functional entity. As BIM (Building Information Modelling) . . .

Every link in the chain of the construction process is vital. One such link is the contractor’s design portion (CDP). The CDP comes into play when consultants on a construction project do not or cannot provide BIM . . .

It happens all the time. In any commercial environment with an open-plan office space, some people just need more cool air and others in the same space bundle up with winter wear, or battle . . .

In Australia, temperatures have climbed to over 50°C (122°F) on occasion and dipped to well below 0°C (32°F). Building design needs to consider the effect of shade on any building in Australia . . .

We spend a considerable part of our day within modern offices. It’s important that we are comfortable during this time so that we can be both productive and at peace. The quality, temperature and humidity levels of inside air must be optimised to suit the majority of the occupants . . .

Imagine seeing your new home designs, a large shopping complex or even a cluster of apartment buildings in precise detail. Difficult to visualise it? Not anymore. It’s no longer difficult to imagine . . .

The winter of 2017 saw Ras Al Khaimah, an emirate in the desert country of the United Arab Emirates, experience unprecedented snowfall and Dubai . . .

There are some parts of hospitals that have a higher risk of fire. These areas need special treatment. They should be well segregated from the other parts of the hospital and have dedicated fire suppression systems, such as wet . . .

Hydraulic systems of waste facilities and transformers are places where fires could start easily due to fuels and lubricants being subjected to high temperatures. Water spray systems can be triggered hydraulically, pneumatically or . . .

Construction design practices have come a long way. Tasks enabled by updated software have contributed significantly to the progress of design practices. Increasingly seen as best suited for construction . . .

One of the most impactful advances in construction is the ease, popularity and successful implementation of prefabrication in many disciplines of construction, but none more impressive than in building services or the MEP . . .

Prefabrication in MEP systems is the practice of manufacturing/assembling components of building services in a factory or other manufacturing site and transporting complete assemblies of MEP components . . .

Firms in Western nations are increasingly working with Building Information Modelling (BIM) technology in the AEC industry, and have found effective methods of managing this technology to suit time . . .

When considering the practice of general construction, its two-tiered process quickly becomes evident, simply put – design followed by implementation. The efficient implementation of a construction project . . .

Industry lingo is representative of some of the major advances in the processes and gains associated with construction. One such term that finds increasing popularity is value engineering. So, what is value engineering and how does it benefit the . . .

One of the basic human rights of today’s society is the right to live a healthy and disease-free life. This is heavily dependent on basic building services, but specifically, plumbing. The design of effective plumbing services, or hydraulic building services, is necessary to maintain public health and help . . .

Building Information Modelling, or BIM Modelling, has been the buzz word in the AEC industry for some time. It’s been known to facilitate unmatched opportunities for increased productivity and significant . . .

MEP (M&E) design, or mechanical, electrical and plumbing design, arguably the most essential component of construction design for comfortable living, involves a slew of vitally important services . . .

The construction sector is under constant pressure to deliver projects on time and within budget to achieve increased levels of profitability. The last few years has seen significant investment . . .

BIM 360 Team, which is now part of BIM 360 family and was formerly known as A360, and Collaboration for Revit, more commonly abbreviated to C4R, are essentially collaboration tools that are used by various stakeholders . . .

It’s important to maintain the momentum while moving two steps forward with advances in the construction industry. Pushback may occur at times, and the challenges faced by MEP (mechanical, electrical, plumbing) fabrication . . .

XS CAD is a UK and India based BIM services provider. We provide BIM, CAD and design services to building services engineers and installers, retailers, home builders and architects. We are an ISO 9001 quality . . .

In the MEP environment, a building’s MEP designs are initially developed at high level and then detailed to make them clash free and installation ready. MEP designers/consultants play a significant . . .

The schematic and contract phases are the stepping stones of just about any project, be it retail or otherwise. These are valuable phases as they set the architectural intent, the visual style and suggest one structural . . .

In the AEC (architectural, engineering and construction) industry, there is an expectation to deliver projects faster and at lower cost to clients. This pressure translates into challenges . . .

Making the right choice has never been easy, but with a little bit of research and dedication, it doesn’t have to be too difficult. As Revit 3D BIM modelling/ Revit BIM services are becoming increasingly prevalent . . .

The building and construction industry is faced with a multitude of challenges in areas, ranging from design planning, construction administration and budgeting, to scheduling and facilities management . . .

In the AEC industry, the timely and cost-effective completion of projects is the sole aim of general contractors, also referred to as main contractors in the UK. In most cases, general contractors . . .

In the AEC industry, the advent of building information modelling (BIM) concept was viewed by many as an evolution to better 2D and 3D computer-aided design (CAD) techniques. Very few saw it as an interdisciplinary . . .