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 us comfortable have become so much a matter of routine that anything else is incomprehensible.In the housing industry, especially involving large homebuilding projects, this level of comfort takes a whole lot of planning and near flawless MEP (mechanical, electrical, plumbing) engineering design.

As the designers, builders and maintainers of what could be thought of as a structure’s respiratory system, regulating the very air it breathes, MEP (mechanical, electrical, plumbing) engineers play a vital role in the construction process, including ensuring fresh, clean air flow to designing electronic and communications systems, to routing complex piping. Thus, MEP designers play a critical role in MEP design for residential projects.

Whether building services are designed together by the same MEP consultant and installed on site by different trade contractors or designed independently by different designers, MEP engineers must have a working knowledge of how different services work with and impact each other. The rapidly advancing field of smart house technology means that MEP engineers must be able to develop smart systems into lighting, communication systems and other systems.

Engineers providing comprehensive mechanical design must include the following:

Electrical engineers designing electrical systems for homebuilders, in addition to routing electrical systems suitably, may develop smart lighting systems. Some of the services they offer include:

Plumbing engineers plan the piping and sewage routes for housing, and design hot water supply, collection and storage of rainwater, so that water usage and water bills are reduced. They need to consider:

These building services and the details involved in each service are critical to the health and comfort of a home and its occupants. In a large homebuilding project, the homebuilders may not develop MEP design, and sometimes, individual trade contractors for mechanical, electrical and plumbing services create the design. These situations may be primed for different layers of inconsistencies, which can result in unnecessary:

If MEP design and utility system design is not consistent and of high quality in a large homebuilding project:

In such instances, it is vital to have accurate, precise and detailed MEP design and drafting services, so that homebuilders can follow a consistent approach. With a proper design in place, there is every chance that proper construction will ensue. Homebuilders require high-quality MEP CAD drafting services and plumbing design services to ensure the lasting comfort and well-being of their buyers and, as a result, their reputations.