What Does MEP Mean in Construction?

 

What is MEP Engineering?

MEP refers to mechanical, electrical, and plumbing engineering. These three disciplines encompass the systems essential for making buildings suitable for human occupancy. Typically, MEP systems are designed in an integrated manner due to their significant interdependencies. This collaborative strategy also mitigates potential conflicts regarding equipment placement, which frequently arise when mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems are developed independently.

Engaging with a proficient MEP engineering firm presents numerous benefits: they can streamline material usage to lower installation expenses while ensuring optimal performance and compliance with regulations. Such services are particularly advantageous in New York City, where construction costs are elevated and building codes are stringent.

M: Mechanical Engineering

Buildings use many types of mechanical systems. However, most of the mechanical design work in residential and commercial buildings deals with HVAC: space heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems.

• These systems keep the indoor temperature and humidity within a range that provides comfort and health.

• Mechanical ventilation also provides a constant supply of fresh air, to keep pollutants at low and safe levels.

Mechanical installations operate at their best when equipment capacity is adequate. Contrary to popular belief, over engineering has many negative consequences. For example, oversized chillers and boilers tend to cycle rapidly, wearing down faster and causing indoor temperature variations. Another consequence of over engineering in mechanical systems is poor control of indoor humidity.

• ASHRAE recommends keeping the relative humidity between 30% and 60%. This humidity range minimizes airborne bacteria and viruses, while being comfortable.

• There are negative consequences when humidity falls outside this range for extended periods. Low humidity can irritate the skin and airways, while high humidity stimulates the growth of mold and bacteria.

Other than sizing HVAC equipment correctly, mechanical design involves finding the optimal routes for heat distribution systems: air ducts, refrigerant lines, hydronic piping, steam piping, etc. If combustion is used for heating, which is the case in many NYC buildings, equipment must be properly vented to remove harmful exhaust gases.

E: Electrical Engineering

In high-rise buildings, optimizing the pathways for electrical conduits and wiring can lead to significant material savings. Compared to mechanical systems, electrical circuits offer greater design flexibility, as they occupy less space and can be more easily navigated around obstacles. Utilizing MEP design software allows for the efficient layout of conduits and wiring, minimizing the overall circuit length and preventing conflicts with mechanical and plumbing installations.

Among the various electrical systems, lighting installations typically account for the highest energy consumption in most structures. Energy consultants often advocate for the use of LED lighting, which can provide energy savings ranging from 30% to 90%, depending on the type of lamp being replaced. Numerous design software tools are available to simulate lighting scenarios, enabling the determination of the optimal number of fixtures and their arrangement.

The field of HVAC necessitates a strong partnership between mechanical and electrical engineers.

• Mechanical engineers calculate the space heating and air conditioning loads, to determine equipment capacities.

• Electrical engineers design the electrical circuits and protection measures that allow this equipment to operate continuously and safely.

Furnaces and boilers are the main HVAC components that use fossil fuels as an energy source. Air conditioners, chillers, air handling systems and hydronic pumps work with electricity in most cases.

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P: Plumbing Engineering

Plumbing installations must adhere to specific code requirements. The process of plumbing design entails the arrangement of piping routes, akin to the layout of ductwork in mechanical design and conduits in electrical design. MEP engineers utilize sophisticated software to streamline this process and prevent conflicts.

There are numerous points of interaction between plumbing installations and mechanical as well as electrical systems, making collaboration among design teams essential.

• High-rise buildings normally need water booster pumps, which run with electricity.

• Domestic hot water systems normally use a dedicated water heater, or a heat exchanger connected to a space heating boiler.

Fire protection design can be challenging in NYC, since local codes are especially demanding in that area. In addition, Local Law 26 of 2004 made automatic fire sprinklers mandatory for all business occupancies taller than 100 feet. The law was also applied retroactively for existing constructions, and the deadline to complete the building upgrade was July 1, 2019.

Added Value of MEP Design

When designing building systems, an integrated MEP approach achieves better results than designing each system in isolation. Interactions between building systems are difficult to coordinate when the design process is isolated, and equipment location conflicts are very likely.

• Given the complexity of MEP system layouts, modern engineering firms use software to speed up the design process.

• Simple and repetitive tasks are automated by a computer, while MEP engineers can focus on making the best design decisions.

When modern MEP software is used, the value of the 3D model produced during the design phase goes beyond the construction stage. The model can be used as reference for maintenance activities, and it can be updated along with the building major renovations.