Mechanical, electrical, and plumbing

Short description: Subfields of building design and construction

Pipes and cables in the Large Hadron Collider, an example of the unity between mechanical, electrical and plumbing

Mechanical, electrical and plumbing (MEP) refers to the installation of services which provide a comfortable space for the building occupants. In residential and commercial buildings, these elements are often designed by specialized MEP engineering firms. The part of Mechanical in the overall MEP system is almost 70% of the total work. MEP's design is important for planning, decision-making, accurate documentation, performance- and cost-estimation, construction, and operating/maintaining the resulting facilities.[1]

MEP specifically encompasses the in-depth design and selection of these systems, as opposed to a tradesperson simply installing equipment. In countries of Asia such as Pakistan, China and Saudi Arabia the use of MEP is increasing in building construction projects due to extreme climates in summer and winter. For example, a plumber may select and install a commercial hot water system based on common practice and regulatory codes. A team of MEP engineers will research the best design according to the principles of engineering, and supply installers with the specifications they develop. As a result, engineers working in the MEP field must understand a broad range of disciplines, including dynamics, mechanics, fluids, thermodynamics, heat transfer, chemistry, electricity, and computers.[2]

## Contents

* 1 Design and documentation
* 2 Components of MEP
* 2.1 Mechanical
* 2.2 Electrical
* 2.2.1 Alternating current
* 2.2.2 Information technology
* 2.3 Plumbing
* 3 See also
* 4 References

## Design and documentation

As with other aspect of buildings, MEP drafting, design and documentation were traditionally done manually. Computer-aided design has some advantages over this, and often incorporates 3D modeling which is otherwise impractical. Building information modeling provides holistic design and parametric change management of the MEP design.[3]

Maintaining documentation of MEP services may also require the use of a geographical information system or asset management system.

## Components of MEP

### Mechanical

Main page: Biology:HVAC

The mechanical component of MEP is an important superset of HVAC services. Thus, it incorporates the control of environmental factors (psychrometrics), either for human comfort or for the operation of machines. Heating, cooling, ventilation and exhaustion are all key areas to consider in the mechanical planning of a building.[4] In special cases, water cooling/heating, humidity control or air filtration[5] may also be incorporated. For example, Google's data centres make extensive use of heat exchangers to cool their servers.[6] This system creates an additional overhead of 12% of initial energy consumption. This is a vast improvement from traditional active cooling units which have an overhead of 30-70%.[6] However, this novel and complicated method requires careful and expensive planning from mechanical engineers, who must work closely with the engineers designing the electrical and plumbing systems for a building.

A major concern for people designing HVAC systems is the efficiency, i.e., the consumption of electricity and water. Efficiency is optimised by changing the design of the system on both large and small scales. Heat pumps[7] and evaporative cooling[8] are efficient alternatives to traditional systems, however they may be more expensive or harder to implement. The job of an MEP engineer is to compare these requirements and choose the most suitable design for the task.

Electricians and plumbers usually have little to do with each other, other than keeping services out of each other's way. The introduction of mechanical systems requires the integration of the two so that plumbing may be controlled by electrics and electrics may be serviced by plumbing. Thus, the mechanical component of MEP unites the three fields.

### Electrical

#### Alternating current

Virtually all modern buildings integrate some form of AC mains electricity for powering domestic and everyday appliances. Such systems typically run between 100 and 500 volts, however their classifications and specifications vary greatly by geographical area (see Mains electricity by country). Mains power is typically distributed through insulated copper wire concealed in the building's subfloor, wall cavities and ceiling cavity. These cables are terminated into sockets mounted to walls, floors or ceilings. Similar techniques are used for lights ("luminaires"), however the two services are usually separated into different circuits with different protection devices at the distribution board.[9] Whilst the wiring for lighting is exclusively managed by electricians, the selection of luminaires or light fittings may be left to building owners or interior designers in some cases.

Telephone wiring from the 1970s. Low voltage cables are often laid across ceiling joists and insulation in roof cavities.

Three-phase power is commonly used for industrial machines, particularly motors and high-load devices. Provision for three-phase power must be considered early in the design stage of a building because it has different regulations to domestic power supplies, and may affect aspects such as cable routes, switchboard location, large external transformers and connection from the street.[9]

#### Information technology

The information technology sector of electrical installations is used for computer networking, telephones, television, security systems, audio distribution, healthcare systems, robotics, and more. These services are typically installed by different tradespeople to the higher-voltage mains wiring and are often contracted out to very specific trades, e.g. security installers or audio integrators.

Regulations on low voltage wiring are often less strict or less important to human safety. As a result, it is more common for this wiring to be installed or serviced by competent amateurs, despite constant attempts from the electrical industry to discourage this.

### Plumbing

Main page: Chemistry:Piping

A laboratory for testing automotive engines, showing plumbing and electrical setups integrated into the building

Competent design of plumbing systems is necessary to prevent conflicts with other trades, and to avoid expensive rework or surplus supplies. The scope of standard residential plumbing usually covers mains pressure potable water, heated water (in conjunction with mechanical and/or electrical engineers), sewerage, stormwater, natural gas, and sometimes rainwater collection and storage. In commercial environments, these distribution systems expand to accommodate many more users, as well as the addition of other plumbing services such as hydroponics, irrigation, fuels, oxygen, vacuum/compressed air, solids transfer, and more.

Plumbing systems also service air distribution/control, and therefore contribute to the mechanical part of MEP. Plumbing for HVAC systems involves the transfer of coolant, pressurized air, water, and occasionally other substances. Ducting for air transfer may also be consider plumbing, but is generally installed by different tradespeople.

## See also

* Architectural engineering
* Drainage
* Electrical wiring
* Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning
* Plumbing
* Telecommunication
* Fire protection engineering

## References

1. ↑ "MEP makes engineering projects faster and reduces cost". https://www.ny-engineers.com/blog/how-mep-integration-makes-engineering-projects-faster-and-less-expensive.
2. ↑ Fundamentals of Engineering (4th ed.). National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying. 2000.
3. ↑ "Mechanical, Electrical and Plumbing". Revit MEP:BIM for MEP Engineering. 12 February 2013. http://www.setty.com/pdf_presentations/RC_Whitepaper_Revit_Systems_BIM_for_MEP_Engine.pdf.
4. ↑ "What Is MEP Engineering?" (in en). 4 August 2015. https://www.reference.com/science/mep-engineering-5497b653806970d2.
5. ↑ Guidance for filtration and air-cleaning systems to protect building environments from airborne chemical, biological, or radiological attacks.. 2003-04-01. doi:10.26616/nioshpub2003136. https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/2003-136/pdfs/2003-136.pdf?id=10.26616/NIOSHPUB2003136.
6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 "Efficiency: How we do it". https://www.google.com/about/datacenters/efficiency/internal/#water-and-cooling.
7. ↑ Staffell, Iain & Brett, D.J.L. & Brandon, Nigel & Hawkes, Adam. (2012). A review of domestic heat pumps. Energy Environ. Sci.. 5. 9291-9306. 10.1039/C2EE22653G.
8. ↑ Kinney, Larry. New Evaporative Cooling Systems: An Emerging Solution for Homes in Hot Dry Climates with Modest Cooling Loads. Southwest Energy Efficiency Project.
9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 AS/NZS 3000:2018 - "Wiring Rules". SAI Global. 2018. ISBN 978-1-76035-993-5.

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Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning

Fundamental concepts|

* Air changes per hour
* Bake-out
* Building envelope
* Convection
* Dilution
* Domestic energy consumption
* Enthalpy
* Fluid dynamics
* Gas compressor
* Heat pump and refrigeration cycle
* Heat transfer
* Humidity
* Infiltration
* Latent heat
* Noise control
* Outgassing
* Particulates
* Psychrometrics
* Sensible heat
* Stack effect
* Thermal comfort
* Thermal destratification
* Thermal mass
* Thermodynamics
* Vapour pressure of water

Technology|

* Absorption refrigerator
* Air barrier
* Air conditioning
* Antifreeze
* Automobile air conditioning
* Autonomous building
* Building insulation materials
* Central heating
* Central solar heating
* Chilled beam
* Chilled water
* Constant air volume (CAV)
* Coolant
* Dedicated outdoor air system (DOAS)
* Deep water source cooling
* Demand-controlled ventilation (DCV)
* Displacement ventilation
* District cooling
* District heating
* Electric heating
* Energy recovery ventilation (ERV)
* Firestop
* Forced-air
* Forced-air gas
* Free cooling
* Heat recovery ventilation (HRV)
* Hybrid heat
* Hydronics
* HVAC
* Ice storage air conditioning
* Kitchen ventilation
* Mixed-mode ventilation
* Microgeneration
* Natural ventilation
* Passive cooling
* Passive house
* Radiant heating and cooling system
* Radiant cooling
* Radiant heating
* Radon mitigation
* Refrigeration
* Renewable heat
* Room air distribution
* Solar air heat
* Solar combisystem
* Solar cooling
* Solar heating
* Thermal insulation
* Underfloor air distribution
* Underfloor heating
* Vapor barrier
* Vapor-compression refrigeration (VCRS)
* Variable air volume (VAV)
* Variable refrigerant flow (VRF)
* Ventilation

Components|

* Air conditioner inverter
* Air door
* Air filter
* Air handler
* Air ionizer
* Air-mixing plenum
* Air purifier
* Air source heat pumps
* Automatic balancing valve
* Back boiler
* Barrier pipe
* Blast damper
* Boiler
* Centrifugal fan
* Ceramic heater
* Chiller
* Condensate pump
* Condenser
* Condensing boiler
* Convection heater
* Compressor
* Cooling tower
* Damper
* Dehumidifier
* Duct
* Economizer
* Electrostatic precipitator
* Evaporative cooler
* Evaporator
* Exhaust hood
* Expansion tank
* Fan coil unit
* Fan filter unit
* Fan heater
* Fire damper
* Fireplace
* Fireplace insert
* Freeze stat
* Flue
* Freon
* Fume hood
* Furnace
* Furnace room
* Gas compressor
* Gas heater
* Gasoline heater
* Geothermal heat pump
* Grease duct
* Grille
* Ground-coupled heat exchanger
* Heat exchanger
* Heat pipe
* Heat pump
* Heating film
* Heating system
* High efficiency glandless circulating pump
* High-efficiency particulate air (HEPA)
* High pressure cut off switch
* Humidifier
* Infrared heater
* Inverter compressor
* Kerosene heater
* Louver
* Mechanical fan
* Mechanical room
* Oil heater
* Packaged terminal air conditioner
* Plenum space
* Pressurisation ductwork
* Process duct work
* Radiator
* Radiator reflector
* Recuperator
* Refrigerant
* Register
* Reversing valve
* Run-around coil
* Scroll compressor
* Solar chimney
* Solar-assisted heat pump
* Space heater
* Smoke exhaust ductwork
* Thermal expansion valve
* Thermal wheel
* Thermosiphon
* Thermostatic radiator valve
* Trickle vent
* Trombe wall
* Turning vanes
* Ultra-low particulate air (ULPA)
* Whole-house fan
* Windcatcher
* Wood-burning stove

Measurement
and control|

* Air flow meter
* Aquastat
* BACnet
* Blower door
* Building automation
* Carbon dioxide sensor
* Clean Air Delivery Rate (CADR)
* Gas sensor
* Home energy monitor
* Humidistat
* HVAC control system
* Intelligent buildings
* LonWorks
* Minimum efficiency reporting value (MERV)
* OpenTherm
* Programmable communicating thermostat
* Programmable thermostat
* Psychrometrics
* Room temperature
* Smart thermostat
* Thermostat
* Thermostatic radiator valve

Professions, trades,
and services|

* Architectural acoustics
* Architectural engineering
* Architectural technologist
* Building services engineering
* Building information modeling (BIM)
* Deep energy retrofit
* Duct leakage testing
* Environmental engineering
* Hydronic balancing
* Kitchen exhaust cleaning
* Mechanical engineering
* Mechanical, electrical, and plumbing
* Mold growth, assessment, and remediation
* Refrigerant reclamation
* Testing, adjusting, balancing

Industry organizations|

* ACCA
* AHRI
* AMCA
* ASHRAE
* ASTM International
* BRE
* BSRIA
* CIBSE
* Institute of Refrigeration
* IIR
* LEED
* SMACNA

Health and safety|

* Indoor air quality (IAQ)
* Passive smoking
* Sick building syndrome (SBS)
* Volatile organic compound (VOC)

See also|

* ASHRAE Handbook
* Building science
* Fireproofing
* Glossary of HVAC terms
* World Refrigeration Day

* Template:Home automation
* Template:Solar energy

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