Navigating the Grey Area – Can I use residential cooking equipment in a commercial building?
The architect just called, and the owner wants to add a residential oven/range to their breakroom. Do I need a commercial hood? This could be expensive, but I don’t want to discourage my client. Can you help? As a consulting MEP engineer, this type of issue will likely come up in around 75% of … Continue reading “Navigating the Grey Area – Can I use residential cooking equipment in a commercial building?”
Elevating Safety: The Power of Stairwell Pressurization in Fire Control
Stairwell pressurization is a critical smoke control method used in high-rise buildings, aimed at maintaining a smokeproof enclosure in stairwells during a fire. It involves creating a higher pressure in the stairwell compared to the surrounding areas, preventing smoke and fire products from entering. This approach is considered an alternative method to establish a smokeproof … Continue reading “Elevating Safety: The Power of Stairwell Pressurization in Fire Control”
Checklists Can Make or Break a Project
Every day we make countless decisions both at work and at home. At work, did we include everything in our calculations, does our design meet the required codes, have we met the requirements of the customer? At home, are we keeping up with the filter changes and other maintenance, how does the landscaping look, do … Continue reading “Checklists Can Make or Break a Project”
The Importance of Synchronous Design
According to Merriam-Webster, the definition of synchronous is: happening, existing, or arising at precisely the same time. This is an expectation that has arisen in our lifetime. The world seems to spin a little faster than it did last year. We can order a package and it will arrive tomorrow (or even today). We can … Continue reading “The Importance of Synchronous Design”
Communication Delivers Value to Our Clients
What is the difference between an engineer and a marketing professional? Maybe not as much as you’d think. Engineers must translate simple requests into complex designs and engineering solutions. Marketing professionals must translate those complex engineering solutions into easily understood communications. While similar, they can sometimes be at odds. For nearly two decades, I … Continue reading “Communication Delivers Value to Our Clients”
Evaluations, Maintenance and Upgrades Lead to Longevity
Recently, our firm was contacted to assist with an HVAC evaluation for a dormitory at a university in an adjoining state. The building was constructed in the early 1960s when cooling equipment was a new concept, generally rugged and durable, but unsophisticated. Controls were inaccurate and modulation was limited. Energy was cheap and humidity was … Continue reading “Evaluations, Maintenance and Upgrades Lead to Longevity”
Consulting Engineering – What Does That Mean?
Over the past 25 years, I have been asked countless times by family, friends, and clients, “What do you do as a consulting engineer?” A consulting engineering by definition is: “A professional service that provides independent expertise in engineering, science, and related areas to governments, industries, developers, and construction firms. Engineering consultants work with … Continue reading “Consulting Engineering – What Does That Mean?”
The Secret Sauce to a Satisfied Building Owner
An experienced MEP firm understands the impacts that we have on a building and the building owner. This starts at design, continues throughout construction and the maintenance of the building. The Owner is putting a huge investment into a new or existing building. Being able to translate their needs into a design can be an … Continue reading “The Secret Sauce to a Satisfied Building Owner”
Building Systems – Always Phased
There is one chance in a building’s life to have all systems addressed at once; that is during its original design and construction. After that point, any renovation, replacement, or improvement will only alter a portion of the original building systems. The HVAC, plumbing, and lighting must agree with the existing structure and architecture. Each … Continue reading “Building Systems – Always Phased”
Why Do We Need Project Managers?
Why do I need a Project Manager in my consultant’s office? In today’s world, a Project Manager (PM) is a necessary member of your engineering team because of the evolving nature of the design marketplace. The PM fills a crucial role in our industry and in our company. They plan the work despite continuous changes … Continue reading “Why Do We Need Project Managers?”
