MEP stands for mechanical, electrical and plumbing engineering, and professionals from these technical disciplines are who design the systems that make building interiors suitable for humans. These building systems must be specified and installed properly to accomplish their purpose, and must also be serviced at regular intervals to stay under optimal operating conditions.
In a way, MEP consulting can be considered an investment - you pay for a professional service to make sure your building systems operate optimally during their service life. This yields tangible financial benefits such as lower operating costs and improved productivity, along with qualitative benefits such as improved comfort and safety for occupants. If you are developing commercial space for rent, MEP engineering consultant can also give you a competitive edge: a building that offers high-performance systems is likely to attract more tenants. For example, energy efficient heating and cooling systems are selling points in office spaces for rent.
MEP Design and Consulting in New Constructions:
Designing a new construction to be a high-performance building from the start is much easier than improving an existing building through major upgrades. Therefore, working with a qualified MEP design firm early on provides benefits throughout the entire building life cycle. The reason is simple: modifying plans and specifications is considerably faster and cheaper than modifying existing buildings.
Working with the best MEP engineering firms also provides an often-overlooked benefit: building code compliance. New York City is known for having some of the most demanding building codes in the world, particularly when it comes to fire protection and energy efficiency.
Overlooking code requirements can lead to plenty of design revisions with the NYC Department of Buildings, delaying project approval and construction. If you are developing commercial spaces for rent, missing the planned opening date by even a few weeks can result in plenty of lost income - better to get it right from the first attempt.
MEP Design and Consulting in Existing Buildings:
Even if building systems are designed and installed correctly, deterioration of components over time is normal, resulting in a gradual loss of performance. There are also cases where the existing equipment was the best in the market at the time of construction, but is now outclassed by newer technologies. For example, consider air-conditioning systems: a ductless mini-split system is more efficient than a window-type unit, but newer ductless systems are in turn much more efficient than first-generation units.
Conclusion:
Property owners in NYC can achieve significant long-term benefits by working with qualified MEP Engineering consultant. You can improve building performance, reducing the consumption of resources such as electricity, natural gas and water, while providing comfort and safety for occupants. In addition, you can rest assured that your company will not face legal action for missing NYC building code requirements.