AI in MEP Drawings: Dawn of A New Era

The trend of AI in today’s technology

Nowadays, with the commencement of the new era of digitalization, technologies such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, and the internet of things are expanding their feet in every aspect of the industry and domestic applications. The benefits obtained from the implementation of artificial intelligence have reached tremendous heights and decreased a lot of man-hours spend in the work-places and factories/ sites. When we talk about constructional work and civil engineering, the technology has made advancements towards reducing the number of man hours with better efficiency in the construction, engineering and MEP services of a structure. With the advancement in software based approach of blueprint & drawings creation, more accuracy, coordination can be achieved between MEP drawings.  

Significance of artificial intelligence in MEP services

In the construction phase of a project, AI carries out a very important aspect in the structural adaptation of Mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems or MEP services. To fulfill security measures, AI works in conjunction with the MEP system for varying several parameters such as air circulation, lighting, etc.

Dawn of a new era in construction engineering: Artificial Intelligence

For getting your MEP systems and MEP serviceswell prepared for AI’s interface and application, certain applications are evolved by engineers; one of them being, Building Information Modeling. In the current scenario under construction management and engineering MEP services, BIM is no more an option but a necessity. Modeling building information using MEP services and decision making is performed by the AI technology implemented in the firm. AI helps in two ways to the construction industry, first, by supporting maximum features common to any business and second, by helping business management and MEP services to direct demand forecasting and scheduling of MEP services.

Astounding features of AI in MEP services

Below mentioned points will make you aware of how much importance is AI holding in the efficient implementation of MEP services of the construction industry.

  • Prevention from over budgeting of your projects and cost-effective project planning 

Predictions of cost overruns are necessary to create a cost-effective design of a structure. Based on size, type of contract, competency in the market, AI’s neural networks are a helping hand in predicting cost overruns in the overall project and MEP services. Dedication of realistic timelines and status of the projects are made possible by the predictive models. Expedition of project delivery is made while adhering to the deadlines as the time taken for inculcating any new resources to a project is reduced to a great extent.

  • Generative designs of AI for the better designing of structures

It is important to make sure that none of the designs from any of the teams would clash with each other to prevent rework. Hence, AI has been designed such that it designs complete 3D models giving architectural, engineering and MEP services professional insight for accomplishing efficient planning and designs in constructional features of a project. Software-based on machine learning is developed to study for the clashes occurring from different models designed by various sub-teams. It is a BIM-based model providing 3D analysis of the MEP services and other construction aspects of services.

  • Alleviation of Risk occurring in construction projects and management

Being an unavoidable occurring factor, the risk is involved in quality, time, safety and cost of any project. AI is used for automatically resolving the issues as the top priority. With the large size of the ongoing project, there is an involvement of several teams and sub-teams with numerous contractors delivering MEP services. AI monitors and supervises with their team members to put their time and effort towards the potential risks prevention at the construction site.

  • Enhanced productivity at the job sites

Although with greater advancements in AI technology, it can never replace human intelligence but at some places, automated robotic machinery is empowering in its work where the requirement of human labor can be overlooked. For performing repeating tasks more proficiently, AI machinery is a part of performing activities such as construction aspects which can be done by itself like welding, the desolation of structures, and brick layering, etc. with this, time is lessened and human workers are freed up. Mobile tracking of the ongoing construction and real-time monitoring, based on facial recognition, onsite cameras and many more.

  • Taking construction safety to 100%

Construction industries are up with their massive concern on the development and safety of their worksites and man-power. Real time activities and interaction can be easily tracked with workers, machines and other aspects of the construction phase of an ongoing project. Alert message to the supervisors about any kind of safety problems which can occur in the future is done by automated monitoring. It is proven that the implementation of AI in MEP services and construction systems have put a decrement in worksite injuries and rectification of expensive glitches taking place in the system.

  • Applicable AI for post-construction 

Modeling of building information (BIM) and storing information of the structures, AI can also be applicable for post-construction features like monitoring issues generated and resolving the issues automatically.

  • Futuristic advancement of AI in construction features and MEP services

Ithas been proved by the implementation of robotics, AI and the internet of things in the construction projects that there is an overall reduction of 20% in costs related to the project expenses. AI can be used for planning MEP designs and systems for the network routing of plumbing, mechanical and electrical systems by MEP services.

PillarPlus – Future of Construction is part of the Y Combinator’s w20 batch

PillarPlus – Future of Construction is part of the Y Combinator’s w20 batch

We, PillarPlus, have been selected by Y Combinator for our innovative use of technology in the construction industry devoid of software automation. We want to build cities of the future that are safe, efficient and hygienic by providing highly detailed blueprints in record speed. Smart algorithms ensure generated blueprints adhere to all norms as per the 4000-page document called National Building Codes. Our accurate bill of materials are challenging industry standards of project cost estimates.

Founded by Naman Kasliwal and Rushil Mathur, PillarPlus is currently operating in India, with an aim to replace expensive-tedious-manual designing work with automated software.

During the Y Combinator program, our revenue grew 90% month on month. 60+ architects and contractors from Jaipur partnered with us during this time.

We see PillarPlus becoming a one-stop solution for instant construction planning and conceptualisation. We’re already the world’s fastest service provider of construction blueprints.

PillarPlus plans to:
– Scale to multiple Indian cities
– Build more: structural, product recommendations, brand specifications, building schedule rates, 3D integration

Contact us:
Shoot us an email at [email protected] to give your feedback over our service. We’d love to hear how can we be helpful to you.

️If you like what we do, please share it with your friends that might find it useful 🙂

MEP designing from engineers Vs MEP designing from the software

Infrastructure - Pillarplus

MEP designing from engineers Vs MEP designing from the software.

How more work with more accuracy can be achieved?

MEP designs are the most powerful helping hand in the world of construction and it has been proved again & again in real-world applications. MEP designs with the support of skillful Mechanical contractors and electrical contractors are a great combination for making structures more sustainable and green. It has bought a great revolution in improving the performance of the built structures and decreasing the risk of hazardous accidents. 

For the accurate decision making of MEP systems and fire systems, designs of MEP are very vital. Therefore, an effective MEP design needs talented, skillful and experienced engineers trained for this expertise. However, improved output with no errors & more coordination in drawings in MEP designs have been observed by using MEP software. MEP design is a term used for the combined effort made not only for mechanical, electrical and plumbing but also for the fire safety systems, precise and authentic documentation, cost-optimization, planning and decision making for all types of operations. 

An effective project will always emerge out when effective software and proficient MEP engineers are working together. The qualified engineering professionals are well enough for creating sustainable design and architecture but human errors are always possible & creation of drawings is time consuming therefore making revision more costly & time consuming. Therefore, preferring MEP software for the release of highly reliable and automated secure structures has become the need of the hour. 

Releasing more sustainable, highly reliable, cost-efficient, and greener structures with the MEP software design

The mechanical contractors, – mechanical service providers amongst the MEP services, also gets the benefit of the software-oriented planning and designs. The qualified MEP engineers are termed as MEP consultants here. For understanding better about the advantages we get from using the MEP software, we have to glance at the suitable software options for the available MEP design services. The Mechanical contractors are benefitted from the detailed designs executing the mechanical fittings and system designs in such a way that proves to be human-friendly and makes the environment worth living. The mechanical contractors working with the collaboration of MEP software processed mechanical designs also enable them for achieving standardized parameters of mechanical systems fittings set by the government to create a complete environment-friendly and human health-friendly designs. These designs consist of the planned designs for the employment of HVAC system, duct, and distribution design, mechanical pipe fittings for hot and cold temperature water distribution, etc. 

The electrical contractors are benefitted with the efficient, energy-saving systems getting employed in the structure making the best usage of the minimal resources and making the maximum use of renewable resources such as sunlight and wind for power generation. The idea is to meet the complete requirements of electricity usage by the occupants and building from the solar panels installed on the terrace and other suitable sites. 

Fire extinguishing systems are a secondary concern but MEP software designs give us the planning already optimized for dealing with the primary concern of fire accidents such as minimizing the probability of getting stuck by a fire accident. It works on the top-notch technology implemented, be it for fire safety systems like automated sprinklers and fire extinguishers, automated temperature control mechanism for the inner and outer temperature control of the buildings and effective plumbing designs resulting in zero percent of leakage in the walls. 

The plumbing designs play a very important role in eradicating the most traditional scenario of water leakages inside the wall structures resulting in the visibly damp walls around many sections of the buildings. The problem is not only solved completely by installing high quality and long-lasting mechanical pumps and cooling systems but a proper track and network inside the structure of a building play a vital role in preventing all of them from rusting and damage. These neural structures can be designed by using eminent MEP design software. The proper inlet and outlet of air circulation have a very vast impact on the maintenance of the overall heating of the structure. The achievement of proper installations of the planned designs can be made possible by the help of experienced and proficient Mechanical contractors, Electrical Contractors and Plumbing Contractors as well.

One can be amused after knowing the advantages of using MEP design software with the team-up of proficient Mechanical contractors and electrical contractors-

  • No requirement of manual calibration due to the availability of every relevant data in the software model. Ensued time, cost and effort.  
  • The Risk of iterative errors is reduced to a great extent. 
  • Coordination becomes well maintained even when the contractors, vendors or anyone important not present on the site for that time. 
  • A detailed design for every aspect of your construction.
  • Detections of clash if any.
  • Efficient decision making relevant to all the mechanical, electrical and plumbing services which is a big helping hand for the mechanical contractors as well as electrical contractors.
  • Well organized infrastructure mechanically as well as when safety measures are of great concern.
  • Performance testing and result-oriented design calibration

Importance of MEP in Smart Cities

MEP Consultants in Hyderabad

Importance of MEP in Smart Cities

The concept of smart-city is on a boom nowadays in India. When we talk about the development of the developing nations, smart cities are the key to this overall development but healthy and beneficial progress will only take place when there is a sustainable idea of transforming cities into ‘smart cities’. The government of the nation is continuously focused on environment-friendly growth of the rural and urban areas to cope with the ill effects of the non-environment-friendly construction and urbanization methods. For increasing economic growth and improving the living standard of the citizens, the government has also taken the step of building smart cities with the project of smart buildings as a place of residence for them. The important role is played by the MEP contractors, i.e. mechanical contractors, electrical contractors, and plumbing contractors. Before you go deep into understanding the concept of MEP designs and services, provided by the Mechanical contractors, plumbing contractors, and electrical contractors respectively, you need to have detailed knowledge about what a ‘Smart city’ is.

The idea of a smart city: Sustainable Development  

The idea of a smart city and its implementation is gaining momentum nowadays. It is the development of the urban areas which results in the economic development of a country approached by sustainable development. It is a higher quality of living by making advancement in several areas such as mobility, transportation, environment, economy, govt., people and living standards. Infrastructural advancement can be made by implementing MEP designs and services with the support of Mechanical contractors, plumbing contractors, and electrical contractors.

Implementing MEP services with Mechanical contractors, plumbing contractors, and electrical contractors 

After scrutiny, it is completely unmistakable to relate the MEP services for any of the core infrastructure rudiments above mentioned. Each of the elements inside the three elements of MEP designs and services is correlated to the subfields. The mechanical aspect of the MEP is related further to the heating, ventilation and air conditioning. The builders are advised to be in consult and take services from a mechanical contractor for fulfilling the ‘M’ acronym in the MEP services. When we talk about initiating a project related to the smart city, the pre-requisites required such as skilled manpower and complicated procedures are the things that got tough for the government. After the inclusion of Mechanical contractors, plumbing contractors, and electrical contractors, it has become easier for builders to implement MEP sources and consultants. This, in turn, becomes easier for the government to initiate and implement the project of developing cities into the smarter one. This has become a great career opportunity for the learners learning from the back backgrounds of civil engineering, ITI pursuers, and diploma holders.

Why the role of MEP is so important?

The role of MEP in the name of calling a city smart is important as MEP design is the backbone of the structures constructed environment-friendly and long-lasting, without putting huge harm to the environment, the same as the government desire nowadays. Every aspect of making a building smart comes under the MEP design and planning. The role of Mechanical contractors, plumbing contractors, and electrical contractors is essential as they are the one who is going to provide you the knowledge or carrying out the process. The execution of the MEP services and design cannot be done by the traditional manpower skills and building contractors. Traditionally, we needed some good services from the plumbing, electrical circuits, and mechanical service providers. To fulfill the need for a smart city concept, an enhancement of the technical skills in the manpower is obligatory. This can be fulfilled with the help of making Mechanical contractors, plumbing contractors, and electrical contractors a part of the building development and construction. The skills needed for the technical advancement of the resources used in the construction of a building are like- updated knowledge and experience in the domain of HVAC (Mechanical), the newer methods of better circuit connections (Electrical) and Plumbing. All these aspects are inclusive of proper MEP scheduling, plan, outline and finishing. Making a building smart needs many significant aspects to be finished inside a building or infrastructure.

MEP Plans and Deigns: Making the Infrastructure Smart

The smart city concept doesn’t vanish till the development and construction of smart buildings, making every aspect of civil engineering an application of MEP designs is done by the Mechanical contractors, plumbing contractors, and electrical contractors. Utilization of MEP software in the construction of other infrastructural components of the city such as bridges, roads, metro lines, transportation, and other construction is the way to reach to the concept of being ‘smart’. The Mechanical contractors, plumbing contractors and electrical contractors are all well educated about the usage of MEP software/tools for the implementation of load calculations, air distribution as well as hydraulic systems. The estimation required for the electrical equipment such as a DG set, Cables and their load calculations, switch gears for several multistoried complexes are attained by the MEP software easily which is done by the manpower associated with the Mechanical contractors, plumbing contractors, and electrical contractors. The precise estimate of water capacity, no. of pipe fittings Accordingly, sizes of the pumps, the calculation related to the estimation of the waste system, rainwater harvest and fire combating system, etc. are the functioning of the MEP software’s design and planning section.

A Clear objective of the MEP systems

The MEP systems and not working only for efficient infrastructures but it is an important aspect of working for the healthy as well as fruitful structures. The Mechanical contractors, plumbing contractors, and electrical contractors aim for making the MEP as a source of maximum tendency, max out cooling loads and crest occupancy. A truly objective MEP system delivers the requisite finest indoor environment quality after making the residents more comfortable and healthy at the minimum economic and environmental account.

What is a Construction Drawing?

What is a Construction Drawing?

Construction Drawings are the architectural blueprints created/developed by the architect for conveying the ideas, concepts, details of construction and other pre-requisites. With the help of which, the execution of the project according to the architect can be done easily by the contractor. These construction drawings also work as a record for the client regarding their project.

Why Construction Drawings are necessary for development of a building?

For an accurate execution of construction projects, a set of architectural drawings provided by the architects are necessary on the site of construction in order for correct construction execution by the contractor. Such details of production include precise dimensions and exact materials to be used. A Construction Drawing consists of a detailed architectural floor planning, sections or elevations.

Why is it necessary to have a Construction Drawing?

When we talk about the perfect enactments and organized methodologies for constructing a building, we always need to take care of all the essential components of a building without which the project remains lacking and erratic. While constructing a building, an architect while designing and a contractor while constructing a building mandates the acute composition of several nerve points of a building which can be easily recorded in a Construction Drawing. These nerve points of a building are-

  • Safety and Security

With the implementation of construction drawing software in designing architectural drawings, we get the construction done in the method of prevention from potential risk hazards such as earthquakes, floods, hurricanes etc. Planning for fire protection, adequate inlet for air quality, electrical safety, accidental protections and fall protections.

  • Constructing a Green Building

The computer aided software based Construction Drawings makes it very proficient to develop a sustainable green building. It helps us to create greener structures withholding every common and minute objective of a green building, which is to reduce the overall effects of building structures and their built environment on human health and environment by making efficient usage of energy, water and other prestigious resources, reduction of waste and pollution causing environment degradation.

  • Energy Saving

A building is made energy efficient through various minuscule ways and building techniques that we get from the Construction Drawings, such as, in prebuilding phase, the usage of energy efficient methods of building design, appropriate selection and planning of site, suitable building plan with proficient space organization and choosing energy efficient building materials with the maximum practice of renewable energy resources.

  • Controlled Pollution

Pollution arising due to different phases of pre & post construction and demolition of buildings is controlled at a great extent while effecting intellect, software based constructional drawings. Every form of pollution be it in the form of radiation, nearby environmental air, surroundings and location is mandatory to be kept in check to make it an unspoiled and green building structure.

  • Accurate Hardware Installations

This nerve of a building plays a very crucial role in making it reliable and compatible with a human residence. A proportional selection for the perfect installation of every type of hardware be it electrical or plumbing, in a building is made via the help of constructional drawing software, making it easier to know about the most efficient site of hardware fitting in developing an intelligently designed building.

  • Easy to work floor plans for servicing

Floor plan is basically the top view of a designed floor. It helps in depicting the entire building/ a floor/ a single room. It includes all the dimensional measurements and other quantities mandatory for designing furniture layout, house wirings, plumbing and much more. Such kind of a floor plan which is easy to work and servicemen friendly is designed with the help of a Construction Drawing software which is also very important for developing a compatible and reliable building.

Good Practices in MEP Designs and Services

In the world of construction engineering, for creating green and sustainable buildings, good MEP designs and service implementations are mandatory to be practised by every builder, architect, and contractor.

First of all, let us clear for those who are partially aware or utterly new in knowing what MEP stands for. MEP stands for MECHANICAL, ELECTRICAL, and PLUMBING services are done during the construction phase of a building.

You might be wondering how the acronym (MEP) is holding such importance that it has been so much emphasized here and in every good practice of civil engineering. For clarifying this, let us assume that you currently own a flat in a building that is built with much deficient quality services and backward techniques. Now it isn’t going to be revealed initially when you are happy with your flat, the effects of bad MEP designs and MEP services will be transparent to you with years passing & you start experiencing problems like cracks in walls, water leakage or electrical problems in your flat.

Many of you must be well aware of cases of improper drainage, leaking walls, application of inferior construction material, etc., of some aged buildings around you. This doesn’t mean that every building must be done with the bad practices of MEP designs and MEP services. This can also happen due to improper MEP services implied to that building at the time of construction. Therefore, with the aim of constructing highly reliable and eco-friendly structures that have become the necessity of the environment, PillarPlus provides top-grade MEP designs and services. Our MEP design company has highly accurate AI Software, which is 10X faster, 20X detailed MEP design and provides accurate BOQs.

The knowledge for knowing what should be the good practices of MEP designs and MEP services is beneficial at both, i.e., the buyer and the builder. A builder will be then able to cater to his customer the advanced level of MEP design and MEP services in the building, and the buyer will be happy and satisfied with the investment he has made.

Here are some important and best 6 MEP designs and MEP services described for delivering efficient optimization of the MEP designs.

Adhering firmly to the principle of sustainable construction using best MEP designs and MEP services

Here, the use of a fundamental and essential concept of conservation of the environment, which is sustainable development, is emphasized the most. Sustainable development concludes the efficient use of energy and available resources. Minimization of affluently used constructional, energy and fuel resources when it is citing more than required, recycling and reusing the energy resources or constructional resources. All these come under the good practices of MEP design and MEP services.

Efficiently designed MEP services for the utilization of site potential

MEP designs and MEP services have the tendency of making the efficient utilization of energy resources available either abundantly in the environment or scanty in nature. MEP designs and MEP services can be utilized in harnessing the potential natural energy resources such as sunlight and wind for ensuring the additional availability of electricity requirements of the residents.

Optimization of materials used

WWith the optimization used via MEP designs and MEP services, the materials used in MEP systems have a very crucial role in the efficiency factor of the building. As the use of materials having an optimum coefficient of heat transfer according to the point of reference and site of the building can help in reducing the heavy load on HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning) systems in the buildings

Fresh Air Handling Unit in MEP designs and MEP services

The comfort level, productivity, and health greatly depend upon how the occupants breathe. Therefore, indoor air quality plays a vital role in all of these. It should be precisely practised that the use of air curtains in the form of Fresh Air Handling Units possessing the functionality of advanced heat recovery options is responsible for reducing the thermal exchange via the building cloak. All these happen due to the application of smart MEP designs and MEP services in your project

Reduced energy consumption by using smart technologies

The asset which is able to control the energy consumption of a building comes with equipment possessing high COP and EER. MEP designs and MEP services should make the usage of smart technology for e.g. compressors based on the inverters, solar building designs, sensors for lightening and using fluorescent lights in the place of incandescent bulbs for decreasing the electrical load of the built structure

Accurate installations of MEP services with the delivery of regularly updated training

The precise and accurate installations of mechanical, electrical and plumbing services in a building make it alive and healthy. For regular maintenance, these MEP services should be made advanced on a technology basis from time to time. Sometimes when you choose appropriate materials with idyllic, MEP designs won’t be taking you too far if the installation has not been carried out perfectly. Taking training regularly from companies providing professional MEP designs and MEP services is crucial for obtaining optimum efficiency in the operation of the overall system.

Performance improvement and optimization of a building can be carried out via different methodologies. The foremost thing is that the right collaboration of architects, MEP design engineers, and contractors should exist.

Instead of making a compromise and cutting corners, the practical difficulties should be minimized by creating a feedback loop in the system. Adhering to the principles of sustainable development, service providers, engineers, and electromechanical companies should be habitual in using an approach based on the performance of the system rather than the traditional, compliance-based standpoint.

The harmony of every single step of constructing a building inclusive of the MEP designs consultants and MEP services with servicemen results in the achievement of green structure with human comfort. The above six points can make a significant impact on making a building follow the principle of sustainability.

MEP designs, services, and consultants in green buildings: The most important role

The concept of green building

The concept of green building has come forward from the very basic and old concept of sustainable development. With the depletion of natural resources and the degradation of an eco-friendly environment, it has become the need of the hour to implement more and more eco-friendly structures over the globe. The Government at many places has made it a mandatory feature nowadays to develop and build greener structures complying with the environment very efficiently and maintaining the good health of the occupants. Due to many degrading environmental factors, the constant demand of improved construction quality is emphasized. Different technologies along with several regulations and policies such as MEP designs, MEP services, and MEP consultants have evolved rapidly to justify the green building pre-requisites. As sustainable development is the principle of maintaining the earth’s good health, sustainability is required to practice during every environmental effort. Not just for buildings, it should be practiced while consuming or making use of any renewable/non-renewable resources. As we are facing a clear shortage of natural resources and energy, global warming and climate change across the globe aren’t the issues to be avoided.

Green building is the best part of preserving our natural resources and providing residence for every needed person. We have not inherited this earth from our ancestors but we have borrowed it from our future, to which we have to return with an adequate amount of energy and resources left or regenerated. This has brought a revolutionary evolution in the field of engineering and science in the form of MEP designs, MEP services, and MEP consultants. The acronym MEP stands for Mechanical, electrical and plumbing services employed in a building during the construction and employment of electrical, mechanical and plumbing systems.

As revealed form scientific researches, buildings around the world are also responsible for the emission of greenhouse gases and global warming. There are various issues such as malfunctioning caused by the inefficiency of building heating systems, lights, ACs, and improper ventilation have resulted in the form of overloading and increased temperature. As a result, the effects of such a change in the gases of the environment and temperature can be seen easily in the occupants, which affect their health to a great extent.

MEP designs, MEP services and MEP consultants: A key for developing green buildings

Thus, to provide residents a good and healthy living, there are several factors on which building construction process is working on. One such factor is the implementation of MEP designs, MEP services and training from MEP consultants. These MEP design software make you able to design environment-friendly structures and sustainable development of a building. All the planning starting from the material selection, resource management, and the floor plan is included in the software design. The MEP consultants can even train you in MEP designs by employing training of using the software. The building contractors, MEP consultants, and architects can collaborate very efficiently on the software and can manage the client requirements on the same platform.

The MEP services, MEP designs, and MEP contractors not only provide efficient steps in the procedure but also tells you various methods of sustainable resource utilization. Due to the changing climatic conditions of the globe day by day, MEP designs, MEP services and MEP consultants have made it possible to design buildings promoting peace and healthy living. To accompany these, there are a few basic principles of green building development –

Eco-friendly architecture and sustainable design using MEP designs and services

Using MEP designs and MEP services in building construction, will make the building more environment friendly. The ‘M’ inside the MEP acronym accounts for all the mechanical fittings like elevators and lifts in a building, air ventilation systems, coolers, cooling and fanning provided to the mechanical systems of the building infrastructure. The inner ventilation of the houses and kitchens, exhaust systems and other required ventilation are made properly to ensure that the building remains in a constant and neutral temperature. These all mechanical sections of MEP services are enhanced with the high-tech MEP design software and must be implementable wherever there is a need for green building structures.

 Reduced consumption of the non-renewable sources for the construction of a building, proper disposal and management of waste during construction, taking care of the vicinity and environment. Practicing sustainable designs using MEP designs, MEP services and the support of MEP consultants will reduce the negative impacts on the environment.

Based on various statistics, the impact that the buildings have on the natural aura and human health is significant, developing the use of green methods of construction from MEP designs and MEP services hold the strength to maximize the environmental performance of a building. Hence, it delivers a cost-saving investment to the owner. Green methods of construction are implementable at any stage of construction of a building. One can implement it between building designing, construction, repair or renovation or demolition.

Use of some eco-friendly energy-saving technologies

The use of some eco-friendly energy-saving technologies is also cultivated as a habit in green buildings such as the maximum use of renewable energy resources such as wind and solar energy for producing enough amount of energy to be utilized by its occupants. Rainwater harvesting systems is an important part of saving water resources & make mandatory by various development authorities. Making some significant efforts for making your building more environmental friendly is done by taking care of the proper ventilation and cooling of the inner mechanical systems like pumps, electric transporters, air conditioner systems.

Green building practices involves the ability to-

  • Accurate and precise optimization of the site potential
  • Minimization of the consumption of non-renewable energy resources
  • Making utilization of Eco-friendly sources and materials
  • Implementation of energy-conserving and water harvesting systems
  • Accurate methods of MEP designs and MEP services implementation with MEP services used in the maintenance of the green structures

Fire Protection and Safety Requirements in Your Building

Fire Protection and Safety Requirements in Your Building

To construct a highly reliable and secure building, all the risky hazards should have a very strong solution that your building provides. A huge loss of property, life, money and other valuable assets is caused by a small little spark spread in a huge form. Talking about fire safety, the builders and engineers should not only focus on the solutions of getting an escape from fire but they should be 90% concentrated towards the point that fire should not be triggered. Fire accidents result in disruption of several activities, damage of official documents, loss of manpower working hours and liability claims. Fire safety measures should be a combination of the safety of life and property. Fire safety hacks and designs should be prepared to keep in mind the type of construction, number of residents and type of occupancy. 

Fire safety and life-protection systems

The fire safety and life-protection systems consist of exit systems from the buildings, fire alarms and fire control systems. The buildings today need to install and use the structural & operational systems for minimizing the fire effect on the people and family. The fire protection systems can be categorized in two categories namely, active and passive. 

Actions implementation before fire accidents

We don’t require fire protection only after it has occurred but we must minimize the causes and probability of spreading once it has occurred. It can be now achieved when we build a sustainable building in all senses. There are some measures related to fire accidents employed prior construction of buildings that prevent fire and smoke from spreading in different areas. Construction of walls, ceilings, and floors with fire-resistant properties withholding at least one hour of fire to prevent it from spreading in different areas. Whereas, the active fire protection comprises all the steps and safety equipment required to control the fire after it has occurred.

Common causes of fire in residential and commercial buildings 

Sometimes, the cause of the fire in a building is unknown therefore, working conditions of the fire safety equipment like fire sprinklers, fire alarms, and fire extinguisher should be checked timely. There are several known and unknown reasons for fire spreading in a building. If we talk about the residential buildings, there are several reasons which are responsible for fire taking vast form. Fire during cooking, a distraction from cooking and leaving the cooking utensil unattended for a long time results in a huge fire, either you are cooking on a gas stove or hot plates. Not keeping an eye on the safety standards in your heating equipment like a geyser or portable heaters is also a risk of letting it blast into the fire. Carelessly smoking at any time will leave you with trouble of huge fire if not kept a check on it. Candles and children with hazardous things can also lead to fire. Faulty wirings in the circuit system of a house can lead to unwanted fire accidents due to short circuits or heavy load. Electrical contractors while servicing in a building should be highly concerned about fire safety from electrical wirings following safety standards and fire-resistant measures. Inadequate prevention from lightning and thunder can turn  the whole circuit wirings of the building to malfunction. 

Fire safety and protection systems in a building

  • Fire extinguishers – Placement of fire extinguishers at designated fire-prone areas of the building such as nearby kitchen or washroom is a smart step. Most likely there are the chances that these places can get caught by fire easily and quickly. This will ensure that the fire spread is in a concentrated area and is controlled by the help of these fire extinguishers. A check should be done timely to examine if your fire extinguishers are in working condition or not. Also, the employees or residents should be trained before using a fire extinguisher.
  • Fire alarms- A fire alarm is undoubtedly a great step for becoming aware and making all other people aware of the fire taking place in a particular area of that building. This will not only help in making people aware of the fire but also make them alert of putting off the fire if it is in the initial phase. A check on the batteries of the fire alarms should be kept periodically to make sure they are useful in case of fire.
  • Fire sprinklers- Fire sprinklers can control fire to a very great extent. Even two or three fire sprinklers on a floor can prevent a huge amount of loss of life and property. This works on the principle of temperature sensing i.e. if the area exceeds a particular temperature, the fire sprinklers are activated. An acute combination of plumbing and electrical services can accommodate the ceilings of the building with these fire sprinkler systems. 

Regular testing and maintenance of fire safety equipment and electrical systems

All the electrical circuitry and fire safety systems should be standardized according to government norms and mandatory safety ethics. Quarterly or half-yearly inspections of your building’s safety alarms, fire extinguishers, and fire sprinklers should be done to ensure the life safety of the residents or employees of the building. As time passes, house wirings and electrical circuitry should be maintained and serviced for any faults if occurs. Ignoring the gas leakage or frequent switching off of the MCB can result in a fire. Electrical contractors should be up to date with the servicing of electrical wiring and fuse quality standards while employing it in a building. A bolt of lightning due to thunderstorms can also affect the whole circuit system of a building therefore, pre-requisite planning should be followed by using expert MEP services to ensure the long and healthy living of the residents or employees. 

“Smart Building – Smart Body” An Analogy

Human body is a naturally designed most efficient system of any entity. Even most of the innovation have been developed taking the concept out of our body system. We all can experience that our body works efficiently when the environment around is conducive to its best performance. Like, when temperature around our body is 25-26 deg. C and humidity 50-60%, our body organs works efficiently. A Building is defined as a combination of various elements, like foundation, columns, beams, slabs, and walls etc. these are fixed structural elements. They together give shape and strength to the building. A structure designer plays an important role in designing these elements. These are designed on the basis of many factors like, soil bearing capacity, seismic nature of the place, number of floors and building loads etc.


Similar to this human skeleton has been designed. Like Spine in human body, a Structure Designer’s first option is a Shear wall to the top of the building which would give highest stability. Decorative elements on the elevation are designed by the Architects. They decide the shape, sizes, materials and finishes of façade to give it an attractive look. This may be similar to our hair, eye brows, nose, skin, body shape, etc. so that the body looks smart. Now when we start thinking further we find more similarities in a smart Building and a Smart Body. One of the most critical organ of human body is “Heart”. In fact it pumps blood to the whole body, hence there is always energy and organs keep functioning. This is called recirculatory system of human body. The Analogy in this case is Transformer or DG which supplies electricity to all electromechanical equipments of the building like, elevators, pumps, Air conditioners and so on. Veins and arteries carry the blood just like cables and wires carry electric current to various equipments and lighting. Just like blood pressure and other parameters of healthy blood should be maintained in the body similarly clean electricity without variation in voltage, should also be maintained for efficient functioning of equipments. If in any part of the human body blood circulation stops, that part stops working. Similar is the case with electricity.

Indoor air quality of human body is very important to avoid any kind of respiratory diseases. If the IAQ is not good in a building, Sick building syndrome prevails among the occupants. An effective HVAC system takes care of the quality of air just like our respiratory system where lungs play the role of filtering the oxygen, and releasing impure air. Proper intake of hygienic food and liquid, release of water (excreta, urine) is also an important need of human body. If this process gets disturbed or start malfunction, it leads to anxiety in whole body. This is our digestive and urinary system which calls for proper functioning, which is similar to water supply and drainage system in the building. Hence, plumbing system designs should ensure proper supply of fresh water to all required locations and removal of water and drainage be ensured by a good plumbing system design. There is a beautiful analogy between CCTV camera with human eyes, temperature sensors with skin, carbon dioxide, LPG and smoke detectors with nose. There are many field devices which provide us information for various parts of the building. With a network of data, telephone, LV cables this information is taken to IBMS room, which we always call Nerve Center of the building. From this room, where we have monitoring and controlling devices, we can command according to the situation, like stopping the accelerator, closing doors, switching off/on the lights, start/stop of AHU’s etc. Human brain actually works like that. All our sensory organs work together and communicate to the brain from where commands are released to take action.


Looking to the importance of these basic system it is important and everyone in the building industry must understood the importance of space requirements and locations of various organs of the building like God has give suitable location & space to heart, lever, food canal, wind pipes, lungs, etc. So far we have spoke about the basic system similarities. Now to make building smart, a component of Artificial Intelligence is being added to it. This aspect of making a smart building make use of IOT which is the network of physical objects or things embedded with electronic software, sensors and network connectivity, which enables these objects to collect and exchange data for decision making.

Smart building have the following systems in place:

  • BACS (Building Automation and Control System) – It provides Environmental control, Monitoring and Optimization.
  • BEMS (Building Energy Management System) – It provides Energy Monitoring, Demand response, Reporting and Analysis.
  • IBMS (Integrated Building Management System) – It provides building subsystems (HVAC, Electrical, Fire, Security, etc.) integration for Monitoring, Data Sharing and Sequencing.

These are all such arrangements in our body like when we are exposed to cold, it is followed by throat infection which might result into fever. Accordingly we take action to cure. Similarly in IBMS field devices will give signal to the controller and finally BMS operator will come to know about it and take corrective measures.

  • BIOT (Building Internet of Things) – It provides comprehensive Building Solution, Optimizes Energy & Performance, and Ensure Occupant Comfort and Safety.

BACS + BEMS + IBMS = BIOT

The Importance of MEP in Building Services Planning

The Importance of MEP (Mechanical, Electrical and Plumbing) in Building Services Planning

The MEP is an essential and a challenging activity in the comfortable and reliable building services planning that results out in a building developed to be very efficient and reliable to be lived without a single wrinkle on the forehead. These planning are emerging out with the help of technology involving the development of budget, schedule, sustainable building development and construction. 

In this modern era’s construction projects, building services like MEP are the heartbeat of a sustainably constructed building with future security and safety of the human beings, also respecting the huge amount of their wages invested in owning their dream homes. Therefore, it becomes very important to integrate these MEP services in building services planning, together very proficiently, so that people are able to dwell inside with a view of residing there for lifetime without facing troubles.

Here, MEP as abbreviated above, refers to the Mechanical, Electrical and Plumbing aspects of constructing a building and its services. The building services planning plays a very crucial role in defining several parameters such as MEP, making decisions, accuracy of documentation, performance and estimation of cost, construction management, maintenance of resulting facilities.

The incorporation of MEP includes the in-depth research and selection of these (MEP) systems unlike just simply installing them by a tradesperson. Traditionally, an electrician may install a house wirings and electrical circuit based on the very common practices and regulatory standards. But for the requirement of a building which is not just well constructed but it is strengthen from inside in order to result out a happy and healthy life, a team of engineers regarding the technology research of MEP are present to make best efforts and plans for specified installations given to the expert service men and team. The team of MEP engineers possess a wide knowledge of principles of dynamics, fluids, mechanics, thermodynamics, electrical circuits and their combined efficiency.

Mechanical

This aspect involves inheriting strength in a building mechanically, i.e. the ISI approved mechanical systems and constructional material such as earth quake and decay resistant, advanced technology based fire alarm systems and firefighting systems, elevators and vertical transporters (lifts), efficient air distribution. A proficient heating ventilating and air conditioning equipment technique is applied for the effective planning to heating, cooling and distributing air around the building. The outdoor as well as indoor ventilation and environment control is necessary for maintaining the adequate aura of living, dwelling and leading a happy life. A sustainable building should be prepared previously for all the emergency situations such as earth quakes, resisting floods, air pressure and accidental fire cases. If a building is not built with the preparations and tight security and safety systems, then construction of such building is just a waste, it won’t be able to resist even a single accident.

Electrical

The design parameters for electrical circuits and house wiring systems should be set according to the national electric standard. Well, it is the most basic necessity required. The electric supply, distribution, light fittings and motor loads are the categories of electrical aspect which should be met wisely. Certain smart measures based on improved technological parameters in electrical engineering are taken while planning the whole electrical system for a building. The resistant to short circuits, heating effects of current, capacity of taking load, safer fuses, excellent quality of wiring materials and devices etc. are employed while fittings to ensure the safety purpose of the occupants. People should be aware of all the type of security measures taken for them while designing a building. Stress should be given on even a minute fault in a circuit as sometimes a small incident can give rise to a life threatening problems and buildings made similar to the above aspects of electrical engineering, are safer to live for the residents.

Plumbing

A certified testing for automotive engines which clarifies the electrical as well as plumbing setups should be integrated into the building. A Hi-Tec and competent plumbing system design is required for the prevention of the issues of this aspect of building services planning with other aspects like electrical and mechanical. A standard residential plumbing systems consists of water supply pumps and pipes, sewerage pipes, gas pipes, also rain water harvesting pipes. The perfect and no lacking plumbing system installation is a major factor for the welfare and healthy living of the residents. A bad plumbing installation will lead to severe health issues from growing fungi and bacteria in the leaking section causing irresistible foul smell. As a result, the fear regarding the longevity and survival span of a building along with uncertain health problems can severely arise as the time flies, the condition becomes more terrible and incurable.

Thus, paying attention on these aspects before at the right time of installation and construction planning and implementation can keep the trust of many occupants surviving in the building and not playing with their health and life.  No matter what, at which extent a building pleases you aesthetically or following an excellently designed architecture plan, the MEP services constitutes the heartbeat of a building.

People in urban settings spend between 80 and 90% of their time in indoor spaces both during work and during leisure time. It is therefore important that the Architect and the Mechanical,

Electrical and Plumbing (MEP) engineers work in unison to ensure the quality environment. A good design can result in:

• Healthy and comfortable living

• Better environmental control

• Operational efficiency

• Lower greenhouse gas emissions

• Increased productivity

Remember MEP services are one area that makes the difference between comfortable and complaining occupants.