When and How to Bring In an MEP Engineer
Building owners and facility managers are not always sure when a project needs a mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) engineer, or how to evaluate a firm once they know they need one. These are the questions we hear most often.
An MEP engineer may be needed when renovating a building, replacing major HVAC or electrical equipment, changing how a space is used, adding significant new equipment, investigating recurring building problems, or planning major facility improvements. An engineer can evaluate how a proposed change will affect existing building systems before work begins.
Consider the firm’s experience with your type of building and project, familiarity with renovations and existing systems when applicable, technical capabilities, responsiveness, project approach, and ability to coordinate with the rest of the project team. Relevant project experience can be particularly important when a facility has complicated existing conditions or must remain operational during construction.
Not always, but local and regional experience can be valuable. Familiarity with local building practices, utilities, permitting authorities, climate conditions, contractors, and applicable codes can help during planning, design, and construction.
Either arrangement is common. An architect may hire the MEP engineer as part of the overall design team, or a building owner may hire an MEP engineer directly for facility assessments, studies, troubleshooting, equipment replacement projects, energy evaluations, or other building-system needs.
If you are evaluating engineers for an upcoming project, see examples of our work in the portfolio or contact our team to talk through what you are planning.