August 21, 2024

Services Coordinate Electrical Designs

Mechanical engineering design service providers design HVAC systems that depend on and are interconnected with the electrical system in a building.

The MEP design of a building decides how safe and secure the building is. Engineers, architects, and contractors must pay attention to every minute detail to ensure that mechanical coordinates with the electrical designs. Sometimes, they hire mechanical engineering design service providers who create comprehensive mechanical designs. These companies often have an in-house electrical engineering design team that works with the mechanical engineering designers to ensure a seamless integration of both disciplines. 

Only when the electrical supply is unhindered will the HVAC systems work correctly. Everything from the thermostat to the elevators, air conditioner, ventilation, heating system, etc., depends on the correct electrical and mechanical designs. 

Efficient Building Design:

When companies outsource their mechanical and electrical designs, they should choose one company that supports complete MEP designs. Companies can ensure a seamless integration of various disciplines by choosing one partner for comprehensive MEP design. 

Besides, it also allows electrical system designers to identify potential conflicts in various designs. Once they identify the clashes among various disciplines in MEP, they can make modifications and adjust the designs per requirements. 

HVAC systems often occupy space, which can cause problems for electrical designers. For instance, contractors need enough space to install electrical conduits, lighting fixtures, switches, etc. Improper installation of these pieces of equipment can cause vibration and noise and even compromise the safety of the building. Hence, engineering designers must protect the equipment from electrical surges by ensuring proper grounding, installing circuit breakers, etc. 

Electrical engineers must also follow US codes and standards, such as the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE), the National Electrical Code (NEC), etc. 

Coordinating HVAC and Electrical Designs:

Without proper communication between the HVAC and electrical design teams, the chances of mistakes in the designs cannot be mitigated. Therefore, the HVAC and electrical design teams must share their designs before starting construction based on them. 

Providers of mechanical engineering design services must use updated CAD tools for 2D and 3D modeling of their designs. Using these tools allows engineers to modify their designs based on whether they are compatible with other disciplines. 

Clear communication is essential for smooth work between electrical and mechanical engineering designers. Outsourcing to companies that provide MEP design support eliminates the additional time someone needs to ensure communication. The various disciplines communicate within the organization and work harmoniously to avoid design conflicts. 

Using Updated Tools:

One significant problem for most contractors and architects is that most engineers cannot access updated tools. The MEP and BIM tools are expensive and updated regularly, and keeping up with them can be costly. 

Hence, choosing an outsourcing partner with access to the updated tools can help save money in the long run. Using updated tools has multiple benefits for mechanical engineering design services. First, modern BIM tools allow all stakeholders to make and view the changes made in the design. Hence, even if more than two parties are working on the same project, they are immediately updated on whether any one of them has made changes. 

On the other hand, these tools record the changes. If designers want to return to the previous design, they can do so without worrying. Updated tools also allow designers to minimize the costs of installing lengthy conduits as they help designers utilize space better. 

Coordinated Control System:

The HVAC system control depends on the electrical designs. Hence, designers must ensure that the control systems coordinate with each other. Contractors and MEP engineering designers must maintain a standard protocol, like LonWorks or BACnet, to ensure the required equipment is connected.

Designers must design electrical meters and sensors that help the mechanical devices to work seamlessly. For instance, power supply, voltage, humidity, temperature, pressure, etc., determine how the HVAC system will work. 

Mechanical and Electrical Design Support:

Electrical system designers support mechanical engineering designers for many mechanical designs. Apart from the HVAC systems, mechanical designers also design elevators, escalators, power support systems (generators), etc., which depend on electrical engineering designs. 

These systems function smoothly when electrical designers support mechanical engineering designers. Elevators and escalators require electrical connections to function. To ensure electrical connections can draw power from the backup supply in case of a power cut, mechanical designers must calculate the available space for the power backup system, the ease of accessing it, the fuel supply, etc., to ensure that the electrical systems function even during a power cut. 

Experienced Team for Better Design Support:

Both mechanical and electrical system designers must inspect their designs for faults and ensure that they meet codes and standards, both federal and local. Contractors can save money by hiring remote mechanical engineering design service providers who have both electrical and mechanical engineering designers. If contractors hire designers from a single source, they can coordinate within the team and create a seamless design for the HVAC and electrical systems.