View source for Mechanical, electrical, and plumbing

{{short description|Subfields of building design and construction}}
[[File:CERN LHC Tunnel Cable conduit.jpg|thumb| Pipes and cables in the [[Large Hadron Collider]], an example of the unity between mechanical, electrical and plumbing]]
'''Mechanical, electrical and plumbing''' ('''MEP''') refers to the installation of services which provide a comfortable space for the building occupants. In residential and commercial buildings, these elements are often designed by specialized MEP engineering firms. The part of Mechanical in the overall MEP system is almost 70% of the total work. MEP's design is important for planning, decision-making, accurate documentation, performance- and cost-estimation, construction, and operating/maintaining the resulting facilities.<ref>{{cite web|title=MEP makes engineering projects faster and reduces cost|url=https://www.ny-engineers.com/blog/how-mep-integration-makes-engineering-projects-faster-and-less-expensive|website=ny-engineers.com}}</ref>

MEP specifically encompasses the in-depth design and selection of these systems, as opposed to a [[tradesperson]] simply installing equipment. In countries of Asia such as Pakistan, China and Saudi Arabia the use of MEP is increasing in building construction projects due to extreme climates in summer and winter. For example, a [[plumber]] may select and install a commercial hot water system based on common practice and regulatory codes. A team of MEP engineers will research the best design according to the principles of engineering, and supply installers with the specifications they develop. As a result, engineers working in the MEP field must understand a broad range of disciplines, including dynamics, mechanics, fluids, thermodynamics, heat transfer, chemistry, electricity, and computers.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Fundamentals of Engineering (4th ed.)|publisher=National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying|year=2000}}</ref>

== Design and documentation ==
As with other aspect of buildings, MEP [[Technical drawing|drafting]], design and documentation were traditionally done manually. [[Computer-aided design]] has some advantages over this, and often incorporates [[3D modeling]] which is otherwise impractical. [[Building information modeling]] provides holistic design and parametric change management of the MEP design.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.setty.com/pdf_presentations/RC_Whitepaper_Revit_Systems_BIM_for_MEP_Engine.pdf |website=Setty.com |title=Revit MEP: BIM for MEP Engineering |url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140814101043/http://www.setty.com/pdf_presentations/RC_Whitepaper_Revit_Systems_BIM_for_MEP_Engine.pdf|archive-date=14 August 2014}}</ref>

Maintaining documentation of MEP services may also require the use of a [[Geographic information system|geographical information system]] or [[Asset management|asset management system.]]

== Components of MEP ==

=== Mechanical ===
{{Main|HVAC}}
The mechanical component of MEP is an important superset of [https://smamepestimate.com/hvac-estimating-services/ HVAC] services. Thus, it incorporates the control of environmental factors ([[psychrometrics]]), either for human comfort or for the operation of machines. Heating, cooling, ventilation and exhaustion are all key areas to consider in the mechanical planning of a building.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.reference.com/science/mep-engineering-5497b653806970d2|title=What Is MEP Engineering?|website=Reference|date=4 August 2015 |language=en|access-date=2019-03-24 |url-status=live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20190324091428/https://www.reference.com/science/mep-engineering-5497b653806970d2 |archive-date= Mar 24, 2019 }}</ref> In special cases, water cooling/heating, humidity control or air filtration<ref>{{Cite journal|date=2003-04-01|title=Guidance for filtration and air-cleaning systems to protect building environments from airborne chemical, biological, or radiological attacks. |doi-access=free |url=https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/2003-136/pdfs/2003-136.pdf?id=10.26616/NIOSHPUB2003136 |publisher=Department of Health and Human Services |website=Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health |doi=10.26616/nioshpub2003136 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240121193818/https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/2003-136/pdfs/2003-136.pdf?id=10.26616%2FNIOSHPUB2003136 |archive-date= Jan 21, 2024 }}</ref> may also be incorporated. For example, Google's data centres make extensive use of [[Heat exchanger|heat exchangers]] to cool their servers.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://www.google.com/about/datacenters/efficiency/internal/#water-and-cooling|title=Efficiency: How we do it|website=Google Data Centers|access-date=2019-03-24}}</ref> This system creates an additional overhead of 12% of initial energy consumption. This is a vast improvement from traditional active cooling units which have an overhead of 30-70%.<ref name=":0" /> However, this novel and complicated method requires careful and expensive planning from mechanical engineers, who must work closely with the engineers designing the electrical and plumbing systems for a building.

A major concern for people designing HVAC systems is the efficiency, i.e., the consumption of electricity and water. Efficiency is optimised by changing the design of the system on both large and small scales. Heat pumps<ref>Staffell, Iain & Brett, D.J.L. & Brandon, Nigel & Hawkes, Adam. (2012). A review of domestic heat pumps. Energy Environ. Sci.. 5. 9291-9306. 10.1039/C2EE22653G.</ref> and evaporative cooling<ref>{{Cite book|title=New Evaporative Cooling Systems: An Emerging Solution for Homes in Hot Dry Climates with Modest Cooling Loads|last=Kinney|first=Larry|publisher=Southwest Energy Efficiency Project}}</ref> are efficient alternatives to traditional systems, however they may be more expensive or harder to implement. The job of an MEP engineer is to compare these requirements and choose the most suitable design for the task.

Electricians and plumbers usually have little to do with each other, other than keeping services out of each other's way. The introduction of mechanical systems requires the integration of the two so that plumbing may be controlled by electrics and electrics may be serviced by plumbing. Thus, the mechanical component of MEP unites the three fields.

=== Electrical ===
{{See also|Electrical wiring|Home wiring}}

==== Alternating current ====
Virtually all modern buildings integrate some form of AC [[mains electricity]] for powering domestic and everyday appliances. Such systems typically run between 100 and 500 volts, however their classifications and specifications vary greatly by geographical area (see [[Mains electricity by country]]). Mains power is typically distributed through insulated copper wire concealed in the building's subfloor, wall cavities and ceiling cavity. These cables are terminated into sockets mounted to walls, floors or ceilings. Similar techniques are used for lights ("luminaires"), however the two services are usually separated into different circuits with different protection devices at the [[distribution board]].<ref name=":1">{{Cite book|title=AS/NZS 3000:2018 - "Wiring Rules"|publisher=SAI Global|year=2018|isbn=978-1-76035-993-5}}</ref> Whilst the wiring for lighting is exclusively managed by electricians, the selection of luminaires or light fittings may be left to building owners or interior designers in some cases.
[[File:TXE1 Cabling Loft.JPG|thumb|Telephone wiring from the 1970s. Low voltage cables are often laid across ceiling joists and insulation in roof cavities.]]
[[Three-phase electric power|Three-phase power]] is commonly used for industrial machines, particularly motors and high-load devices. Provision for three-phase power must be considered early in the design stage of a building because it has different regulations to domestic power supplies, and may affect aspects such as cable routes, switchboard location, large external transformers and connection from the street.<ref name=":1" />

==== Information technology ====
{{Main article|Telecommunication}}Advances in technology and the advent of computer networking have led to the emergence of a new facet of electrical systems incorporating data and telecommunications wiring. As of 2019, several derivative acronyms have been suggested for this area, including MEPIT (mechanical, electrical, plumbing and information technology) and MEPI (an abbreviation of MEPIT).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/migrate-from-mep-mepit-michael-sonenshine|title=Migrate from MEP to MEPIT|website=www.linkedin.com|language=en|access-date=2019-03-20}}</ref> Equivalent names are "low voltage", "data", and "telecommunications" or "comms". A low voltage system used for telecommunications networking is not the same as a [[Low-voltage network|low voltage network]].

The information technology sector of electrical installations is used for computer networking, telephones, television, security systems, audio distribution, healthcare systems, robotics, and more. These services are typically installed by different tradespeople to the higher-voltage mains wiring and are often contracted out to very specific trades, e.g. security installers or audio integrators.

Regulations on low voltage wiring are often less strict or less important to human safety. As a result, it is more common for this wiring to be installed or serviced by competent amateurs, despite constant attempts from the electrical industry to discourage this.

=== Plumbing ===
{{Main|Piping}}
[[File:Biofuel testing setup.jpg|thumb|A laboratory for testing automotive engines, showing plumbing and electrical setups integrated into the building]]
Competent design of [[plumbing]] systems is necessary to prevent conflicts with other trades, and to avoid expensive rework or surplus supplies. The scope of standard residential plumbing usually covers mains pressure potable water, heated water (in conjunction with mechanical and/or electrical engineers), sewerage, stormwater, natural gas, and sometimes rainwater collection and storage. In commercial environments, these distribution systems expand to accommodate many more users, as well as the addition of other plumbing services such as hydroponics, irrigation, fuels, oxygen, vacuum/compressed air, solids transfer, and more.

Plumbing systems also service air distribution/control, and therefore contribute to the mechanical part of MEP. Plumbing for HVAC systems involves the transfer of coolant, pressurized air, water, and occasionally other substances. Ducting for air transfer may also be consider plumbing, but is generally installed by different tradespeople.

==See also==
* [[Architectural engineering]]
* [[Drainage]]
* [[Electrical wiring]]
* [[Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning]]
* [[Plumbing]]
* [[Telecommunication]]
* [[Fire protection engineering]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{HVAC|state=collapsed}}
{{Plumbing}}
https://mepwork.in/easy-to-find-pump-flow-rate-calculator/
[[Category:Building engineering]]
[[Category:Electrical engineering]]
[[Category:Mechanical engineering]]