MEP BIM Services for Design and Coordination

Good MEP design starts with loads. For HVAC, we calculate heating and cooling loads and ventilation requirements for each space. For plumbing, we size water and drainage piping from fixture counts. For electrical, we calculate the connected load, size feeders and panels and lay out lighting and power. These calculations drive equipment sizes, duct and pipe sizes and electrical service size.

Once systems are sized, we lay them out in the building, model them in Revit and coordinate them with the architecture and structure, so the design works in the space available, not just on paper.

MEP design follows the codes adopted where the project is built. Requirements differ by state and city, so we confirm the code editions for your location at the start of the project.

• HVAC: mechanical code, ventilation standards such as ASHRAE 62.1, and energy code requirements.
• Plumbing: the International Plumbing Code or Uniform Plumbing Code, depending on the location.
• Electrical: the National Electrical Code (NFPA 70) and local amendments.
• Energy: the IECC or local energy code for equipment efficiency, lighting power and controls.

Where local amendments change a requirement, the local version governs, and we note it on the drawings.

• HVAC plans with equipment, ductwork, diffusers and controls notes, plus equipment schedules
• Plumbing plans and riser diagrams for domestic water, sanitary, vent, storm and gas
• Lighting plans, power plans and fixture schedules
• Electrical one-line diagrams and panel schedules
• Details, general notes and specifications on the drawings

Coordination is where BIM pays for itself. We check ducts, pipes, cable trays, sprinklers and equipment against beams, columns, walls and ceilings, and against each other. Hard clashes are places where two elements occupy the same space. Clearance clashes are places where there is not enough room for access, insulation or maintenance. Both are flagged and resolved in the model before drawings are issued.

Resolving clashes on screen costs far less than moving installed work in the field, and it reduces requests for information and change orders during construction.

Coordination also checks the practical side of installation: whether there is room to hang duct and pipe, whether valves and dampers can be reached, and whether ceiling heights can be met. Solving these questions in the model gives the installing contractors a clear route for every system.

Offices and retail usually need rooftop units, VAV or constant volume systems, lighting controls and standard plumbing. Restaurants need kitchen exhaust and make-up air, grease waste and gas piping. Healthcare needs higher air change rates, pressure relationships, medical gas and emergency power. Multifamily projects need individual unit systems, stacked plumbing and careful coordination in tight ceiling spaces.

Our team includes an MEP estimator, so design decisions can be checked for cost while they are still easy to change. Equipment choices, duct routing and pipe materials all affect the budget. Having design and cost knowledge in one team helps keep the MEP design within budget.

MEP

Mechanical, electrical and plumbing: the building systems for air, power, lighting and water.

Load calculation

A calculation of the heating, cooling or electrical demand that systems must meet.

Hard clash

Two model elements occupying the same space, such as a pipe through a beam.

Clearance clash

Not enough space around an element for access, insulation or maintenance.

One-line diagram

A simplified drawing that shows how electrical power is distributed through a building.

• Where is the project, and which code editions apply?
• What is the building use and occupancy for each space?
• Are there owner standards for equipment, fixtures or controls?
• What utility services are available at the site?
• Is the design for permit, for construction, or for design-build pricing?

Answering these early avoids redesign later and keeps the drawings aligned with what the building department and the owner expect.

Renovations bring their own MEP challenges: existing equipment that may or may not be reused, limited ceiling space, existing panels with little spare capacity and occupied areas that must stay running. We design around existing conditions using the drawings, photos and survey information you provide, and we note where field verification is needed before construction.

MEP design is delivered as drawing sheets in PDF, with native Revit models or AutoCAD files depending on your project. Equipment schedules, panel schedules and fixture schedules are included on the drawings. When coordination is part of the scope, we also provide coordination views or reports that show where clashes were found and how they were resolved, so the field team can see the agreed routing.

We share progress drawings at agreed milestones so you can review layouts before they are finalized. Comments from the architect, owner or building department are tracked and answered, and drawings are updated with revision clouds and dates. This keeps everyone working from the same, current design.