An engineer visualizes in his mind what he plans to build. These ideas are laid out on paper in the form of drawings and they become the visual representation of what the builder plans to put up. This stack of drawings is the marvel of putting up a building as one can actually see how things will be done in minute detail even before the first shovel of earth is turned.

One can build something without the help of a drawing if it’s small-scale. For large projects, however, drawings are definitely needed. They are essential in order to understand the shape, size, color, and feel of the building that’s being planned. The construction can only start once these comprehensive outlines are completed.

In the construction business, the standard school of thought aims at making sure a building is not only aesthetically appealing, but should also be safe, structurally sound, and energy efficient. MEP means the systems within that deal with the mechanical, electrical, and plumbing requirements of the structure.

The mechanical aspect of MEP has to do with the building’s HVAC (the heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning). The electrical part is all about the power supply and its safe distribution. Lastly, there’s the plumbing component dealing with the supply of water and its efficient drainage plus that of sewage.

All of them will have to be illustrated in a clear manner as to how they should be put together and made to function. These MEP Drawings that come after much discussion and before any construction is undertaken must already show the blending of the three systems that make sure their layouts do not impede on each other’s function. Interested parties can reach out to Source2Load ENgineering & Consulting for all of your  MEP design services in Houston, Louisiana, Florida and Alabama.

The 5 Different Types of MEP Drawing:

- Penetration Drawings

This is intended to highlight specific openings in a wall or floor where mechanical, electrical, and plumbing items like cables and pipes will pass through. These outlets must be precisely sized and cannot be just rough calculations on how big they should be.

- Detailed Shop Drawing

This must be done before construction is begun. The drawing must be detailed in terms of dimension to ensure that fabrication and installation are precise. It exposes design errors or inconsistencies before the installation is carried out.

- Coordination Drawing

This is the blueprint for putting in place the openings, the electrical tubes, and the drainage pipe where they should be. It eliminates installation problems that may beset loosely planned MEP setups.

- As Built Drawing

This comes after the construction is completed and the building is up for all to appreciate. It’s a comparative study of the before-and-after phase of the project. The illustration is given to the client once everything’s done. It’s a vital document that can be consulted when repairs and maintenance need to be done or a renovation has to be undertaken. In it are in-depth visual information on design and installation.

Get It Done Right

If it’s MEP engineering that you’re looking for, get experienced help on the mechanical, electrical and plumbing aspects of your project from the experts who have a combined experience of nearly 5 decades in those fields. Source2Load Engineering and Consulting is the name to look up.