Building services engineering
Encyclopedia
Building services engineering, technical building services, architectural engineering, or building engineering is the engineering
of the internal environment and environmental impact of a building
. It essentially brings buildings and structures to life.
Building services engineers are responsible for the design, installation, operation and monitoring of the mechanical, electrical and public health systems required for the safe, comfortable and environmentally friendly operation of modern buildings. The term "building services engineering" is widely used in the United Kingdom
, Canada
and Australia
, but in the United States of America, the field is also known as architectural engineering
or building engineering
, though these terms can also have other meanings, even in the United States.
, electrical engineering
and plumbing or public health (MEP) engineering, all of which are further sub-divided into the following:
Building services engineer
s work closely with other construction professionals; architects, structural engineers and quantity surveyors. They influence the architecture
of a building and play a significant role on the sustainability
and energy demand of a building. Within building services engineering, new roles are emerging, for example in the areas of renewable energy, sustainability, low carbon technologies and energy management. With buildings accounting for around 50% of all carbon emissions, building services engineers play a significant role in combating climate change. As such, a typical building services engineer has a wide-ranging career path:
In 1976 Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers
(CIBSE) was founded and received a Royal Charter in the United Kingdom
, and formally recognising building services engineering as a profession. Its objectives of the Institution are to:
‘support the Science, Art and Practice of building services engineering, by providing our members and the public with first class information and education services and promoting the spirit of fellowship which guides our work.
In recent years there has been increasing emphasis on sustainable and green design by the UK government, including in engineered building systems. Building services engineers increasingly seek BREEAM
(BRE Environmental Assessment Method), CIBSE Low Carbon Consultants (LCC) and Energy Assessors (LCEA) status in addition to their Professional Engineering registration.
or electrical engineering
. The length of study for such a degree is usually three years for a Bachelor of Engineering
(BEng
) or Bachelor of Science
(BSc
) and four years for a Master of Engineering
(MEng
). Some of the degrees accredited by the Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers
include:
Courses accredited by other Engineering Institution in the UK such as the Institution of Engineering and Technology
(IET) and the Institution of Mechanical Engineers
(IMechE) are also accepted and satisfy the education requirement to become a building services engineer. After completing an accredited degree program the engineer must also satisfy a range of other requirements (including work experience and possibly exam and report-writing requirements) before acquiring the professional qualification. Once all the requirements are satisfied and depending on the academic route undertaken by the engineer, he or she is designated the title of either Chartered Engineer (CEng
), Incorporated Engineer (IEng) or Engineering Technician (EngTech). For more information, please refer to CIBSE. There are international engineering agreements between relevant professional bodies which are designed to allow engineers to practice across international borders. Note that the term Chartered Engineer is mainly used in the UK and in most Commonwealth countries. In the European Union, European Engineer is used instead.
Engineering
Engineering is the discipline, art, skill and profession of acquiring and applying scientific, mathematical, economic, social, and practical knowledge, in order to design and build structures, machines, devices, systems, materials and processes that safely realize improvements to the lives of...
of the internal environment and environmental impact of a building
Building
In architecture, construction, engineering, real estate development and technology the word building may refer to one of the following:...
. It essentially brings buildings and structures to life.
Building services engineers are responsible for the design, installation, operation and monitoring of the mechanical, electrical and public health systems required for the safe, comfortable and environmentally friendly operation of modern buildings. The term "building services engineering" is widely used in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
and Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, but in the United States of America, the field is also known as architectural engineering
Architectural engineering
Architectural engineering, also known as building engineering, is the application of engineering principles and technology to building design and construction...
or building engineering
Building engineering
Education in the field of Building Engineering, better known as Architectural Engineering in the United States, is the study of the integrated application of engineering principles and technology to building design and architecture...
, though these terms can also have other meanings, even in the United States.
Introduction
Building services engineering comprises mechanical engineeringMechanical engineering
Mechanical engineering is a discipline of engineering that applies the principles of physics and materials science for analysis, design, manufacturing, and maintenance of mechanical systems. It is the branch of engineering that involves the production and usage of heat and mechanical power for the...
, electrical engineering
Electrical engineering
Electrical engineering is a field of engineering that generally deals with the study and application of electricity, electronics and electromagnetism. The field first became an identifiable occupation in the late nineteenth century after commercialization of the electric telegraph and electrical...
and plumbing or public health (MEP) engineering, all of which are further sub-divided into the following:
- Communication lines, telephones and IT networks (ICTInformation technologyInformation technology is the acquisition, processing, storage and dissemination of vocal, pictorial, textual and numerical information by a microelectronics-based combination of computing and telecommunications...
) - EnergyEnergyIn physics, energy is an indirectly observed quantity. It is often understood as the ability a physical system has to do work on other physical systems...
supply - gasGasGas is one of the three classical states of matter . Near absolute zero, a substance exists as a solid. As heat is added to this substance it melts into a liquid at its melting point , boils into a gas at its boiling point, and if heated high enough would enter a plasma state in which the electrons...
, electricityElectricityElectricity is a general term encompassing a variety of phenomena resulting from the presence and flow of electric charge. These include many easily recognizable phenomena, such as lightning, static electricity, and the flow of electrical current in an electrical wire...
and renewableRenewable energyRenewable energy is energy which comes from natural resources such as sunlight, wind, rain, tides, and geothermal heat, which are renewable . About 16% of global final energy consumption comes from renewables, with 10% coming from traditional biomass, which is mainly used for heating, and 3.4% from...
sources - Escalators and liftsElevatorAn elevator is a type of vertical transport equipment that efficiently moves people or goods between floors of a building, vessel or other structures...
- FireFireFire is the rapid oxidation of a material in the chemical process of combustion, releasing heat, light, and various reaction products. Slower oxidative processes like rusting or digestion are not included by this definition....
detection and protection - Heating, ventilationVentilation (architecture)Ventilating is the process of "changing" or replacing air in any space to provide high indoor air quality...
and air conditioningAir conditioningAn air conditioner is a home appliance, system, or mechanism designed to dehumidify and extract heat from an area. The cooling is done using a simple refrigeration cycle...
(HVACHVACHVAC refers to technology of indoor or automotive environmental comfort. HVAC system design is a major subdiscipline of mechanical engineering, based on the principles of thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, and heat transfer...
) - LightningLightningLightning is an atmospheric electrostatic discharge accompanied by thunder, which typically occurs during thunderstorms, and sometimes during volcanic eruptions or dust storms...
protection - Low voltageLow voltageLow voltage when used as an electrical engineering term concerning an electricity supply grid or industrial use, broadly identifies safety considerations of the system based on the voltage used. The meaning of the term "low voltage" is somewhat different when used with regard to a more typical end...
(LV) systems, distribution boardDistribution boardA distribution board is a component of an electricity supply system which divides an electrical power feed into subsidiary circuits, while providing a protective fuse or circuit breaker for each circuit, in a common enclosure...
s and switchgearSwitchgearThe term switchgear, used in association with the electric power system, or grid, refers to the combination of electrical disconnects, fuses and/or circuit breakers used to isolate electrical equipment. Switchgear is used both to de-energize equipment to allow work to be done and to clear faults... - Natural lighting and artificial lighting, and building facades
- SecuritySecuritySecurity is the degree of protection against danger, damage, loss, and crime. Security as a form of protection are structures and processes that provide or improve security as a condition. The Institute for Security and Open Methodologies in the OSSTMM 3 defines security as "a form of protection...
and alarmAlarmAn alarm device or system of alarm devices gives an audible or visual alarm signal about a problem or condition.Alarm devices include:* burglar alarms, designed to warn of burglaries; this is often a silent alarm: the police or guards are warned without indication to the burglar, which increases...
systems - VentilationVentilation (architecture)Ventilating is the process of "changing" or replacing air in any space to provide high indoor air quality...
and refrigerationRefrigerationRefrigeration is a process in which work is done to move heat from one location to another. This work is traditionally done by mechanical work, but can also be done by magnetism, laser or other means... - WaterWaterWater is a chemical substance with the chemical formula H2O. A water molecule contains one oxygen and two hydrogen atoms connected by covalent bonds. Water is a liquid at ambient conditions, but it often co-exists on Earth with its solid state, ice, and gaseous state . Water also exists in a...
, drainageDrainageDrainage is the natural or artificial removal of surface and sub-surface water from an area. Many agricultural soils need drainage to improve production or to manage water supplies.-Early history:...
and plumbingPlumbingPlumbing is the system of pipes and drains installed in a building for the distribution of potable drinking water and the removal of waterborne wastes, and the skilled trade of working with pipes, tubing and plumbing fixtures in such systems. A plumber is someone who installs or repairs piping...
Building services engineer
Engineer
An engineer is a professional practitioner of engineering, concerned with applying scientific knowledge, mathematics and ingenuity to develop solutions for technical problems. Engineers design materials, structures, machines and systems while considering the limitations imposed by practicality,...
s work closely with other construction professionals; architects, structural engineers and quantity surveyors. They influence the architecture
Architecture
Architecture is both the process and product of planning, designing and construction. Architectural works, in the material form of buildings, are often perceived as cultural and political symbols and as works of art...
of a building and play a significant role on the sustainability
Sustainability
Sustainability is the capacity to endure. For humans, sustainability is the long-term maintenance of well being, which has environmental, economic, and social dimensions, and encompasses the concept of union, an interdependent relationship and mutual responsible position with all living and non...
and energy demand of a building. Within building services engineering, new roles are emerging, for example in the areas of renewable energy, sustainability, low carbon technologies and energy management. With buildings accounting for around 50% of all carbon emissions, building services engineers play a significant role in combating climate change. As such, a typical building services engineer has a wide-ranging career path:
- Design: designing layouts and requirements for building services for residential or commercial developments.
- Construction: supervising the construction of the building services, commissioning systems and ongoing maintenance and operation of services.
- Environmental: developing new energy saving methods for construction, designing new and improved energy conservation systems for buildings.
- Heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC): specialising in the design, development, construction and operation of HVAC systems.
- Electrical technology: specialising in the design and development of electrical systems required for safe and energy sustaining operation of buildings.
In 1976 Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers
Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers
The Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers is a British professional engineering body based in London, England that represents building services engineers...
(CIBSE) was founded and received a Royal Charter in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, and formally recognising building services engineering as a profession. Its objectives of the Institution are to:
‘support the Science, Art and Practice of building services engineering, by providing our members and the public with first class information and education services and promoting the spirit of fellowship which guides our work.
In recent years there has been increasing emphasis on sustainable and green design by the UK government, including in engineered building systems. Building services engineers increasingly seek BREEAM
BREEAM
BRE Environmental Assessment Method is a voluntary measurement rating for green buildings that was established in the UK by the Building Research Establishment . Since its inception it has since grown in scope and geographically, being exported in various guises across the globe...
(BRE Environmental Assessment Method), CIBSE Low Carbon Consultants (LCC) and Energy Assessors (LCEA) status in addition to their Professional Engineering registration.
Building services engineering software
Many building services firms use computer-aided engineering (CAE) software programs, created either in-house or by external parties, to assist in their system design and analysis. This method has many benefits, including easier and more exhaustive visualization of proposed solutions, the ability to create virtual models for analysis and calculations, and the ease of use in spatial planning.Education
Building services engineers typically possess an academic degree in either building services engineering, mechanical engineeringMechanical engineering
Mechanical engineering is a discipline of engineering that applies the principles of physics and materials science for analysis, design, manufacturing, and maintenance of mechanical systems. It is the branch of engineering that involves the production and usage of heat and mechanical power for the...
or electrical engineering
Electrical engineering
Electrical engineering is a field of engineering that generally deals with the study and application of electricity, electronics and electromagnetism. The field first became an identifiable occupation in the late nineteenth century after commercialization of the electric telegraph and electrical...
. The length of study for such a degree is usually three years for a Bachelor of Engineering
Bachelor of Engineering
The Bachelor of Engineering is an undergraduate academic degree awarded to a student after three to five years of studying engineering at universities in Armenia, Australia, Bangladesh, Bulgaria, Canada, China, Denmark, Egypt, Finland , Germany, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Jordan, Korea,...
(BEng
Beng
Beng may refer to:*Beng Spies, a voice actor*Kwek Leng Beng , Singaporean billionaire*Lim Eng Beng , former Philippine Basketball Association player*Ong Beng Hee , professional squash player...
) or Bachelor of Science
Bachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
(BSc
BSC
BSC is a three-letter abbreviation that may refer to:Science and technology* Bachelor of Science , an undergraduate degree* Base Station Controller, part of a mobile phone network; see: Base Station subsystem...
) and four years for a Master of Engineering
Master of Engineering
A Master of Engineering or Master of Technology or Master of Science in Engineering A Master of Engineering (Magister in Ingeniaria) (abbreviated M.Eng., ME or MEng) or Master of Technology (abbreviated M.Tech. or MTech) or Master of Science in Engineering A Master of Engineering (Magister in...
(MEng
Meng
Meng can refer to the following:* Master of Engineering , an academic or professional master's degree in the field of engineering, the symbol used for the labiodental nasal consonantal sound...
). Some of the degrees accredited by the Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers
Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers
The Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers is a British professional engineering body based in London, England that represents building services engineers...
include:
Bachelors
- BSc (Hons) Integrated Technology (Building Services) (Doncaster CollegeDoncaster CollegeDoncaster College is a further and higher education college in Doncaster, South Yorkshire. It comprises two campuses, which are known as "The Hub" and the "University Centre".-Staff and students:...
) - BSc in Building Services Engineering (Glasgow Caledonian UniversityGlasgow Caledonian UniversityGlasgow Caledonian University is a public university in Glasgow, Scotland.The university was constituted by an Act of Parliament on 1 April 1993 as a result of a merger between Glasgow Polytechnic and The Queen's College, Glasgow....
) - BSc (Hons) Building Services Engineering (Leeds Metropolitan UniversityLeeds Metropolitan UniversityLeeds Metropolitan University is a British University with three campuses. Two are situated in Leeds, West Yorkshire, England while the third is situated in Bhopal, India...
) - BSc (Hons) Building Services Engineering (London South Bank UniversityLondon South Bank UniversityLondon South Bank University is a university in south London. With over 25,000 students and 1,700 staff, it is based in the London Borough of Southwark, near the South Bank of the River Thames, from which it takes its name...
) - BSc (Hons) Building Services Engineering (University of the West of EnglandUniversity of the West of EnglandThe University of the West of England is a university based in the English city of Bristol. Its main campus is at Frenchay, about five miles north of the city centre...
) - BSc (Hons) Architectural Engineering (Heriot-Watt UniversityHeriot-Watt UniversityHeriot-Watt University is a university based in Edinburgh, Scotland. The name commemorates George Heriot, the 16th century financier to King James, and James Watt, the great 18th century inventor and engineer....
) - BEng (Hons) Building Services Engineering (Coventry UniversityCoventry UniversityCoventry University is a post-1992 university in Coventry, West Midlands, England. Under the terms of the Further and Higher Education Act of 1992, the institution's name was changed from Coventry Polytechnic to Coventry University...
) - BEng (Hons) Building Services Engineering (The Hong Kong Polytechnic University)
- BEng (Hons) Architectural Environment Engineering (University of NottinghamUniversity of NottinghamThe University of Nottingham is a public research university based in Nottingham, United Kingdom, with further campuses in Ningbo, China and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia...
) - BEng (Hons) Building Services Engineering ([Liverpool John Moore's University])
- BEng (Hons) Building Services Engineering (Dublin Institute of TechnologyDublin Institute of TechnologyDublin Institute of Technology was established officially in 1992 under the but had been previously set up in 1978 on an ad-hoc basis. The institution can trace its origins back to 1887 with the establishment of various technical institutions in Dublin, Ireland...
)
Masters
- M.Arch. Design Science (Building Services) (The University of Sydney)
- MEng Architectural Engineering Design (University of SheffieldUniversity of SheffieldThe University of Sheffield is a research university based in the city of Sheffield in South Yorkshire, England. It is one of the original 'red brick' universities and is a member of the Russell Group of leading research intensive universities...
) - MSc Building Services (UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL LANCASHIREUniversity of Central LancashireThe University of Central Lancashire is a university based in Preston, Lancashire, England.The university has its roots in The Institution For The Diffusion Of Useful Knowledge which was founded in 1828. In 1992 it was granted University status by the Privy Council...
) - MEng Architectural and Environmental Design (University of NottinghamUniversity of NottinghamThe University of Nottingham is a public research university based in Nottingham, United Kingdom, with further campuses in Ningbo, China and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia...
) - MEng Architectural Engineering (Heriot-Watt UniversityHeriot-Watt UniversityHeriot-Watt University is a university based in Edinburgh, Scotland. The name commemorates George Heriot, the 16th century financier to King James, and James Watt, the great 18th century inventor and engineer....
) - Architectural Engineering (University of StrathclydeUniversity of StrathclydeThe University of Strathclyde , Glasgow, Scotland, is Glasgow's second university by age, founded in 1796, and receiving its Royal Charter in 1964 as the UK's first technological university...
) - MEng (Hons) Mechanical Engineering (with Building Services Engineering) (The University of Manchester)
- MEng Architectural Science and Engineering Services (The University of Manchester)
- MSc Building Services Engineering (Loughborough UniversityLoughborough UniversityLoughborough University is a research based campus university located in the market town of Loughborough, Leicestershire, in the East Midlands of England...
) - MEng Building Services Engineering (Hong Kong Polytechnic UniversityHong Kong Polytechnic UniversityThe Hong Kong Polytechnic University specialises in professional education in Hong Kong. The University’s teaching units are grouped under six faculties and two schools; the Faculty of Applied Science and Textiles, Faculty of Business, Faculty of Construction and Environment, Faculty of...
) - MEng Building Services and Energy Engineering (University of UlsterUniversity of UlsterThe University of Ulster is a multi-campus, co-educational university located in Northern Ireland. It is the largest single university in Ireland, discounting the federal National University of Ireland...
) - MEng Building Services Engineering (Northumbria UniversityNorthumbria UniversityNorthumbria University is an academic institution located in Newcastle upon Tyne in the North East of England. It is a member of the University Alliance.- History :...
) - MSc Buildings and Environment (Czech Technical University in PragueCzech Technical University in PragueCzech Technical University in Prague is one of the largest universities in the Czech Republic, and the oldest institute of technology in Central Europe....
) - MSc Building Service Engineering (International Islamic University Malaysia in Malaysia)
- MSC Building Services engineering ([ Glasgow Caledonian University. uk ])
Courses accredited by other Engineering Institution in the UK such as the Institution of Engineering and Technology
Institution of Engineering and Technology
The Institution of Engineering and Technology is a British professional body for those working in engineering and technology in the United Kingdom and worldwide. It was formed in 2006 from two separate institutions: the Institution of Electrical Engineers , dating back to 1871, and the...
(IET) and the Institution of Mechanical Engineers
Institution of Mechanical Engineers
The Institution of Mechanical Engineers is the British engineering society based in central London, representing mechanical engineering. It is licensed by the Engineering Council UK to assess candidates for inclusion on ECUK's Register of professional Engineers...
(IMechE) are also accepted and satisfy the education requirement to become a building services engineer. After completing an accredited degree program the engineer must also satisfy a range of other requirements (including work experience and possibly exam and report-writing requirements) before acquiring the professional qualification. Once all the requirements are satisfied and depending on the academic route undertaken by the engineer, he or she is designated the title of either Chartered Engineer (CEng
Çeng
The çeng is a Turkish harp. It was a popular Ottoman instrument until the last quarter of the 17th century.The word comes from the Persian word "chang," which means "harp" ....
), Incorporated Engineer (IEng) or Engineering Technician (EngTech). For more information, please refer to CIBSE. There are international engineering agreements between relevant professional bodies which are designed to allow engineers to practice across international borders. Note that the term Chartered Engineer is mainly used in the UK and in most Commonwealth countries. In the European Union, European Engineer is used instead.
Notable people
Some notable people who contributed towards the building services field include:- Ove ArupOve ArupSir Ove Nyquist Arup, CBE, MICE, MIStructE known as Ove Arup, was a leading Anglo-Danish engineer and generally considered to be one of the foremost architectural structural engineers of his time...
- Norman Foster
- Ted HappoldEdmund HappoldProfessor Sir Edmund Happold , better known as Ted Happold, was a structural engineer and founder of Buro Happold.- Career :...
- Ken YeangKen YeangDr. Ken Yeang [Chinese]: 杨经文/楊經文; [pinyin]: Yáng Jīngwén; born 1948) is a prolific Malaysian architect and writer best known for advancing green design and planning, differentiated from other green architects by his comprehensive ecological approach....
Companies
Some of the companies which provide building services engineering as part of their technical expertise are as follows:See also
External links
- ASHRAE American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers
- BSRIA The Building Services Research and Information Association
- CIBSE Chartered Institute of Building Services Engineers
- Modern Building Services journal
- Online Building Services Engineering Lecture Notes