Building services engineering is the engineering of the internal environment and environmental impact of a building. It essentially brings buildings and structures to life. Building Services is part of a sector that has over 51,000 businesses and employs over 500,000 people. This sector has an annual turnover of £19.3 billion which represents 2%-3% of the GDP.
Building services engineering comprises mechanical engineering, electrical engineering and public health (MEP) engineering, all of which are further sub-divided into the following:
- energy supply - gas, electricity and renewable sources
- low voltage (LV) systems, distribution boards and switchgear
- natural and artificial lighting, and building facades
- communication lines, telephones and IT networks (ICT)
- security and alarm systems
- fire detection and protection
- lightning protection
- escalators and lifts
- heating and air conditioning (HVAC)
- water , drainage and plumbing
- ventilation and refrigeration
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. Typical software programs used to aid building services design in the industry include:
- AutoCAD: 2D and 3D modelling and drafting
- AMTECH Power Software: Electrical design and verification, discrimination studies and quick cable calculations
- Relux Informatik AG: Lighting planning and design
- DIALux: Lighting planning and design
- Hevacomp: Load calculations, pipe and duct sizing, lighting systems design
- Integrated Environmental Solutions (IES): Advanced simulation and modelling
- Elevate: Elevator traffic analysis and simulation software
- and others
Building services engineers typically possess an academic degree in either building services engineering, mechanical engineering 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 are accredited by the Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers.
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.
