MEP Quantification and HVAC Fundamentals

Study Notes

Introduction to MEP Services: Key considerations include technical specifications, cost and schedule constraints, space requirements for different MEP services, and clash detection during design.
Procurement & Contracts: Important codes and standards for MEP services like NBC, ASHRAE, ISHRAE, NEC, and NFPA must be followed.
Workflow for Quantity Take-off: Quantities can be categorized as countable, measurable, or assumed. Types of quantities are discussed.
HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning): HVAC is essential for improving air quality, circulating fresh air, filtering pollutants, regulating temperature, and controlling humidity.

Fundamentals of HVAC: Purpose is to heat, cool, and ventilate to create a healthy and comfortable indoor environment. HVAC components include thermostats, furnaces or heat pumps, air conditioners, ducts, air filters, blowers, and vents.
Working process: Air is drawn into the system, heated or cooled, circulated through the building, and regulated to achieve desired conditions relating to temperature, humidity, and other parameters of air quality.
COP (Coefficient of Performance): Measures efficiency of heating or cooling systems. A high COP indicates better efficiency.
TR (Ton of Refrigeration): Measures cooling capacity; 1 TR = 12000 BTU/hr = 3.517 kW = 3024 kcal/hr Indicates system's cooling capacity.
EER/COP: measures efficiency of performance for HVAC systems.
SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio) and ISEER (Indian Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio): Measures system efficiency and energy consumption over a whole season.

Centralized HVAC: Larger capacity systems for multiple zones within a building.
Unitary HVAC: Smaller systems for single zones.
VRV/VRF (Variable Refrigerant Flow/Variable Refrigerant Volume): Systems with variable refrigerant flow that allows efficiency and flexibility for multiple zones.
Other types: Other system types (splits, window ACs, ductal split) for various types of buildings are covered briefly.

Fire suppression systems: Portable fire extinguishers, sprinklers systems, foam systems, and standpipe/hose systems are described.
Classes of fire: Different types of fire - classes A (ordinary combustibles), B (flammables), C (energized electrical equipment), D (combustible metals). Each is best handled with different types of fire suppression methods.
Hazards: The types and characteristics of different hazard levels (low, ordinary, extreme) are defined and different sprinkler / fire systems are recommended accordingly.

Components: Basic components of electrical systems within buildings, including transformers, switchgear, LT-panels, distribution panels.
Other system elements: Automatic transfer switches (ATS), DG Sets, motor control centers (MCC), power distribution units (PDU).
Earthing: Importance of grounding and related elements is emphasized.
Cable tray: Different types of cable trays and their sizing are described.

Element types: Plumbing includes potable (clean) water and sewage drainage/wastewater systems.
Plumbing Elements: Different trap types and their locations, water closet types and other elements (pipe sizes and lengths) are detailed.
System Types: Direct supply, gravity, pressurized, combined are mentioned.
Sewerage System: Different types of sewerage and other components are described.

Duct dimensions: Duct sizes (mm), length, area of sections are detailed.
Duct Gauge: Uses gauge numbers (G) to classify duct material thickness and strength.

Methodologies and formulas for calculating total cost of systems are given.
Examples included to illustrate cost calculations for various components of systems. Calculations and examples of quantities (sheets, area, volume etc.) are provided.