Practical MEP design knowledge, organised by discipline: short how-to notes, quick calculations, the mistakes reviewers keep rejecting, and US vs European practice side by side. Each article links to a free calculator where one helps, and to the full online course if you want to go deeper.
Electrical · Plumbing & Drainage · Fire Protection · Fire Alarm · HVAC · VRF · Drawings · Free calculators
How-toCommon mistakesStandards comparedQuick calcGuide
Electrical Power 20 articles
- How-toEV Charger Installation: An Electrical Checklist
- GuidePV Systems: DC Isolation, Fuses and Earthing Basics
- Quick calcUPS Sizing: kVA, kW and Battery Autonomy in Practice
- How-toCable Gland Selection: Size, Armour, IP and Earthing
- How-toLightning Protection Basics: Rolling Sphere and Mesh Method
- Standards comparedEmergency Lighting: Quick Design Rules (EN 1838 / NFPA 101)
- GuideMotor Starting: DOL, Star-Delta, Soft Starter or VFD
- GuideBusbar Trunking vs Cables: Selection in Practice
- How-toHow to Connect an SPD in a Distribution Board (the 0.5 m Rule)
- Common mistakes10 Common Mistakes on Single-Line Diagrams
Fire Alarm 10 articles
- GuideAspirating Smoke Detection: When and How
- How-toVoice Alarm Speaker Spacing and Intelligibility
- Quick calcFire Alarm Standby Battery Calculation
- How-toManual Call Point Placement: Distances, Heights, Exits
- How-toHow to Write a Fire Alarm Cause and Effect Matrix
- Standards comparedEN 54-14 vs NFPA 72: Fire Alarm Design Differences
- How-toOptical Beam Smoke Detectors: Where and How to Place Them
- GuideSmoke Detector Spacing (and Heat Detectors): Practical Rules
- GuideConventional vs Addressable Fire Alarm Systems Explained
- GuideFire Alarm Loop Design: Addresses, Isolators, Zones and Cables
Fire Protection (Sprinklers, NFPA) 21 articles
- GuideKitchen Hood Wet Chemical Systems: Design Basics
- How-toSprinkler Obstruction Rules: A Quick Field Guide
- How-toBackflow Preventers on Fire Lines: Losses and Layout
- GuideWet Riser vs Dry Riser: Which Building Needs Which
- Standards comparedFire Hose Cabinets and Hose Valves: EN 671 vs NFPA 14
- Quick calcFire Water Tank Sizing: Sprinklers plus Hose Streams
- GuideESFR Sprinklers: Quick Rules Before You Specify Them
- Quick calcChoosing the Sprinkler K-Factor
- GuideStandpipe Classes I, II and III Explained
- Quick calcSprinkler Pipe Hanger Spacing and Support Rules
Plumbing & Drainage 17 articles
- How-toDrainage Falls, Access Points and Cleanouts
- Quick calcSump Pump and Pit Sizing for Basements
- GuideSiphonic Roof Drainage: How It Works and When to Use It
- Quick calcHot Water Storage Cylinder Sizing
- Standards comparedHow Many Toilets? Sanitary Fixture Counts, EN vs IPC
- Quick calcWater Hammer: Causes and Arrestor Sizing
- GuidePlumbing Pipe Materials: PPR, PE-X, Copper, Steel Compared
- Quick calcWater Storage Tank Sizing for Buildings
- Quick calcRoof Rainwater Drainage Sizing (EN 12056-3)
- How-toPressure Reducing Valve Stations: Layout and Settings
Heating 6 articles
- Quick calcUnderfloor Heating: Quick Design Rules
- Quick calcRadiator Sizing: Correction Factors for Low Temperatures
- Quick calcHeat Pump Sizing and the Bivalent Point
- Quick calcExpansion Vessel Sizing for Heating Systems
- GuideHeating Pipe Sizing: Flow, Velocity, Pa/m and Pump Head
- GuideHeat Loss Calculation Step by Step: EN 12831 Worked Example
Cooling & Chilled Water 7 articles
- How-toHVAC Commissioning: A Practical Checklist
- GuideCooling Towers: Range, Approach and Selection
- How-toFan Coil Unit Selection Step by Step
- How-toCondensate Drain Trap Design for AHUs and FCUs
- Quick calcChilled Water Pump Head: A Quick Estimate
- GuidePsychrometric Chart for AHU Design: Mixing, Coils and Reheat
- GuideCooling Load Calculation Basics: Solar, Internal and Latent Loads
Ventilation & Smoke Control 8 articles
- How-toVAV Box Selection: Sizing, Minimum Flow and Noise
- Quick calcStair Pressurisation: Quick Airflow Design
- Quick calcCommercial Kitchen Hood Exhaust Airflow: Quick Sizing
- Common mistakes12 Common Duct Design Mistakes
- Quick calcCar Park Ventilation with Jet Fans: Quick Design
- Standards comparedASHRAE 62.1 vs EN 16798: Ventilation Rates Compared
- Quick calcAHU Sizing: Quick Rules for Airflow, Coil and Footprint
- GuideDuct Sizing Guide: Equal Friction, Fittings and the Index Run
VRF & Refrigeration 8 articles
- Quick calcRefrigerant Pipe Insulation: Thickness and Condensation
- How-toVRF Condensate Drainage Design
- GuideVRF Heat Recovery vs Heat Pump Systems
- Common mistakes10 Common VRF Design Mistakes
- How-toVRF Branch Kits (Refnets): Selection and Installation Rules
- GuideVRF Refrigerant Piping Design: Sizing, Limits and Charge
- GuideRefrigerant Leak Safety to EN 378: The Smallest Room Check
- GuideVRF Connection Ratio: How to Select the Right Outdoor Unit
Gas 1 articles
- Quick calcNatural Gas Pipe Sizing Basics
Drawings, BOQ & BIM 7 articles
- GuideBIM LOD for MEP Models Explained
- How-toHow to Draw a Clear MEP Riser Diagram
- How-toMEP Shop Drawing Review Checklist
- How-toMEP Quantity Take-off: Practical Tips for BOQs
- GuideMEP Drawing Standards: Layers, Sheet Numbers, Title Blocks
- How-toMEP Coordination: A Practical Clash Checklist
- GuideHow to Split a Multi-Sheet AutoCAD Drawing into DWG and PDF Files