The Performance of a Construction Designer in Architecture - Essay Example

The Role of a Mechanical Engineer in Construction Student’s Name Institutional Affiliation Date Introduction It is evident that mechanical equipment and piping form a significant part of any construction endeavour. This implies that mechanical engineers play a more role in the construction site as compared to electrical and instrumentation. It is only in civil major projects that the role played by civil engineers exceeds the role played by mechanical engineers in the construction project. Examples of civil major projects include the construction of ports, bridges, and multi-storey buildings. However, mechanical engineers play a bigger role in construction endeavours such as mining, mat, steel and power handling, as well as synthetic yarn and chemical industries because machinery or mechanical equipment accounts for more than 70% of the total equipment on the construction site. The essay examines the experience of a mechanical engineer that has trained in a construction company that specialises in building homes for three months concerning the significance of the mechanical engineer, building services, and safety issues. Significance of the Mechanical Engineer in Construction The construction industry, especially the construction of buildings has witnessed the radical transition from old structures automated buildings also called optimum performance homes (Meline, 2006). A professional in mechanical engineering plays a significant role in the team that is responsible for developing the custom design. It is proper to state that the professional is at the crossroads of all the other engineering professionals. A mechanical engineer also receives formal education in topics covered by structural, civil, and electrical engineers. Moreover, mechanical engineers have studied basic courses in environmental, acoustics, and controls topics. The primary role of a mechanical engineer in custom-house building is the management of energy. This include petroleum-based products, solar, electricity, and in specific instances, wind (Meline, 2006). The mechanical engineer should understand the standard building codes in the state from which she or he received the certification to practice as an engineer. The essence of understanding the building codes emanates from the fact that the building standards especially on energy efficiency keep on changing from time to time. Consequently, it is important that a mechanical engineer should be aware of the updated energy efficiency standards that would be essential in developing the energy systems for the house. The need to understand the code implies that the mechanical engineer is one of the members of the design team that is responsible for specifying the energy efficiency of the building materials, mechanical, and lighting systems. The professional should also maintain the aesthetics that are necessary for the custom home design and the comfort of the property owner. The building industry has witnessed an increase in the complexity of innovations and technologies associated with the custom home design (Meline, 2006). Consequently, engineers have to model new building materials to gain an insight into their heat transfer characteristics. In essence, the construction of modern homes is “tighter” than the construction of traditional homes thereby posing a new challenge of providing the appropriate ventilation of fresh air. Some of the advantages of good ventilation is its positive effect on improving air quality and mitigating mould issues. In the design of high-end homes, other aspects that are not evident in conventional house designs have cropped up. Some of the aspects include smart home controls and total home controls that are essential in the design of optimum performance houses. Such systems are capable of controlling anything within the house from the lighting system to the entertainment system as well as the security system. The mechanical engineer is responsible for the design of the plumbing system in the design team. This includes designing the heat, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems. The professional is also responsible for designing the sequence of control-system operations, and energy calculations that would show compliance with the Building Energy Efficiency Standards of the State (Meline, 2006). Therefore, the mechanical engineer uses inputs from other specialties to create an individual system design that is appropriate for the custom home. Some of the other specialties that provide the mechanical engineer with crucial inputs required in developing the custom house system include the home theatre designer, pool and spa builders, kitchen designers, and wine cellar and humidor consultants. The mechanical engineer is also responsible for coordinating the mechanical equipment requirements with the electrical engineer in the quest to ensure that the house receives the proper amount of electricity to run the equipment. The mechanical engineer is also responsible for determining the gas, water, and sewer requirements of the house in consultation with the civil engineer to ascertain that the utilities brought on the site are of the proper capacity and size and the installation of proper connections (Meline, 2006). From the roles mentioned, it is evident that a mechanical engineer is an important professional in the construction of houses. Building Services A mechanical engineer provides services that cover almost all aspects of the building design, from determining the integrity of the structures to the selection of materials. The service domain of a mechanical engineer also includes all machinery within the building. This includes the HVAC equipment, the ventilation shafts and ducts from the output assemblies to the different sections of the structure, as well as the associated pumps and pipes that connect the systems. Traditionally, the work of a mechanical engineer is divided into two phases: the planning phase and the mechanical design phase (CPG, 2015). The mechanical design phase is the process that leads to the integration of services into the building process. In essence, the mechanical engineer is responsible for planning the building’s services and ensuring the integration of the designs into the construction work. The professional incorporates utility ducts and pipes to enable the natural adaptation of prefabricated wall panels. Mechanical engineers carry out similar roles in the construction of foundation work and below ground structures by scaling the plant room to accommodate mechanical equipment and assemblies. A mathematical phase has taken over the traditional approach of house design. The new approach aims at addressing service constraints by using performance needs as the basis of the construction. Determining energy expenditure and heating requirements is one example of using the approach in designing buildings. Energy expenditure and heating requirements have a direct influence on almost all aspects of the building design from the main boiler to the climate control functionality. Some of the duties of the mechanical engineer have entered the cyberspace domain because of the advent of computer model simulations. Comfort and energy modelling enables effective predictive planning that is impossible to achieve using alternative means (CPG, 2015). However, the mechanical engineer still plays a massive role in aesthetics. This is because it is the objective of the mechanical engineer to ensure that the building mechanical systems achieve a seamless integration with the structure’s architecture. A mechanical engineer partners design with physics to ensure the seamless integration of the visual appeal with the structure. The main services of a mechanical engineer include the design and installation of sewage systems and water pipes and sprinkler systems. A mechanical engineer is also responsible for analytical planning that provides plant equipment and pumps that enable the design and installation of the above systems (CPG, 2015). In essence, the mechanical engineer should have the ‘big picture’ design capacity that is capable of analysing the integrity of structures. Moreover, the mechanical engineer is responsible for selecting the building material and planning for load-bearing structures. Safety In the construction industry, safety is the business of all the stakeholders that take part in the building process. Therefore, it is mandatory to comply with the safety procedures. In the event that one of the activities appears unsafe, the safety recommendation is to stop the work immediately and embark on addressing the concerns. This necessitates situational awareness on the part of the mechanical engineer and other on-site professionals. Situational awareness advocates for the understanding of the workplace environment as the best way of preventing an accident. The modifications of all mechanical equipment should take place through mechanical engineering. The mechanical engineer should inspect and approve all gas systems prior to their installation into the building. It is also mandatory to inspect all vacuum systems with a volume that exceeds 0.4m3 before the first installation of the systems. The mechanical engineer should also review and approve the modification of fasteners and other mechanical joints. Furthermore, the engineer should only carry out activities that she or he has received certification. The engineer should also limit the use of items to the intended purpose (Shoup, 2014). In order to guarantee safety on the site, the mechanical engineer undergoes additional training on compressed gas safety, overhead hoists, overhead rigging, fall protection equipment, aerial work platforms, and overhead crane operation. Adhering to the on-site safety protocols also requires the understanding of the general mechanical hazards. Examples of such hazards include tripping, falling objects, cutting or abrasion, pinch points, elevated work surfaces, bump hazards, noise, slipping, among others. It is mandatory for a mechanical engineer to understand such hazards as a guarantee of safety maintenance on the site. When necessary, mechanical engineers have to wear personal protective equipment (PPE). Protective eyewear is one of the different types of PPE related to mechanical equipment. It includes the wearing of safety glasses, laser glasses, and goggles on the site by the engineer. Hardhats and protective footwear such as steel-toed shoes are the other types of PPE. The engineer should use face shields alongside protective eyewear. The wearing of earmuffs or earplugs is also essential in noisy environments. Finally, the engineer should also wear gloves when handling materials and equipment on the construction site (Shoup, 2014). Conclusion A mechanical engineer plays a pivotal role in the house-construction process. This is because the ME handles mechanical equipment and piping that form a significant part of the structure or building. Some of the responsibilities of a mechanical engineer include the design and installation of water pipes, sewage systems, and sprinkler systems, selecting materials, and analysing the integrity of the structures. The ME is also responsible for the beforehand analytical planning that ensures the efficient provision of plant equipment and pumps. In the 21st century, a mechanical engineer should create environmentally sound strategies by ensuring natural ventilation and natural light ambience in the house design. References Connor Pincus Group (CPG). (2015). The Significance of Mechanical Engineering in the Construction Industry. Retrieved from: http://www.cpgroup.com.au/the-significance-of-mechanical-engineering-in-the-construction-industry.php Meline, L.P.E. (2006). The Mechanical Engineer’s Role. Ultimate Home Design, 5. Shoup, J.M. (2014). M_001: Mechanical Engineering General Safety Lecture. University of Rochester. Read More