MECHANICAL &

ELECTRICAL
SYSTEM
BFC 3153 / BFC 32603

Chapter 1:
M&E System Scope
& Impact
EN. AHMAD SYUKRI
BIN MOHD NASIR
FKAAS, UTHM

THE IMPORTANCE OF M&E

SYSTEM IN BUILDING
Building/house

shelters from rain, wind

snow, sun and other harsh conditions of
nature

Modern

Building - Built to create better,

more consistent, more productive
environments in which to work and to live

Design

with features:

better lighting;

comfortable space temperature, humidity,

and air quality;

convenient power and communication

capability;

high quality sanitation;

reliable systems for the protection of life

and property

THE IMPORTANCE OF M&E

SYSTEM IN BUILDING
Wide

range of architectural design

innovation in style, form and scope
not achievable - without utilization
of M&E system

For
i.

examples:

block-type buildings without

windows (such as department
stores) - totally depend on electrical
lighting, ventilation, and space
conditioning

ii. High

rise building - rely on highspeed vertical transportation and

high pressure water for drinking and
cleaning purposes and for protection
against fire

THE SCOPE OF BUILDING M&E

SYSTEMS
Complexity

of M&E systems varies

living standards of the society,
climatic conditions and occupancy
& quality of the building, etc

For
i.

examples:

House located at mild climate not

require either heating or cooling

ii. Modern

hospital have supply of

medical gas, standby electrical
power, and telecommunication
system

iii.Small

office - need simple cooling

device VS high-rise building - needs
centralized cooling systems

THE SCOPE OF BUILDING M&E

SYSTEMS
Building M&E systems classified
into three major categories:
Mechanical Systems

1)
o

HVAC (Heating, Ventilating and Air

Conditioning)

Site utilities (Water supply,

stormwater drainage, sanitary
disposal, gas supply)

Plumbing (Water distribution,

water treatment, sanitary
facilities)

Fire protection (Water supply,

stand pipe, fire and smoke
detection, automatic sprinklers)

THE SCOPE OF BUILDING M&E

SYSTEMS
Electrical Systems

2)
o

Electrical power; (Normal,

standby, emergency power
supply and distribution)

Lighting; (Interior, exterior,

emergency lighting)

Auxiliary or support system;

(Telephone, signal, data,
audio video, fire alarm,
security systems)

THE SCOPE OF BUILDING M&E

SYSTEMS
Building Operation Systems

3)
o

Transportation (Elevators,
escalators, walkways)

Processing (Production, food

service)

Automation (Environmental
controls, managements)

THE IMPACT OF BUILDING

M&E SYSTEMS

Space planning

Architectural Design

Construction Cost

High-rise Building Design

Global Environments

THE IMPACT OF BUILDING

M&E SYSTEMS
Impact on Space Planning

1)
o

The M&E affects; the gross floor

area, footprint (size & shape of
ground floor), floor to floor
height, geometry, architectural
expression

Allocations are made during the

space programming phase to
allow appropriate size and
strategic location

The most challenging and the

least developed procedures in
the architectural design process

THE IMPACT OF BUILDING

M&E SYSTEMS
Impact on Space
Planning

1)

For example:
o

Large office buildings:

Central cooling/heating
equipment needs extra
floor to floor height
(22ft~)

Commercial Building:
Complex ductwork, HVAC
and plumbing needs
ceiling cavity (2~3 ft)

THE IMPACT OF BUILDING

M&E SYSTEMS
Impact on Space
Planning

1)
o

Table: lists the range of

M&E space requirement
base on occupancy

Although the ranges are

broad, they serve a basis
for conceptual planning
and budgetary

Central vs Independent
Systems, Ceiling vs
Exposed piping/ ductwork,
Passive vs Active Systems

* Buildings other than those used for classrooms

follow the space required for specialty buildings
such as laboratories, computer centers and
residences.

THE IMPACT OF BUILDING

M&E SYSTEMS
Impact on Architectural Design

2)
o

Early building design; one room, one

window for ventilation and lighting

Modern buildings develops according to

the modernization of building M&E systems

Common building geometry figures: linear, L-shape, Ushape, etc

THE IMPACT OF BUILDING

M&E SYSTEMS
Impact on Architectural
Design

2)
o

Building Height vs Space

utilization; 7 storey (75ft ~)
buildings are considered highrise determined by the reach of
firefighters ladder, limit the
ability for human to walk up
and down stairs, transportation
is needed

Height increases = Less usable

space on the floor (more floor
for stairs, elevators, structural
elements, M/E shafts, etc)

THE IMPACT OF BUILDING

M&E SYSTEMS
Impact on Construction Cost

3)

a) Building

Height on Construction

Cost
o

Taller buildings needs more

time, hoisting equipment and
complicated scheduling to
raise M&E materials to upper
floors

Buildings more than 10 stories

increases 5-15% of cost for the
next 5 stories per floor area,
15~ stories increases 10~15%

THE IMPACT OF BUILDING

M&E SYSTEMS
Impact on Construction Cost

3)
b)

c)

M&E Systems on Construction

Cost
Depends on; the type of
building, standard of living,
architectural design, the
systems selected
Impact on Operating Cost

Includes; energy consumption,

routine maintenance, repairs,
replacements and utilities

Cost of owning and operating

M&E system may outweigh the
initial capital investment

Range of M&E systems costs of

buildings

THE IMPACT OF BUILDING

M&E SYSTEMS
Impact on High-rise Building
Design

4)
o

Climate and economic factor

affect the selection of M&E
system

High-rise need more space

requirement for M&E system eg.
central plant

High-rise have one or more

underground levels for utility
service, delivery of supplies, fuel
storage underground level
provide better structural
stability

THE IMPACT OF BUILDING

M&E SYSTEMS
Impact on High-rise Building
Design

4)
o

M&E central plant normally

located in an underground level
also may be located on rooftop

Factor affecting the location:

Accessibility for loading/unloading

equipment

Adequacy of floor height

Safety

Ease of maintenance

Vibration and noise from

equipment

THE IMPACT OF BUILDING

M&E SYSTEMS
Impact on Global Environments

5)

a) Impact

of Technology on Global
environment

For industrial production,

transportation, electrical power
generation, building heating and
cooling increase use of fossil
fuels (non-renewable source)

CO2 levels increasing cause

greenhouse effect & global
warming

CFC/freon from refrigerants,

aerosol cause ozone depletion

THE IMPACT OF BUILDING

M&E SYSTEMS
5)

Impact on Global Environments

THE IMPACT OF BUILDING

M&E SYSTEMS
Impact on Global
Environments

5)

b)

Air pollutant due to Building

Energy Consumption
Electrical energy consumption,
due to combustion/generated
by oil, gas & coal produce air
pollutants:

Carbon dioxide CO2

Sulfur dioxide SO2 acid rain,

breathing problem

Nitrous oxide NOx

THE IMPACT OF BUILDING

M&E SYSTEMS
Impact on Global Environments

5)
o

Example:
A large 600,000 sq-ft office building has an
average demand of 8 W/sq-ft of electrical
power for its heating, air conditioning,
lighting, plumbing, fire protection, elevators
and other equipment. If the building operates
about 4000hours a year, annual electrical
energy consume:
600,000 x 4,000 x 0.008 = 19,200,000 kwhr/year

THE IMPACT OF BUILDING

M&E SYSTEMS
Impact on Global Environments

5)
o

Example:
From table,

Then, the amount of pollutant:

Carbon dioxide CO2: 19,200,000 x 2.4 = 46,000,000
lb/yr
Sulfur dioxide SO2: 19,200,000 x 0.2 = 384,000 lb/yr
Nitrous oxide NOx: 19,200,000 x 0.01 = 192,000 lb/yr

THE IMPACT OF BUILDING

M&E SYSTEMS
GREEN BUILDING
What?
A Green building focuses on increasing the efficiency of resource use
energy, water, and materials while reducing building impact on human
health and the environment during the buildings lifecycle, through better
sitting, design, construction, operation, maintenance, and removal.

Why?

to save energy and resources, recycle materials and minimise the

emission of toxic substances throughout its life cycle.

harmonise with the local climate, traditions, culture and the surrounding
environment.

to sustain and improve the quality of human life whilst maintaining the
capacity of the ecosystem at local and global levels.

make efficient use of resources, have significant operational savings and

increases workplace productivity

THE IMPACT OF BUILDING

M&E SYSTEMS
GREEN BUILDING INDEX (GBI)

Malaysias industry recognised green rating tool for

buildings to promote sustainability in the built environment
and raise awareness among Developers, Architects,
Engineers, Planners, Designers, Contractors and the Public
about environmental issues and future generations.

provides an opportunity to design and construct green,

sustainable buildings that can provide energy savings,
water savings, a healthier indoor environment, better
connectivity to public transport and the adoption of
recycling and greenery for their projects and reduce our
impact on the environment.

developed specifically for the Malaysian-tropical climate,

environmental and developmental context, cultural and
social needs

THANK
YOU
MECHANICAL &
ELECTRICAL
SYSTEM
BFC 3153 / BFC 32603

Chapter 1:
M&E System Scope
& Impact
EN. AHMAD SYUKRI
BIN MOHD NASIR
FKAAS, UTHM