Advancement in MEP and preventive maintenance

MEP roles are transforming with new opportunities and trends. HVAC automation, integration of preventive maintenance tools, design execution and upskilling for operating efficiency are priority considerations for industry experts.

HVAC systems provide conditioned air for residential, commercial, and multi-use buildings. In contrast, MEP systems include all – fire protection, security, data, design execution and construction, etc., and one of them is HVAC. Hence, MEP components for future prediction are vital. MEP project management software, similar to productivity tracking software, allows detailed tracking, documentation and reporting. The MEP concerns developing policies, standards, inspection procedures and evaluation tools. 

Facility managers conduct preventive maintenance strategies in the building management system. MEP firms leverage fabrication software to provide real-time insights for better decision making. By connecting BIM, fabrication and field teams – users can reduce costs and increase productivity, efficiency and Safety. BIM and IoT have the potential to improve the efficiency of facility maintenance. 

Advanced technologies, such as AI, Machine Learning, IoT, and others, are making their way into various operational processes. 

They utilise real-time data for predictive and corrective strategies. These help to reduce unplanned downtime and maintenance costs while building sustainable operations. Integrating preventive maintenance techniques in HVAC systems is growing along with design phase changes for MEP contractors. The Indian industry is divided into three markets. One is the developer side, the second is the consultant side, and the third is the supplier or manufacturing side. Hence, the emergence of many more opportunities in the MEP industry is evident enough.

 

“Today, infrastructure is progressing to the next level, and MEP requirement is first “, said Mr. Mohit Sharad Mahajan Senior Mechanical Engineer at KPM Engineering Consultants.

 

“Everyone should begin with advanced programming and software on the project developer side.” explained Mr. Mahesh Bharte Head MEP, Joyville Shapoorji Housing Pvt. Ltd.

 

“More information is required to make the overall system perform more energy efficiently and optimally.” Mr. Prakash Lewis Regional Application Consultant, Belimo Automation India Pvt. Ltd.

 

“Any industry today depends upon data points, and automation has improved the collection and advancement of these data.” said  Preethi Ramamoorthi, Director, HVAC Systems Pvt. Ltd.

 

“HVACR manufacturers need to push for the right, sustainable and energy-efficient products. Andan S.”stated , Director, Design Technics.

 

“A higher level of automation is best to optimise operation cost, energy and operation practices to meet the aspirations of Carbon Neutral India by 2070.” said Ashish Rakheja, Managing Partner, Aeon Consultants.

 

“Apart from standard services like plumbing and HVAC&R, numerous MEP opportunities from the demand side are visible.” explained Ali Asgar J.H., AGM & MEP Lead – Cost Budgeting & Planning, Piramal Reality.

 

Opportunities open for MEP 

There are many opportunities, from fresher to senior roles in the Indian market. We are forever evolving and learning newer technologies. Optimisation of available resources is in abundance, elucidates Preethi Ramamoorthi, Director, HVAC Systems Pvt. Ltd. As we work towards green certifications, we work hand in hand with R&D to manufacturing to execution and more.

In the present circumstances, infrastructure is progressing to the next level. And further, it’s moving to buildings, to cities, to metros all over the world. “MEP requirements come first, followed by the end customer, contractor, consultant, manufacturer, and service provider, which is an opportunity itself”, is the scenario prevailing, says Mr. Mohit Sharad Mahajan, Senior Mechanical Engineer at KPM Engineering Consultants. 

MEP projects are large and are also complex. Apart from standard services like plumbing and HVAC&R, numerous MEP opportunities from the demand side are visible. “The Indian construction business is witnessing a sea change in installation and usage of low voltage systems. This reflects in the design and safety aspects of the electrical equipment,” stated Mr. AliAsgar J.H., AGM & MEP Lead – Cost Budgeting & Planning, Piramal Reality.

A lot of international companies are bringing their experiences. For most of the world, or the developed world, the production of drawings and designs happens in our country, and most international consulting agencies are running an office here. According to Ashish Rakheja, Managing Partner, Aeon Consultants, “When urbanisation occurs, it means a lot of residential and commercial projects, and to support that, retail malls, hotels, and hospitals are included. This has been growing because India’s urbanisation rate has also been growing.” There is a need for a skilled workforce in the MEP segment.

 

Skilled workforce 

Counting on the importance of skilled force, Mr. Mahesh Bharte, Head MEP, Joyville Shapoorji Housing Pvt. Ltd., opines, “We are facing challenges in the industry for expert MEP contractors, particularly with modelling. The majority of the people lack modelling skills. So we must educate them in the same line as end users like us. We have to take it as a challenge and create an educational structure specifically for the contractors.” 

Without a skilled workforce, the most critical challenges that emerge are design, installation and product selection certification. The vital part of MEP is functionality. Compromising functionality will lead to more significant problems, like loss of person-hours in offices, operating properties, etc. Ms. Preethi recapitulates, “We do have enough workforce in India. Despite this, many people move away to other countries given the expanse of opportunities and packages. Though the best products and good designs can be created, when it comes to commissioning and operation, there are few qualified engineers at the end of the day.” 

 

Automation to impact MEP operations 

Automation is all about an optimum operation linked to energy and energy-related to the carbon footprint. So, control’ is an essential aspect. Automation helps eliminate or rather minimise human intervention. As the buildings are becoming more complicated in terms of design and equipment, integration occurs with each other. 

Explaining automation and AI impact on MEP operations, Mr. Prakash Lewis, Head Regional Application Consultant at Belimo Automation India Pvt. Ltd., comments that many actuators and energy valves are IoT-based. The data available on these products can be passed on to the higherend system, allowing small devices to have a significant impact. A big change is happening in the future. A simple damper actuator will no longer be just a damper actuator; it will also be able to intern directly, taking the analogue input based on which the dampers will model or operate. So, those changes will occur not very long from now.

The IoT is the artificial intelligence that can minimise human intervention. Machine learning can make operations better. Mr. Ashish says we are moving to the era of net zero energy buildings and low carbon footprint buildings. The most important aspect is the operation of the building because the net zero energy or low carbon denotes the performance of the building. 

However, while we prepare for aggressive automation and robotics, we need to also focus on sustainability aspects.

Systems are changing, and IoT is also playing its role in HVAC. The equipment and systems are getting designed accordingly. Remote monitoring is becoming normal when it comes to the operation and maintenance of the system. Retrofit and new technologies are getting adopted for design and execution. Plausibly, considerable changes are expected to occur in the coming times. 

Today, as India is becoming more energy conscious, there is a greater need for products to become environmentally friendly. New and evolving technologies for HVAC and plumbing applications are driving growth in the industry. Systems that connect HVAC, lighting, and security elements and tools to monitor energy use and efficiency, are popular in residential and commercial installations. Creating a safe environment for people to work in is the responsibility of HVAC contractors. Training, communication and rewards for safe work and disciplinary actions for violations are essential steps in managing Safety at the site. A lot of shifts are happening in the HVAC industry toward Safety. However, a lot more is to be done. 

HVAC engineers are now an essential component of MEP design. And they are well-versed in global design practices. Today, India is engineering for the entire world and developing large projects designed by Indian engineers. With the help of advanced software, AI, and IoT, a lot of energy can be saved, significantly reducing the workforce and wastage of resources while also ensuring sustainability. In broader terms, these may be futuristic trends is the gist of believing in MEP advancement.