You have received planning permission and you’re getting excited about your new building. However you have not employed a building services engineer, and now you’re finding the building layout is being compromised. No one considered the plant and equipment in detail in the planning stage or drawings. Costs are increasing and this compromises the programme, sound familiar?
This scenario plays out more often than you’d think, and you can prevent it. The key is understanding when and why to involve building services engineers in your project – and it’s probably earlier than you imagine.
The real cost of waiting to appoint a building services engineer
Many building owners and project managers view building services engineering as something to consider once the “main design” is sorted. In reality, the mechanical and electrical systems – your heating, cooling, plumbing, ventilation, power distribution, data and lighting – are fundamental to how your building actually functions day-to-day.
When clients bring us in late, we often find ourselves working around constraints that could have been avoided entirely. That generator that’s now required or the new electric supply that’s now needing a substation as the building is net zero?
If we’d been involved from the start, we could have factored these into the overall building services design. The result would have been more efficient, less disruptive, and significantly more cost-effective.
Getting it right from the start
The most successful projects we work on share one common trait: we’re involved from the concept stage. Not because we want to complicate things, but because early involvement actually simplifies everything that follows.
Take a recent project we’re working on where we’ve been appointed from the outset of the project from RIBA Stage 1. The project is for an industrial client who wants to move away from using steam to heat their production facility.
The need to reduce carbon emissions drives the move away from steam, but it’s a complex project. The production facility requires a chemical bath to be heated to a precise temperature to treat the materials used in the manufacture of its products.
The facility is heavily reliant on this production and if the facility goes down it would cost the business thousands for every minute it’s out of action. The client required the solution to be reliable and the move to be smooth.
So, you can imagine the importance of having a building services engineer on the project early. This means we can explore all the options and advise the client on the best route forward, with all the technical information they need to make an informed decision that won’t cause any costly mistakes in the long run.
The investment in to our services pales into insignificance when you realise the cost savings to the project from the advice and solutions provided.
Building services engineer go beyond the technical stuff
What many clients find most valuable is having someone who can coordinate all the technical aspects of their project while speaking in terms they understand. We regularly serve as the primary contact for building projects, translating between architects, contractors, and building owners to keep everything moving smoothly.
One of our clients recently told us, “PSA has been a fantastic partner, particularly due to their ability to build strong relationships with our Internal Stakeholders, taking the time to fully understand the university’s requirements. Their senior-level engagement means they can make confident decisions while providing appropriate technical challenge when needed. What sets them apart is their practical approach, responsiveness, and willingness to take the initiative, engaging directly with our internal stakeholders. PSA are diligent, reliable and very client focused.” Andy Potter, Head of Estates Development at Manchester Metropolitan University
Specialised environments need specialised thinking
Not all buildings are created equal. Healthcare facilities need sophisticated air handling systems to prevent infection and reliable backup power for critical equipment. Laboratories require precise environmental controls and specialised electrical installations. Clean rooms demand filtration systems and power quality that most people never think about.
These aren’t add-on features – they’re integral to how these buildings function. The earlier we’re involved, the more seamlessly we can integrate these requirements into the overall design.
The practical benefits a building services engineer brings to the table
Working with building services engineers from the start typically delivers:
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- Reduced overall project costs by avoiding late-stage design changes
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- Faster project delivery through better coordination between trades
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- More efficient buildings that cost less to operate long-term
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- Fewer surprises during construction and commissioning
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- Systems designed for easy maintenance, reducing ongoing costs
When to make the call
The simple answer: as soon as you’re thinking seriously about a building project. Whether you’re planning a new build, major refurbishment, or even investigating the feasibility of a project, early mechanical and electrical engineering input can save significant time and money.
We work on projects from initial feasibility studies through to final commissioning and beyond. Sometimes clients bring us in just to provide a second opinion on proposed building services designs. Other times, we lead entire projects from concept to completion.
Making it work for your project
Every building project is different, which is why we tailor our approach to match your specific needs and timeline. We might conduct an initial feasibility study to help you understand the mechanical and electrical implications of your plans, or we might embed with your project team to provide ongoing technical leadership.
The key is having someone who understands both the technical requirements and the practical realities of delivering building projects on time and to budget.
If you’re in the early stages of planning a building project, or if you’re dealing with building services challenges in an existing building, we’d be happy to discuss how we can help. Often, a brief conversation can save weeks of complications later on.
CIBSE – Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers
