The design of mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems can affect the air we breathe, the water we drink and the reliability of power sources. However, as energy efficiency and sustainable practices have evolved, these systems have become more complex and regularly require advanced levels of collaboration and communication.
Our in-house team of mechanical, electrical and plumbing (MEP) engineers harmoniously integrate these systems within even the most restrictive designs to create safe and comfortable environments for building owners and occupants. By utilizing their experience designing residential, industrial and commercial projects, they are able to balance each system’s cost, functionality, and energy efficiency to provide sustainable, long-term benefits.
Mechanical Engineering
While well-designed mechanical systems provide maximum comfort, optimal indoor air quality and minimal operating costs, inefficient systems can shorten operational lifecycles and create unnecessary expenses for building owners and operators. Whether the required system is simple or complex, large or small, we strive to design and implement long-lasting systems that are both economically and environmentally friendly while remaining reliable and easy to maintain.
Our Expertise
HVAC SystemsWith specialized knowledge in the design of gas-fired forced air, hot water, steam, chilled-water, VAV and VRF HVAC systems, we tailor our designs to best suit the type of building and available space to maximize energy efficiency and cost savings.
Temperature Controls and Building Automation SystemsWe understand that automatic temperature controls are crucial to the efficient operation of every facility. Our team has extensive knowledge in the design and specification of direct digital controls and pneumatic controls and, depending on the project, will design a brand new automatic temperature control system or provide components that seamlessly tie into a building’s existing systems.
Dehumidification SystemsControlling humidity is crucial to a building’s indoor air quality, especially for hospitals, medical offices, computer server rooms and high-end residential buildings. Our team will identify when specific dehumidification systems are required over and above our typical designs and will provide a quality, efficient system that uses minimal energy and requires the smallest possible footprint.
Industrial HVAC DesignHaving worked on hundreds of projects for the construction and renovation of wastewater treatment plants and other large industrial facilities, our team’s experience will ensure that adequate ventilation and odor control is provided to protect the health and safety of staff and equipment. Each industrial design we take on emphasizes serviceability and rugged equipment specifications so that each facility can be maintained with minimal interruption of service for years to come.
Central Utility PlantsFrom small-scale residential projects to universities, hospitals and public housing projects, our team has decades of experience designing gas-fired, oil-fired and dual-fuel hot water boilers, steam boilers, and water-cooled and air-cooled condensing units and chillers. We guide clients to help improve existing systems and design new centralized plans with temporary boilers to ensure facilities operate with minimal down time.
Heating and Cooling Load CalculationsAll of our HVAC design projects begin with a computerized heating and cooling load calculation based of the envelope of the building we are designing for. These calculations provide a guide for equipment selection and ensure the selected equipment will meet code-required energy efficiencies while providing adequate comfort for end users.
Electrical Engineering
From powering wastewater treatment plants to illuminating parks and roadways, our electrical engineers pride themselves on providing safe, reliable and adaptable electrical solutions for both public and private sector clients. By working closely with project owners and design teams, we incorporate tailored sustainable approaches to each project that ensure quality is not sacrificed while energy efficiency and cost savings are maximized.
Our Expertise
Electrical Power Distribution SystemsWe understand that the continuous operation of process, HVAC and lighting systems depends on reliable and efficient power distribution systems. Our team has designed power distribution systems at 4kv, 13kv and 480v for an array of project types, and have provided full-service electrical construction management services that includes inspection, shop drawing review, start-up and commissioning, and shop witness testing. View Service Profile
Emergency and Standby PowerWhether it’s a town office, sewage treatment facility, gas station or supermarket, a constant power supply is a critical component to providing uninterrupted services. We have provided design and construction management services for emergency and standby power systems that range from 15kw to 1.5MW, utilize various fuel types, and are tailored to the unique requirements of each facility. View Service Profile
Interior, Exterior, Site and Roadway Lighting SystemsWe have designed energy-efficient lighting systems for various facilities that range from wastewater treatment and water supply facilities to swimming pools and roadways. Our knowledge and experience with the Illuminating Engineering Society’s requirements and compliance with energy codes ensures our team can prepare lighting designs that result in greater electrical efficiency and reduced maintenance costs. View Service Profile
Emergency/Egress LightingModern building and life safety codes require emergency lighting to facilitate safe and orderly building evacuations during times of utility power failure. We base our designs on the type of building, its occupants and the duration for which emergency power is required to provide lighting systems and controls that are powered from integrated batteries, centralized inverter systems or full diesel or natural gas fueled emergency generator systems.
Solar Photovoltaic SystemsSolar power offers owners an ideal means to reduce energy costs by harvesting and utilizing power from the sun as a partial replacement for utility-provided power. We work with owners to incorporate solar photovoltaic systems that range from 10kw to 1.8MW, and provide services for grant applications and utility incentives, structural evaluations, utility coordination, shop drawing review, installation inspection, and start-up and commissioning. View Service Profile
Lightning Protection and GroundingLightning protection systems protect personnel, structures and equipment from storm surges. We have extensive experience in designing UL and NFPA-compliant systems ranging from surge arrestors for power distribution, control panels and communication systems to roof-mounted air terminals connected to ground rods. We also understand proper grounding is a critical part of all electrical systems and our experience includes designing specialized grounding systems in poor soil conditions.
Security and CommunicationsOur comprehensive design approach minimizes change orders and project delays by designing security and communication/video surveillance systems simultaneously in-house. We ensure these systems are tailored to the owner’s requirements and offer fool-proof site security and remote monitoring.
Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) SystemsSupervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) systems provide enhanced, efficient monitoring and control of facilities and remote site operations. Our electrical, instrumentation and process engineers tailor these systems to the specific needs and budgets of each client for facilities that range from small municipal water supply systems to wastewater treatment plants with remote pumping stations. View Service Profile
Electrical Panel Load Balancing AnalysisDuring the preliminary design phase, D&B will ensure all new power, lighting and equipment loads are balanced for all new work. We are also capable of measuring the phase balancing of existing panels and can work with a client’s electrical contractor to correct any imbalances that an electrical system may have.
Utility CoordinationOur approach ensures that coordination with electrical utilities for both new electrical services and electrical service upgrades is performed early in the planning and design process. We have considerable experience coordinating with many major electrical utilities throughout the Northeast, such as PSEG Long island, Consolidated Edison of New York, and Orange and Rockland Utilities, for projects that include network protector configurations, pad-mounted transformers and 13kv primary services.
Plumbing Engineering
Having worked on hundreds of plumbing system designs, we understand that these systems may often overlap with other building and site design features. We take a collaborative approach with a project’s various disciplines to seamlessly integrate our plumbing system designs and provide high-quality, reliable results that positively impact the project’s safety and security.
Our Expertise
Interior / Exterior Storm DrainageThere are many components that determine whether a building or site will properly drain. Whether it be on-site storage in the form of a leeching pool or connections to municipal sewer systems, our team will analyze each project to determine the proper type of storm drainage system and will ensure each system is designed to endure flooding hazards during the most extreme storms.
Exterior Sanitary SystemsWith a portfolio that encompasses hundreds of sanitary systems for single-family residences, multi-family apartment complexes, schools, universities, hospitals, retail spaces and commercial kitchens, our team provides designs for simple septic tank and leaching fields, municipal sewer connections, small and large pump stations, low-nitrogen septic systems, commercial grease traps and on-site sewage treatment plants.
Domestic PlumbingTo ensure that adequate hot water and maximum comfort is achieved, our team calculates the maximum required potable hot and cold water for each facility and specifies a range of water heating equipment that can range from high efficiency, gas-fired wall-hung water heaters to tank-type water heaters and storage tanks.
Natural Gas and Fuel Oil PipingWe work with local utilities to calculate the gas required for facility equipment and ensure that piping is properly supported and identified to maximize safety. Likewise, our fuel oil piping designs will ensure an adequate supply for equipment is achieved.
Commercial Backflow Prevention DesignPotable and fire service Reduced Pressure Principle Assemblies (RPZs) and double check valves (DCVs) are critical to prevent cross contamination of water systems. We calculate flow and pressure requirements to size an appropriate device for each facility and prepare detailed construction plans that meet the service clearance required by the local jurisdictions.
Analysis, Retrofit and Repair of Existing Plumbing SystemsOur experienced engineers review existing documentation and field survey facilities to identify damage and leaks within existing plumbing systems, and ensure all new equipment can be sufficiently supplied via the existing systems.
Commercial Kitchen Waste DrainageOur collaborative approach to commercial kitchen indirect waste systems incorporates architects and kitchen designers to minimize equipment footprints and maximize floor space for seating and patrons. We have intimate knowledge of the International Plumbing Code (IPC) and various Department of Buildings (DOB) regulations and have designed these systems with both interior and exterior grease traps for a range of K-12 schools, universities, hospitals, and popular chain restaurants.
Fire Protection and Life Safety Systems
We offer complete fire protection and life safety system design services to prevent, control, and mitigate the life-threatening effects of fires. We remain diligent in our approach to the code- and performance-based design and integrate each system to ensure that all lives and properties are fully protected.
Our Expertise
Commercial / Residential Fire Sprinkler System DesignAll of our designs comply with the International Building Code (IBC), International Fire Code (IFC) and applicable National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) codes. Our team specializes in wet and dry type fire sprinkler systems for residential and commercial applications that ensure facilities are adequately protected in the event of fire.
Fire Alarm SystemsWe design renovations, retrofits and brand new addressable fire alarm systems for municipal, commercial, industrial, institutional, educational and residential clients. These systems, which can be either independent or connected back into a central alarm station, are designed based on the building type on local codes and regulations. Our systems are capable of tying into other fire protection systems, like wet or dry fire sprinkler systems, chemical extinguishing systems and public address systems, and can detect an assortment of hazards, such as smoke, fire, high heat, and carbon monoxide and other dangerous gases.
Public Address SystemsWe design public address and security systems to address the life safety requirements of each facility, including notification via speakers, phone intercom systems, closed-circuit television (CCTV) surveillance systems, card access systems and auditorium/assembly room communications systems.
Hydraulic CalculationsUsing third-party services to provide hydraulic calculations for sprinkler designs means projects will cost more and take longer to complete. To save our clients both time and money, we perform in-house computerized hydraulic calculations that maximize system accuracy and efficiency while ensuring these systems require less volume than those that are not hydraulically calculated.
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