The optimum mechanical system addresses marketing, lifestyle, capital costs, and user comfort. The process begins at the blueprint stage.

Don Dessario, Partner, Poon McKenzie Architects explains, “We first review the building type and what mechanical systems may be suitable. Through experience, you tend to have an inkling as to which system is going to be the most economical solution, which is going to be the most efficient, and which is going to be the best solution. It’s not always a combination of all three. The optimum solution is the best quality and value for the dollar expended.”

A system isn’t chosen based on end maintenance. It’s about delivering the service to the space and the cost associated with it.

Underneath the general contractor’s site supervision, there will typically be a site superintendent before the mechanical sub-trade. The mechanical contractor will have an in-office project manager to make sure the equipment is getting ordered and delivered to site. Regular site meetings ensure trades are not running into each other.

The mechanical contractor is responsible for heating, ventilation, and air conditioning. He would actually be the person laying the pipe in the ditch as they dig the holes for the low grade trenching. He would also be the guy piping up the plumbing fixtures. He’d have to coordinate the work for the sheet metal trades for putting in the ductwork and chimneys. He’s also responsible for fire protection if there is a sprinkler system, which is handed by another subcontractor.

When the mechanical engineer designs the project, he will list base specifications for fixtures and product, including acceptable alternates. When the contractor bids for the job, he goes to his suppliers, shows what products are approved, and gets their price. He’s probably going to take the lowest price and then arranges for the equipment to be delivered to site.

In a mechanical room, the contractor has to think about how he’s going to lay everything out. He’ll have direction on the drawings, but will have to make everything fit. Some equipment has certain requirements – say five feet of straight pipe coming into it. It’s a bit of a jigsaw puzzle – always trying to put the pieces together without always having the big picture. The job is intense and complicated.

Condominiums, particularly apartment-style, require a self-contained system. “There are two categories,” describes Dessario, “radiant/hot water system, which may be delivered via in-floor or perimeter radiation heating and a forced air system.” The forced air gives the best quality of control but isn’t practical. Each suite would require its own furnace. For a 110-unit building, a mechanical room full of 110 furnaces is just not practical.

Keith Hollands, Senior Mechanical Engineer for Morrison Hershfield says, “The minute they start scraping dirt and get the hole dug, the mechanical contractor has to be there for any of the draining that goes below grade. Generally during construction, depending on what type of building it is, they come in at different times.

“Sanitary has to go in at the same time. It’s fairly intricate. You have to make sure you have the suites in the right locations and the pipe coming through in the right spot. On a typical wood-frame construction – a four-story walk up – that would happen once the building is enclosed. They can start running the pipe and everything else.”

The guy putting in the sanitation pipe has to have it installed before the drywallers arrive with the drywall. However, he can’t put in the heating pipe until the drywall is up. The contractor has to identify which tradesmen finish first and who has to come in next. He has to observe if the contractor building a wall can’t get it done for a week, then he has to phone the guy putting up baseboards or heating equipment – don’t come for another week. But that tradesman might not be able to come back in a week if he is already booked on another job.

A mechanical contractor has to have a good solid technical understanding. It’s not like you can say, here’s a hammer, go to it. Hopefully he is thinking: if I have to service this, where do I want this valve? They’re part engineer, part contractor, and part laborer. It’s a very interesting group of character traits and skill sets. The more astute he is during installation, the easier it will be for end maintenance.