On the surface, the components comprising commercial and residential mechanical engineering design, electrical engineering design and plumbing engineering design (MEP) appear similar. Whether the scope consists of an architecturally creative design, retro-fit work, a complex renovation or upgrades to an existing system, the two specialties both must adhere to strict building regulations. However, this is where their similarities end, and this blog begins. In the following, we’ll take a deep dive into the differences between the two fields.
The biggest differentiator between commercial and residential design is ultimately functionality. What is the space’s intended use? While the functionality of residential projects is fairly clear-cut, the same can’t be said for commercial. Indeed, the functionality of commercial premises — including crossover facilities such as large-scale apartment complexes or multi-unit senior living facilities — can be extensive. Understanding this is key to developing the appropriate systems for the project at hand.
Mechanical
The mechanical systems for residential projects are generally straightforward by in large. With commercial systems, however, the complexity increases ten-fold. Take for instance, a residential kitchen versus a commercial kitchen. Of the two, a commercial kitchen produces considerably more food, and depending on the manner in which it is prepared (i.e. grilling or frying), it will also generate significantly more grease and smoke.
At home, foods prepared in a similar manner are often cooked outdoors to eliminate such hazards. In a commercial kitchen, food preparation is primarily performed indoors, intended to be served to those dining in a neighboring room – from restaurant patrons to residents of a senior living facility. It is paramount that the smoke and grease generated from these activities remain within the kitchen area and not enter the dining room. If these elements were to expand beyond the kitchen, it would create, at best, an unpleasant experience for diners, and at worst, health concerns for those sensitive to contaminates in the air.
To combat this, a commercial kitchen exhaust hood system must be in place. These commercial grade systems are far more complex than the typical range hood or combination microwave/hood with a 3-speed fan, light and small mesh grease filter, commonly found in most homes. Commercial kitchen exhaust hood systems also must meet stringent mechanical code requirements such as the size of the kitchen hood, the amount of air needed to be exhausted by the fan, as well as the materials of which these items are constructed and how and when the system needs to operate.
Electrical
Electrical design is as equally complex. In both residential and commercial projects, engineers must first analyze the building’s power requirements before specifying the electrical installation required to supply the power at the correct voltage. From there, the similarities diverge.
Take again, the example of the commercial kitchen. Local and state health department codes often require precise lighting levels in certain areas throughout a commercial kitchen to ensure that food preparation and clean-up is performed under adequate lighting. For instance, North Carolina code calls for a 50 foot candle — the base measurement for describing luminous intensity — for those areas.
Code also requires that electric designers use shatter-proof or shielded light bulbs in a commercial kitchen’s food preparation, storage, and display areas. Given the volume of food prepared and the number of employees needed to adequately staff a commercial kitchen, the kitchen environment can quickly become hectic, giving rise to potentially dangerous situations. For example, harried employees could accidentally hit and shatter the bulbs, injuring themselves or contaminating patrons’ food with shards of glass. The bulbs could also easily fail, forcing employees to work with sharp kitchen utensils in insufficient light.
Plumbing
For both residential and commercial projects, the plumbing design tackles the building’s plumbing needs, from bathrooms and water supply to drainage and fixture selection. The difference between the two is the scale upon which the work is done.
Once again, we return to the example of the commercial kitchen. Nearly all fixtures in this environment must discharge through a grease interceptor before entering the sanitary sewer system. A residential kitchen has no such requirement given that the volume of grease a commercial kitchen produces is far more than that of a residential kitchen. A commercial kitchen also must maintain strict water temperature levels in order to meet health and safety codes. Sinks used for food prep and tableware clean-up must dispense water of 140° F. Whereas in comparison, residential kitchens have no such requirements and typically only heat water to 110°-120°F.
Experienced MEP engineers and consultants — like those found at VP Engineering — work tirelessly to strike the right balance between performance, cost and comfort, no matter the project. We strive to create the functional “heart” of a project, expertly applying the three specialties comprising MEP design to create a harmonious plan that not only ensures that projects – both residential and commercial — work, but that they also significantly enhance the security, safety, comfort, and functionality of the building.
__________________
About VP Engineering
VP Engineering is a dynamic MEP design firm offering engineering expertise in senior living, multi-family, hospitality, medical, industrial, retail/commercial and educational markets worldwide. With experience in a wide range of building types, our MEP engineering services help keep projects on budget and achieve your goals. Learn more at vpce.com.
