For undergraduate-level courses in Building Mechanical Systems, Building Electrical Systems, and Illumination offered to students in Construction Technology, Architecture, Civil Technology, and Interior Design and Building Engineering.

Mechanical and Electrical Systems in Buildings, Fourth Edition is designed to bridge the ever-widening gap between textbooks and the realities that confront engineering, and construction professionals, this text provides an overview of the principles and applications of all basic mechanical and electrical systems—with a focus on what, why, and basic design data examples. It incorporates new developments in all the major disciplines—and reinforces the relationship of mechanical and electrical systems design in the overall context of the built environment.

For undergraduate-level courses in Building Mechanical Systems, Building Electrical Systems, and Illumination offered to students in Construction Technology, Architecture, Civil Technology, and Interior Design and Building Engineering.

Mechanical and Electrical Systems in Buildings, Fourth Edition is designed to bridge the ever-widening gap between textbooks and the realities that confront engineering, and construction professionals, this text provides an overview of the principles and applications of all basic mechanical and electrical systems–with a focus on what, why, and basic design data examples. It incorporates new developments in all the major disciplines–and reinforces the relationship of mechanical and electrical systems design in the overall context of the built environment.

Hallmark Features

• Latest communications and illumination engineering technologies. Provides students with most current information available on a rapidly changing area.
• Building heating, air conditioning, electrical, illumination, plumbing, and fire protection systems. Provides students with comprehensive and practical overview of the subjects.
• Emphasis on the operating principles of equipment and systems–Rather than on construction details. Identifies systems and provides students with explanation of principles.
• Methodologies for calculating preliminary building loads and space planning requirements. Provides students with an explanation of requirements' relationship to the project as a whole.
• Valuable data for space planning, cost, and environmental impact of building M/E systems. Introduces students to the interface between architecture and engineering as a basis for evaluating building and system design efficiencies.
• State-of-the-art information on ME systems and design concepts. Offers students information on emerging technologies and alternative ME equipment and systems.
• Well illustrated–Features 4 pages of world-leading structures and 8 pages of illumination illustrations in full color. Allows for effective discussion of lighting design.
• Use of the conventional system as a basis, with SI units as an alternate. Helps students prepare estimates in metric as needed.
• Chapter-end questions and exercises. Reinforces students comprehension of material.
• Design information. Introduces students to concepts relevant to design professionals involved in the development, construction, and management of commercial, industrial, and institutional buildings.

This edition is updated to include

• A new chapter, "Architectural Accommodation and Coordination of Mechanical and Electrical Systems," that covers integration of systems into buildings. Coverage informs architects of issues they need to address early in the design to avoid coordination problems that could compromise building cost and efficacy.
• Additional (and updated) photos and graphics. Students will be more familiar with the scale, space requirements, and visual impact of systems and equipment.
• Coverage of sustainability issues in Chapter 1, " Introduction to Mechanical and Electrical Systems: Energy, Sustainability and Economics." By covering sustainability at the beginning of the text, its definition and importance is established, so that individual systems can be described later in a sustainable design context.
• Updates in systems and equipment. Keeps materials current and apprises readers of the latest developments.

Chapter 1 — Introduction to Mechanical and Electrical Systems: Energy, Sustainability and Economics 

Chapter 2 — HVAC Fundamentals 

Chapter 3 — HVAC Delivery Systems 

Chapter 4 — Cooling Production Equipment and Systems 

Chapter 5 — Heating Production Equipment and Systems 

Chapter 6 — Air-Handling Equipment and Systems 

Chapter 7 — Piping Equipment and Systems 

Chapter 8 — Plumbing Equipment and Systems 

Chapter 9 — Fire Protection Equipment and Systems 

Chapter 10 — Introduction to Electricity 

Chapter 11 — Power Equipment and Systems 

Chapter 12 — Communications, Life Safety, and Security Systems 

Chapter 13 — Electrical Design and Wiring 

Chapter 14 — Light and Lighting 

Chapter 15 — Lighting Equipment and Systems 

Chapter 16 — Calculations of Illumination 

Chapter 17 — Lighting Design

 Chapter 18 — Noise and Vibrations in Mechanical and Electrical Systems 

Chapter 19 — Architectural Accommodation and Coordination of Mechanical and Electrical Systems

Architectural Drafting and Design (Construction Management & Civil Technology)
Electrical and Mechanical Systems Design (Construction Management & Civil Technology)

Richard R. Janis, a practicing professional engineer for 30 years, is engaged in research, evaluation and design of building environmental systems and sustainable energy technology.  He has managed most of WTA's master planning and high-tech projects, responsible for establishing design criteria, systems selection, utility requirements, design implementation, and commissioning.  Innovative concepts in laboratory and data center projects have won national design awards.  In addition to project accomplishments he is author of Mechanical and Electrical Systems in Buildings (Prentice Hall 2004, 2001, 1997) and numerous articles on topical issues in the field.  He has taught for over thirty years at Washington University, St. Louis.  As an adjunct Associate Professor, Mr. Janis currently teaches building technology and sustainable design courses including “Building Systems,”  “and “Climate and Light” at Washington University. 

This book is intended both as a textbook and as a reference book for students and professionals interested in building mechanical and electrical systems.  With a complete and practical introduction to the design of mechanical and electrical systems in buildings, the text successfully bridges the gap between architecture, civil engineering technology, and construction management.

This edition has two new chapters:

Chapter 1 covers topics that are relevant for all the mechanical and electrical systems covered in subsequent chapters.  This chapter describes the:

•  basics of energy required to understand mechanical and electrical systems
• how mechanical and electrical systems affect the design of buildings
• sustainable design principles
• basic commissioning
• economics of building operations
• tools for evaluating options by economics and quality 

Chapter 19 is entitled “Architectural Accommodation and Coordination of Mechanical and Electrical Systems.”  This chapter is written for readers who are involved in planning, design and construction to help them gain an early understanding of: 

• what spaces are required for mechanical and electrical systems
• how to allocate area
• where best to locate systems and equipment
• what construction details are important to make systems work as intended 

The chapter covers topics that can be problematic if they are not addressed and resolved early in the design.

View a Sample Chapter PDF:

Pearson Higher Education offers special pricing when you choose to package your text with other student resources. If you're interested in creating a cost-saving package for your students, contact your Pearson Higher Education representative for pricing and ordering information.

Pearson Higher Education offers special pricing when you choose to package your text with other student resources. If you're interested in creating a cost-saving package for your students contact your Pearson Higher Education representative.