01
Brief and design basis
Building use, occupancy, design conditions, the codes the project must meet and the responsibility split — agreed and written down before any calculation is run.
HVAC design services
Cooling, heating and ventilation designed from the loads up — and drawn into the model at the same time, so the ductwork that is calculated is ductwork that fits.
HVAC design
The engineering position
Loads decide the plant, the plant decides the plant room
Cooling and heating loads set equipment sizes, which set plant-room area, riser size and roof space. Getting the loads right early is what stops the architecture being redrawn around an oversized chiller later.
System choice is a whole-life decision
Chilled water, VRF, packaged or split systems differ in capital cost, energy use, space and maintenance. We compare the realistic options for the building and its operator, not the one we always use.
Design responsibility
Design is carried out by BIMRACE's qualified engineers within the design responsibility written into the appointment. Where a jurisdiction requires a locally licensed engineer to sign, stamp or submit drawings and calculations, that engineer of record does so; we prepare and support the submission. Authority approvals are obtained by the appointed professionals.
Deliverables
What is actually produced and issued
Any of these can be appointed on their own or combined. Nothing here depends on buying the intelligence layer, which is not for sale in any case.
DeliverableHeating and cooling load calculations
Zone-by-zone loads against stated design conditions, occupancy and internal gains.
DeliverableVentilation and fresh air design
Fresh air, exhaust, toilet and kitchen extract and car-park ventilation to the applicable code.
DeliverableDuct and pipe sizing
Ductwork, chilled water and refrigerant pipe sizing with velocity and pressure criteria stated.
DeliverablePlant and equipment selection
AHU, FCU, chiller, VRF and pump duties, with equipment schedules.
DeliverableHVAC schematics and drawings
System schematics, plant-room layouts and coordinated ductwork and pipework drawings in Revit.
DeliverableSmoke control design input
Smoke extraction ductwork and equipment design to the fire strategy; specialist smoke analysis where separately scoped.
Catalogue scope
Every scope item, with its typical output
The full list from the BIMRACE service catalogue. Each item can be included or excluded in a proposal; the code is the one used in our scope documents.
HVAC-07Smoke extraction and mechanical smoke-control modeling
Model, layouts, coordination outputs.
HVAC-16HVAC riser diagrams and system schematics
Risers and schematics.
HVAC-17HVAC pipe and duct sizing calculations
Sizing calculations and schedules. Engineering design scope — only where design responsibility is explicitly agreed and supported by qualified engineers.
HVAC-18Heating and cooling load calculations
Load calculation report. Engineering design scope — only where design responsibility is explicitly agreed and supported by qualified engineers.
HVAC-19Airflow calculations and air-distribution schedules
Airflow schedule and calculations. Engineering design scope — only where design responsibility is explicitly agreed and supported by qualified engineers.
HVAC-21HVAC equipment and technical schedules
Revit/Excel schedules.
How it runs
The sequence, and why it is in this order
Sequence is not a formality on this kind of work. Most of the expensive rework we are asked to fix was produced by doing step four before step two.
02
Concept and system selection
System options compared for space, energy, capital and maintenance cost, with plant and riser space reserved early so the architecture can accommodate them.
03
Calculations and sizing
Loads, flows and sizes calculated to the stated method, with assumptions listed on the calculation rather than buried in it.
04
Layouts in the model
The design is drawn directly in Revit, so sizes, routes and equipment data live on the elements and coordination starts from the design, not after it.
05
Coordination and review
Federated clash and clearance checks against architecture, structure and the other services; an independent engineering review before issue.
06
Issue and support
Design drawings, calculations, schematics and schedules issued under revision control, with support through tender, approvals and construction queries.
What we need to start
The inputs that decide whether a start is a real start
Missing any of these is survivable. Not knowing which of them are missing is not, so we establish it at enquiry stage rather than at forty per cent.
- Architectural model or plans with ceiling heights and room uses
- Design conditions, occupancy and operating hours — or the standard to apply
- Fire strategy for smoke control and damper requirements
- Energy or sustainability targets, if any
- Preferred system types or client standards
AI & automation
Where AI and automation apply to this work
AI is used throughout our delivery workflow, and an engineer reviews every output. Every line carries its real status.
AIAI-assisted load input extractionLive
Room areas, uses and occupancies extracted from the architectural model as calculation inputs, verified by the engineer.
AIAI design checksLive
Duct and pipe runs screened for velocity and pressure outliers before the engineer's review.
AutomationLoad-to-model reconciliationLive
Modelled terminal airflows compared with calculated loads, zone by zone.
AutomationVelocity and pressure checksLive
Duct and pipe runs tested against the stated design criteria before issue.
Scope boundary
What this appointment does not include
Published because a scope boundary discovered at month three is a dispute, and the same boundary stated at enquiry stage is just information.
- CFD and dynamic thermal simulation are separate specialist scopes.
- We do not commission, test or balance systems on site.
- Local stamping and authority approval stay with the engineer of record where required.
Request a quote
Get a quote: HVAC design
Tell us the building, the stage and what you need. An engineer replies within two working days with approach, deliverables and a fee basis.
Quote request received
Thank you — an engineer will reply within two working days.
Have drawings ready? Use the full enquiry form to attach them.
What a useful quote needs. Building type and approximate area, the disciplines, the project stage, and which drawings or models exist. If you have them ready, the full enquiry form takes file uploads.
NDAs. We sign before drawings or models are shared, as a matter of course.
FAQ
Questions we are asked at enquiry stage
Do you carry out heating and cooling load calculations?
Yes. Zone-by-zone loads to ASHRAE, CIBSE or the method the project names, with design conditions and assumptions stated on the output.
Can you design VRF and chilled water systems?
Yes — chilled water, VRF/VRV, packaged and split systems, with a comparison of the realistic options for your building.
Do you design car-park and smoke extract ventilation?
We design car-park ventilation and smoke extract ductwork to the fire strategy. Specialist smoke modelling is a separate scope we arrange where needed.