As we progress in our growth as a design engineer, we have teachers along the way. Some teachers are senior design engineers that instruct and teach us what good engineering practice is all about. Some teachers are lessons learned from experiences that teach us that there may be a better way to design something.Some teachers are journals, papers, books (and even blogs) that share experiences that we can gleam some valuable lessons from. Whichever teacher (or teachers) you have, whom have been mentored themselves, you gain insight on what good engineering practice is. You also become more and more aware that codes are not design standards. Rather, codes are minimum requirements to ensure the safety and well being of occupants in a building.
Codes do not provide direction for better use of a space, efficient use of a space, or achieving a better life cycle of a building or space. As NPFA 70 (National Electrical Code) – 2017 Edition states in Paragraphs 90.1(A) and 90.1(B):
“The purpose of this Code (National Electrical Code) is the practical safeguarding of persons and property from hazards arising from the use of electricity. This Code is not intended as a design specification or an instruction manual for untrained persons.”
And,
“This Code contains provisions that are considered necessary for safety. Compliance therewith and proper maintenance result in an installation that is essentially free from hazard but not necessarily efficient, convenient, or adequate for good service or future expansion of electrical use.”
I recently reviewed conditions in a building that illustrated this point with poignancy for the building Owner. The Owner is now spending a significant amount of money repairing systems in the building that have already failed or shows signs of deterioration due to poor engineering practices or poor installation methods. The following is a short list of possible design decisions or installation methods and the possible ramifications (some of which occurred in the building that I recently reviewed):
Note that this list is not complete or even comprehensive. It just lists some examples of possible design decisions or construction methods that could have a long term impact on a building or compromise occupant safety. The bigger lessons that we learn are as follows:
If you have ever asked yourself, “what difference does it make”, the answer is likely “a big difference.” Or, if you asked the question “what is the big deal?,” the answer might be “it’s a big deal.”
About the author
Mark Felgate is the Lead Electrical Engineer for the Massachusetts and Connecticut Offices for Hallam-ICS. Mark has been in the construction industry for 32 Years, has a Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Connecticut, and is a LEED Accredited Professional. Mark is a Member of NFPA and is currently serving as Past President of the Hartford Section of IES. Mark also continues to volunteer as a mentor through ACE Mentor since 2001.
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About Hallam-ICS
Hallam-ICS is an engineering and automation company that designs MEP systems for facilities and plants, engineers control and automation solutions, and ensures safety and regulatory compliance through arc flash studies, commissioning, and validation. Our offices are located in Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York, Vermont and North Carolina and our projects take us world-wide.