Consulting - Specifying Engineer -

Featured Content

Browse the latest

Figure 2: The illustrated schematic provides a generic representation of the typical primary hydronic loop distribution to rack-mounted coolant distribution units (CDUs). It is advisable that the piping material and connection accessories be chosen according to the CDU manufacturer's requirements for each project. Additional engineering efforts may be necessary to determine how to circulate the water and control the temperature and that may require changing the piping arrangements per project. Courtesy: Dynaten

HVAC/R and Mechanical

Consulting-Specifying Engineer most read articles: May 2025

2025 Consulting-Specifying Engineer Product of the Year winners announced

Figure 2: A typical fire riser room in the Vantage Data Center building. Courtesy: Southland Industries

Fire and Life Safety

Fire protection systems to ensure safety for data centers

Figure 2: A typical fire riser room in the Vantage Data Center building. Courtesy: Southland Industries

Codes and Standards

Data center codes and standards focus on efficiency and flexibility

podcasts

Listen in on some fascinating conversations with engineering and building experts.

Ebooks

Download in-depth ebooks on engineering topics, including electrical, HVAC/R, fire and life safety and various buildings.

Subscribe

Sign up for the magazine, ebooks, newsletters and much more. Boost your knowledge of specifying MEP/FP systems.

Building Automation and Controls

Building Automation and Controls

Utilizing automation for energy savings in K-12 buildings

Building Automation and Controls

Automating HVAC, lighting and fire protection for office buildings

Building Automation and Controls

Smart buildings: Shifting from technology trends to strategic processes

Building Automation and Controls

CxEnergy 2025 announces preliminary technical program

Buildings

Figure 1: Modern data centers need to house increased automation, computing and power needs as the industry shifts. Courtesy: Southland Industries

How to design data centers for current and future uses

2025 40 under 40: Anthony DiGirolamo

2025 40 Under 40: Anthony DiGirolamo, PE, 32

Figure 4: In addition to changing the compliance process in ASHRAE 90.4 from 2016 to 2022, the mechanical load component (MLC) values are more stringent across all climate zones. ASHRAE acknowledged that the MLC values in the 2016 edition needed to be lowered to ensure reasonable energy efficiency. Courtesy: Bill Kosik, WSP

ASHRAE 90.4 created to boost data center energy efficiency

Table 1: Timeline of important events in data center energy efficiency. Courtesy: Bill Kosik, WSP

How can ASHRAE TC 9.9 influence data center design?

Codes and Standards

Codes and Standards

How addenda to ASHRAE Standard 90.1-2022 affect design

Codes and Standards

Know how to navigate compliance paths of ASHRAE Standard 90.1

Figure 3: Child care spaces are one emerging design trend in K-12 schools, requiring conversations with school districts early in the design phase. Courtesy: Peter Basso Associates

Codes and Standards

Codes and standards engineers should know for K-12 buildings

Electrical AND Power

Electrical and Power

Your questions answered: Energy, power demands for EV charging

2025 Consulting-Specifying Engineer Product of the Year winners announced

40 Under 40: Suzette Vasquez

2025 40 Under 40: Suzette Vasquez, 38

2025 40 Under 40: Joseph Szczechowicz

2025 40 Under 40: Joseph Szczechowicz, PE, 29

Fire AND Life Safety

Figure 5: Parking garages may have occupied spaces adjacent to, above or below the parking area and garage fires can impact these occupied spaces. This garage has an occupied level below the parking decks. Courtesy: CDM Smith

Case study: Airport garage fire spreads due to limited fire protection systems

Justin Milne

2025 40 Under 40: Justin Milne, PE, PMP, 37

2025 40 Under 40: Donald Meyer

2025 40 Under 40: Donald Meyer, PE, CFPS, 39

HVAC/R and Mechanical

Figure 2: The illustrated schematic provides a generic representation of the typical primary hydronic loop distribution to rack-mounted coolant distribution units (CDUs). It is advisable that the piping material and connection accessories be chosen according to the CDU manufacturer's requirements for each project. Additional engineering efforts may be necessary to determine how to circulate the water and control the temperature and that may require changing the piping arrangements per project. Courtesy: Dynaten

HVAC/R and Mechanical

Consulting-Specifying Engineer most read articles: May 2025

2025 Consulting-Specifying Engineer Product of the Year winners announced

Figure 4: Equipment located in a heat transfer vault in a larger distribution system. Courtesy: CDM Smith

Boilers, Chillers

Why and how to use chiller systems to maintain building temperatures

2025 40 Under 40: David Shadpour, PE, CPD, PMP, LEED AP, DBIA, BEMP, CPMP, OSHA-30, 32

Lighting and Lighting Controls

Figure 1: An example of a coordinated floor plan showcasing the lighting fixtures, line and low-voltage lighting controls alongside a sequence of operations table breaking down how these spaces are controlled. Courtesy: WSP USA Buildings Inc.

Lighting and Lighting Controls

An in-depth look at the basics of lighting controls

2025 40 Under 40: Andy Wiese

2025 40 Under 40: Andy Wiese, PE, CLD, IALD, LC, 39

2025 40 Under 40: JuliAnn White, LC, LEED AP BD+C, 35

2025 40 Under 40: Jeff Evers

2025 40 Under 40: Jeff Evers, PE, LEED GA, 38

Motors and Drives

Motors and Drives

How to choose or troubleshoot a variable frequency drive

Motors and Drives

Testing shows drive to motor cables significantly influence system performance

Motors and Drives

Case study: Motors replaced at potable water plant

keep browsing

Figure 5: Piping manifold secondary distribution piping to geothermal bore field. Courtesy: CDM Smith

Case study: How one city is using energy-efficient geothermal systems

Consulting-Specifying Engineer 2025 40 Under 40 winners. Courtesy: Consulting-Specifying Engineer

No surprise, the 40 under 40 winners are passionate, stunning, brilliant

40 Under 40: Sudhir Sushmitha

2025 40 Under 40: Sushmitha Sudhir, CEng, MIET, LEED Green Associate, 37

2025 40 Under 40: Ian Smith

2025 40 Under 40: Ian Smith, PE, 31

40 Under 40: Li-Anne Sayegh

2025 40 Under 40: Li-Anne Sayegh, PEng, ENV SP, True Advisor, LEED Green Associate, 34

2025 40 Under 40: Jahnavi Sajip

2025 40 Under 40: Jahnavi Sajip, PE, 35

2025 40 Under 40: Chad Riggs

2025 40 Under 40: Chad Riggs, 38

2025 40 Under 40: Amanda Josefa Polematidis

2025 40 Under 40: Amanda Josefa Polematidis, PE, LEED AP BD+C, CxA, 40

2025 40 Under 40: Maddi Packard

2025 40 Under 40: Maddi Packard, PE, 30

2025 40 Under 40: Robby Oylear

2025 40 Under 40: Robby Oylear, PE, LEED AP, 38