Sector
Industrial and logistics
MEP design for warehouses, distribution centres and light industrial units, including process services and high bay lighting.
OVERVIEW
Industrial buildings have low services cost per square metre and high consequences when the services are wrong, because the building exists to support an operation rather than to accommodate people.
The distinguishing question is always what the process needs: power density, compressed air, process cooling, extract, floor loading for plant, and how much of it has to keep running when something fails.
DESIGN
What drives the design
Process requirements come before building requirements
The building services follow the operation. Establishing the process load, its diversity and its resilience requirement is the first task, and it is frequently the hardest information to obtain.
High bay lighting and controls
Lighting in a high bay is a mounting height and maintenance problem as much as an illuminance one. Controls that respond to occupancy and daylight have a large effect on a load that runs long hours.
Heating a large volume
Destratification, radiant systems and air rotation each suit different operations. The choice depends on how the space is occupied, not just on its volume.
REGULATION
Statutory and guidance documents
Scotland and England take different statutory routes. Where a document applies to one and not the other, it says so.
- BS 7671:2018+A4:2026Requirements for Electrical InstallationsUK-wide
- BS EN 12464-1:2021Lighting of indoor work placesUK-wide
- DSEARDangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations 2002UK-wide
- Approved Document BFire safetyEngland and Wales
- Technical Handbook Section 2FireScotland
SCOPE
Typical scope in this sector
- Warehouse and high bay lighting design
- Process power distribution
- Space heating and destratification
- Compressed air and process services coordination
- EV charging and fleet infrastructure
SERVICES