A mechanical room, boiler room or plant room is a room or space in a building dedicated to the mechanical equipment and its associated electrical equipment, as opposed to rooms intended for human occupancy or storage.

What does a mechanical room do?

A building's mechanical room is the hub of its heating, ventilation and air conditioning system. ... The equipment within these rooms has the potential to leak harmful combustible or toxic gases, including costly and environmentally harmful refrigerant gases.

Is a utility room the same as a mechanical room?

The final task that the utility room is used for is as a machinery room. Many times hot water heaters and furnaces will be installed inside the utility room, allowing the machinery to be kept out of sight, but easy to access when they need maintenance.

Where is a mechanical room located?

Locate the mechanical room close to the exterior side yard – Longer furnace and water tank venting, such as in the middle of your home, can force you to upgrade your furnace and water tank to higher end units.

What is mechanical area?

Definition. The sum of all areas on all floors of a building designed to house mechanical equipment, utility services, and shaft areas. Basis for Measurement. Mechanical Area is computed by physically measuring or scaling measurements from the inside faces of surfaces that form the boundaries of the designated areas.

Mechanical Room Tour

What is a mechanical room in a house?

The mechanical rooms are the beating heart of a commercial building. ... It's the heart of the building and where all the main pipes and valves are situated to control heat, water and air through the building. It's also where the building's life safety system is often housed.

What is a mechanical room in an apartment?

A mechanical room, boiler room or plant room is a room or space in a building dedicated to the mechanical equipment and its associated electrical equipment, as opposed to rooms intended for human occupancy or storage.

Can a mechanical room be in the garage?

Sadly, the answer is yes. The building codes say you can put your HVAC system and ductwork in a garage as long as you meet certain requirements. ... Mechanical Code 304.6: Appliances located in private garages and carports shall be installed with a minimum clearance of 6 feet above the floor.

Can a mechanical room be in a bedroom?

Ventilation is easier to achieve if the unit is located on an exterior wall. Water heaters can be installed in bedroom or bathroom closets, if necessary or preferred, but only if they're an electric, direct vent or sealed combustion chamber unit.

Can a mechanical room be on the second floor?

The home will have one air handler and it can either go in the 1st floor mechanical room or the 2nd floor attic (conditioned space - below a steel SIP roof).

Are floor drains required in mechanical rooms?

All mechanical rooms shall have watertight floors with all penetrations fully sealed. Mechanical room floors shall contain floor drains. ... All mechanical rooms require an epoxy or waterproofed floor is required with Epoxy or waterproofing extending up walls 6 inches at a minimum.

What is a laundry room called?

A laundry room (also called a utility room) is a room where clothes are washed and dried. ... Another typical location is adjacent to the garage and the laundry room serves as a mudroom for the entrance from the garage.

What are MEP systems?

In the construction world, MEP stands for “mechanical, electrical and plumbing.” ... They assist with decision making, cost estimation, construction administration, documentation, building management, and building maintenance. MEP systems are a building's central nervous system.

What is a plant room in a house?

A plant room, (sometimes referred to as a mechanical room or boiler room), is a dedicated space containing the equipment required to provide or supply building services such as; ventilation, electrical distribution, water and so on. ... Boilers and thermostats. Chillers and refrigeration units. Heat exchangers.

How do you calculate mechanical room?

The following equation estimates the central mechanical room area for an office building: x=(y/69.2)^1.053, where x = size of mechanical room (in NSF) and y = Net Building Area (in NSF).

What is a utility room?

: a room in a home where equipment (such as furnaces and water heaters) or large appliances (such as washing machines) are kept.

Is it bad to sleep next to furnace?

Sleeping with the heater on increases the levels of carbon monoxide in the room above the safe level. ... The risk of asphyxia (sleep death) is high when using gas heaters. The excessive carbon monoxide in the room chokes the supply of blood to the brain, which can lead to haemorrhage and eventually death.

Can a furnace be in a closet?

The heat can safely escape if there is space around the furnace. Do not install your furnace in a storage closet. Any type of flammable material, including insulation, needs to be removed before installing the furnace.

Does furnace have to be in center of house?

Furnaces should be installed in your basement or a mechanical room near the center of your house — not in a vented attic, vented crawl space, or garage.

Can you put a furnace in the attic?

If you're looking to increase livable space in your home, consider moving the furnace into the attic. This installation is more common than you think. ... As long as the attic is fully insulated, installing a furnace in the attic as part of an HVAC system makes a lot of sense for many homeowners.

Should I put my air handler in the attic?

Reduced Energy Bills

An additional benefit of having your AC handler in the attic is that it can lead to a reduction in your utility bills. Since it can cool the home more evenly, it won't have to work as hard. This will lead to a reduction in energy bills.

How big is a furnace room?

A general standard is to have at least 30 inches of space between the walls and a furnace's sides. When you hire a professional HVAC contractor near you, a pro will design the space according to your local area's codes and ensure that the room maximizes your furnace's performance and efficiency.

What does a boiler room do?

What is the purpose of a boiler room? A mechanical room or a boiler room is a room in a building dedicated to mechanical equipment and its associated electrical equipment, as opposed to rooms intended for human use or storage.

What is a maintenance room?

The Room Maintenance area of the PMS can be used to track maintenance related issues for specific rooms in a property. It can also be used to place rooms Out of Order for scheduled maintenance, or to hold rooms over for housekeeping or various other reasons.

What is in the mechanical engineering?

The mechanical engineering field requires an understanding of core areas including mechanics, dynamics, thermodynamics, materials science, structural analysis, and electricity. ... It is the branch of engineering that involves the design, production, and operation of machinery.