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Top Business Tools for MEP Firms

飫�
10
min read

Well-built buildings wouldn鈥檛 happen without mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) engineering and consulting firms鈥攁nd those firms couldn鈥檛 do what they do best without purpose-built software. With that in mind, here are our picks for the very best tools for MEP firms (in each of the following eight categories).聽

  • 3D Scanning Software: Capture scale-accurate building scans using your smartphone.
  • Energy Modelling: Design and optimize building performance.
  • QA and QC: Ensure quality at every building phase with shared documents.
  • Lean Design and Procurement: Use real-world content to build constructible models.
  • VR Modelling: Communicate complex constructability plans via immersive virtual reality.
  • Resource Scheduling Software: Get complete workforce visibility, including the ability to accurately forecast and optimize the workload.
  • Pipe Stress Analysis: Ensure structural integrity and compliance with industry standards.
  • Flow Simulation: Simulate liquid and gas flow to optimize product [#section-one]performance.[#section-one]

Best Tool for 3D Scanning

SiteScape

Now that most iOS devices鈥擜pple smartphones and iPads鈥攃ome equipped with LiDAR capabilities, you have everything you need to 鈥渃apture and share scale-accurate 3D scans of buildings, rooms, and spaces鈥� in your pocket. Well, as long as you also have , that is. This state-of-the-art 3D scanning application enables MEP firms to 鈥渦nlock new levels of efficiency, accuracy and confidence by connecting designs to existing conditions.鈥澛�

And because SiteScape now integrates with Autodesk Construction Cloud, users can instantly export their scans to Autodesk design tools (i.e., Revit and AutoCAD) to complete their site documentation in a flash, saving hours and hours of fieldwork and manual documentation.聽

Features

鈥�

  • Compatible with the iPhone 12 and 13 Pro and Pro Max as well the 2020 and 2021 iPad Pro.
  • Saves hours on field measurements and thousands of dollars in rework.
  • Measurements are accurate within an inch.

笔谤颈肠颈苍驳听


SiteScape offers . The Pro plan鈥攚hich allows for larger scans and cloud syncing鈥攊s $49.99 a month or $450 a year per user. Team plans are also [#section-two]available.[#section-two]

Best Tool for Energy Modelling

IES VE

is the best energy modelling software on the market, which is why MEP firms around the globe use its integrated analysis tools (built on the Apache simulation engine) to design and optimize 鈥渞esource-efficient, healthy, and cost-effective鈥� buildings. With IES VE, firms can improve building performance and energy utilization via 鈥渃ollaboration between architects, engineers, and contractors'' across every build phase: 鈥渇rom schematic design to post-occupancy.鈥澛�

Features

鈥�

  • Leverages 鈥渨orld-leading simulation engine鈥� Apache.聽
  • Facilitates cross-team collaboration.
  • The new 2022 release offers increased flexibility and functionality to users.

Pricing


IES VE offers a for MEP firms; pricing beyond that is available on [#section-three]request .[#section-three]

Best Tool for QA and QC

Bluebeam Studio

More than 2 million builders around the world use for its cloud-based PDF sharing and commenting capabilities. With this one top MEP tool, you鈥檒l be able to manage everything from the 鈥減unch process鈥� and 鈥渟ubmittal review鈥� to quality checks and 鈥淩FI posting.鈥� Plus, all of your project folders and files will be in one place, which just makes everything a whole lot more organized.聽

Bluebeam also offers cloud-based markup sessions, so your whole team can markup, and comment on PDF prints of designs all at the same time, offering a more collaborative QA and QC process. As for learning, Bluebeam provides a plethora of how-to-videos, free webinars, and training resources to support its users.聽

Features

鈥�

  • Improves design review; document management; submittal review; RFI posting; punch process; and QA/QC processes.
  • Trusted by more than 2 million builders around the world.
  • Provides a plethora of how-to-videos, free webinars, and training and consulting resources to support users.

Pricing


BlueBeam offers new users a free, 30-day trial. Then, pricing ranges between $349 and $599 per seat, depending on [#section-four]features.[#section-four]

Best Tool for Lean Design and Procurement

Trimble SysQue

With , MEP engineers are able to use 鈥渞eal-world content [more than eight million parts are already cataloged] across electrical, piping, mechanical, and sheet metal systems鈥� to create more accurate and constructible models. Users can also connect their models to estimates to improve project intelligence, visibility, and collaboration.

Features

鈥�

  • Increases productivity and reduces risk all while boosting profits.
  • Extensive industry knowledge has established Trimble as an industry leader in more than 150 countries.
  • Offers users access to their global support team for help.

Pricing


Contact Trimble SysQue sales for [#section-five]pricing.[#section-five]聽

Best Tool for VR Modelling

The Wild

The best VR modelling tool for MEP firms is, which enables you to transport your clients into your projects via immersive, virtual reality. Using a VR headset, stakeholders will be able to see your MEP plans come to life before their eyes鈥攁nd under their feet. According to The Wild鈥攚hich acquired IRISVR鈥檚 primary VR product,, in 2021鈥攙irtual reality enables engineers, designers, and builders to 鈥渆ffectively communicate spatial concepts through immersive design [and constructability] reviews to unlock better decisions and alignment.鈥� This, plus your team can ideate on the fly鈥攁nd 鈥済ain critical context by experiencing [their] work at scale.鈥�

Features

鈥�

  • Boasts per-project savings of $10,000 and speed gains of 50% on project approvals.聽
  • Offers one-click access to Revit.
  • Cloud-based data storage ensures always up-to-date spaces.

Pricing


Prices range from $295 per month for a basic plan to $1,795 for a premium one. All plans are available for a free [#section-six]trial.[#section-six]

Best Tool for Resource Management and Workforce Intelligence

8868体育

Screen capture of 8868体育's work request feature for construction resource planning

Founded in 2018, provides AI-powered resource planning and workforce intelligence so MEP firms can be more efficient and profitable. Integrable with project management software and financial tools, 8868体育 offers complete visibility into who is working on what and when. Its powerful AI enables MEP managers to efficiently schedule workers by suggesting project teams and work plans. With 8868体育, you鈥檒l always know when to hire鈥攁s well as which projects to pursue and which ones to pass over.

Features

鈥�

  • The app is available on iOS and Android.
  • Intuitive and eye-pleasing design.
  • AI-powered business intelligence and at-a-glance dashboards.

Pricing


Team plans are available for $9.99 per user, per month; supercharged business plans start at $14.99 per user, per month. A free trial鈥�8868体育鈥檚 Pilot Program鈥攊s available [#section-seven]risk-free.[#section-seven]聽

Best Tool for Pipe Stress Analysis

AutoPIPE

Built by Bentley鈥攁 world leader in infrastructure software鈥� enables MEP firms to successfully model, calculate, and visualize pipe stress, loads, and deflections in their building designs. Thus, ensuring structural integrity and compliance with industry standards鈥攗sing the most cost-effective solutions possible.聽

Features

鈥�

  • Provides 鈥渙bject-oriented point-and-click interactive modelling.鈥�
  • Boasts 鈥渦nmatched interoperability鈥� with other software applications.
  • Provides users with API, NEMA, ANSI, ASCE, AISC, UBC, ISO, and WRC guidelines and design load limits.

Pricing

ranges from $3,436 for pipe stress analysis essentials to $13,606 for nuclear [#section-eight]analysis.[#section-eight]

Best Tool for Flow Simulation

SOLIDWORKS Flow Simulation

Built on the SOLIDWORKS 3D CAD system, this tool enables MEP firms to 鈥渟imulate the fluid flow, heat transfer, and fluid forces that are critical to the success of your designs.鈥� With three packages to choose from鈥攁 general parametric flow simulation using the finite volume method for calculation; a dedicated heating, cooling, and ventilation simulation; and a dedicated thermal management study for electronics鈥擬EP firms can select the product that works best for their focus.

Features

鈥�

  • Enables users to save time and money鈥攁nd keep projects on time and on budget.
  • Offers integrated computational fluid dynamics (CFD) tools.
  • Embedded in SOLIDWORKS 3D CAD.

Pricing

or get a price quote .

Get Started

There you have it: our collection of the top business tools for MEP firms across eight major categories. Do you have your own favorites that you鈥檇 like to add to this list? Send them our way. We鈥檇 love to keep expanding this resource to help MEP engineers get the most out of their software selections.

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