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HPAC 101
According to our publishing philosophy statement, the HPAC ENGINEERING brand consists of in-print, on-line and in-person media devoted to helping buildings professionals design, specify, manage and operate/maintain mechanical systems for non-residential buildings.
So what does all that mean?
HPAC ENGINEERING
is best understood by breaking our publishing philosophy statement down into its various components. We’ll give a brief description here; for further explanation, drill down by clicking on the underlined text. Let's start with our target audience...
BUILDINGS PROFESSIONALS
No, we're not referring to carpenters, electricians, plumbers, drywallers et al! Those are building/construction tradesmen.
And, while they’re all important to the success of construction and
rennovation projects, before a building can be constructed, it has to
be designed.
The buildings professionals
in the non-residential mechanical-systems market fall into one of two categories:
- Mechanical-Engineering Professionals
- Building Owners/Operators
These
individuals design, specify, recommend and/or make product selection
for the components of mechanical/HVAC and building automation/controls
systems. They have the greatest influence over specifying and selecting
HVAC-related systems, components, equipment, products, services and
technology.
Drill down
DESIGN, SPECIFY, MANAGE & OPERATE/MAINTAIN
A mechanical system is a complex entity comprised of many components. Generally speaking, mechanical-engineering professionals design mechanical/HVAC and building automation/controls systems and specify which
brands of components and materials to use when constructing and
installing those systems. While they don't always make actual
purchases, the vast majority of the time, the equipment the
mechanical-engineeeing professional specifies is what,
ultimately, is purchased and installed during the construction phase.
Once a building is construction and operational, its mechanical systems have to be managed and operated/maintained. Facilty
owners/operators are responsible for the day-to-day operations of the
mechanical/HVAC and building automation/controls systems in non-residential buildings/facilities and have an
inherent interest in making sure those systems function at peak efficiency. They also oversee new construction, retrofit, rennovation/expansion and repair projects.
Drill down
MECHANICAL SYSTEMS
In contractor
terms, the traditional mechanical systems are heating, ventilation and
air conditioning, or HVAC. Sometimes refrigeration is added and the
term becomes HVACR. Though HVAC contractors certainly deal with pipe
(gas, water, steam), piping is considered a function of plumbing
contractors.
In engineering terms, however, the primary mechanical systems are Heating, Piping and Air Conditioning. (The HPAC part of our name.) Ventilation is considered a subset of both
heating and air conditioning systems. Because piping systems are
complex and need to be designed (engineered), they are also included.
When HPAC ENGINEERING was established more than 80 years
ago, heating, piping and air conditioning pretty much covered the
existing technologies. Today, the term has grown to include a number of
additional specialties, including controls and building automation systems (BAS), fire protection and detection, and others.
Though
it varies by building type, as a general rule of thumb, HVAC
systems/components represent between 25% and 35% of a building's total
construction cost. So a non-residential buildings construction market
valued at $500 billion would represent approximately $125 to $175
billion of mechanical systems business.
Drill down
NON-RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS
Basically, we’re talking about office buildings, schools, hotels, stores, warehouses, hospitals, government buildings, etc. Non-residential buildings fall into one of three categories: Commercial Buildings, Industrial/Manufacturing Facilities and Institutional Buildings. This is often referred to as the Commercial/Industrial/Institutional, or C/I/I, Buildings Market. The more common reference, however, is Non-Residential Buildings Market.
Non-residential buildings are often defined by their end use. For example, education (schools and universities) or warehouse and storage. Floor space in non-residential buildings is dominated by four activities – office, retail, warehouse and education – which account for 60% of floor space and 51% of the total number of non-residential buildings. Other principle categories include manufacturing, health care, government, lodging, service, public assembly, religious worship, food service, food sales and public order & safety.
Drill down
KEY MARKET SECTORS
HPAC ENGINEERING provides targeted reach to mechanical engineering professionals and fcility owners/operators across the entire non-residential buildings marketplace, with special concentrtion in key commercial, industrial and institutional sectors.
By concentrating on the critical Government, Education, Health Care, Manufaturing and Office buildings sectors, HPAC ENGINEERING markets your message more efficently and effectively. You reach key markets where the vast majority of HVAC dollars are being spent; where the largest project are under way. In fact, these market sectors accounted for more than 60% of all construction spending in the $550-billion non-residnential buildings construction market in 2009.
Drill down
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