Get Ahead—Not Just Keep Up—with Mechanical, Electrical, and Plumbing (MEP) Design
Picture this: you are working on a high-stakes building design project with tight deadlines, diverse stakeholders, and complex mechanical systems. Yet, instead of the usual chaos—outdated drawings, design mismatches, and constant rework—you are in control. Your piping layouts are not only accurate, but they are also easy to adapt.
As you refine your piping systems, you are confident they’ll meet project requirements and pass inspection on the first try. You are not just keeping up, you are ahead.
Now, imagine that’s not just a dream, it’s entirely possible.
In today’s building design landscape, success hinges on how well teams manage complexity, especially in mechanical systems. With rising project demands and tighter timelines, the ability to deliver coordinated, high-quality piping designs is essential.
That’s exactly what OpenBuildings Designer’s enhanced Pipe System Sizing tool, introduced in the 2024.2 release, can help you achieve.
By simplifying one of the most technical aspects of MEP design, this feature empowers engineers and designers to move faster, stay accurate, and bring greater value to every stage of a project.
How OpenBuildings Designer’s Pipe System Sizing Tool Empowers Engineers
- Accelerate pipe system design with a fully integrated, model-based workflow
- Easily size cold water, hot water, heating, cooling, and gas systems in one environment
- Begin with quick single-line layouts and seamlessly transition to detailed 3D models
- Achieve accurate, standards-based results with CIBSE-compliant sizing calculations
Bringing Clarity and Control to Complex Piping Systems
Whether you're designing a chilled water system for a hospital or a gas network for a residential tower, OpenBuildings Designer’s Pipe System Sizing tool helps you size, visualize, and coordinate your piping layouts with greater ease and precision. Supporting five key systems—cold water, hot water, heating, cooling, and gas—this tool is built with versatility and real-world application in mind.
Behind the scenes, it leverages CIBSE-compliant algorithms, giving you confidence that your calculations meet industry best practices and performance standards.
But the real benefit? You don’t have to be an expert in calculations to create expertly sized systems. With intuitive workflows and visual tools, even early-stage design decisions can align with final project goals.
Sketch, Size, and Model Piping Systems without Switching Applications
In traditional workflows, engineers often juggle multiple tools for sketching concepts, running calculations, and coordinating models. This fragmented process leads to inefficiencies, data silos, and potential errors.
OpenBuildings Designer’s Pipe System Sizing tool eliminates that friction.
- Start with speed:
Use the Single-Line Pipe Placement feature to sketch out systems quickly during early design phases. Its simplicity makes it ideal for feasibility studies, client presentations, and initial coordination.
- Transition seamlessly:
When it's time to develop more detail, convert your single-line layouts into fully coordinated 3D pipe models, no need to start from scratch.
- Design with confidence:
The 3D Pipe Placement feature brings designs to life with clear visualizations, helping your team identify clashes, optimize space, and ensure constructability.
Everything happens within a single application. That means fewer handoffs, more control, and a dramatically smoother design process.
Real-world Gains from Smarter Pipe System Design
OpenBuildings Designer’s Pipe System Sizing tool doesn’t just enhance technical workflows, it delivers measurable benefits across the project lifecycle.
- Work Smarter and Faster
Speed up design timelines without compromising on quality. By combining piping layout, sizing, and modeling into one seamless process, teams can reduce back-and-forth and keep momentum going from concept to construction.
- Improve Accuracy and Compliance
Designs are only as good as their data. By using trusted CIBSE standards, the tool ensures your piping systems meet both performance and regulatory expectations, reducing the risk of costly rework or delays.
- Enhance Team Collaboration
Clearer visuals and integrated tools mean fewer miscommunications. Whether your team is in one office or spread across regions, they can stay aligned on what’s designed, what’s calculated, and what’s next.
- Stay on Budget, on Time
Right-sizing from the start helps eliminate material waste and reduce change orders during construction. The result? Better cost control and more predictable project outcomes.
The Critical Role of Pipe Systems in Modern Building Design
As buildings become smarter and sustainability becomes a priority, the systems behind the walls matter just as much as what’s in plain sight. Mechanical design is no longer an isolated task, it’s a core part of integrated building performance. Applications like OpenBuildings Designer make it easier to align piping systems with architectural goals, energy strategies, and construction realities.
Whether you’re working on hospitals, offices, schools, or mixed-use developments, the enhanced Pipe System Sizing tool gives you the precision, speed, and clarity to do your best work, without the usual headaches.
Don’t Just Design—Design Intelligently
If you’re ready to simplify your MEP workflows, improve design quality, and deliver more value to your clients, it’s time to explore the difference OpenBuildings Designer can make.
Explore OpenBuildings Designer’s Pipe System Sizing tool to streamline MEP workflows.
