For architects and builders
What we do at each stage of your drawings.
We would rather be called at schematic design. The earlier we see the plans, the less it costs to fit the systems in.
- 01Stage 1
Step 1: Schematic design
A load estimate, a size and place for the mechanical room, chase and soffit sizes, and a first pass at the zones.
- 02Stage 2
Step 2: Design development
The zone plan, equipment locations, riser routes and a noise target for every room, agreed with you.
- 03Stage 3
Step 3: Construction documents
The mechanical drawing set, coordinated with your structural, electrical and plumbing sheets.
- 04Stage 4
Step 4: Rough-in coordination
Tubing layouts before the slab, penetrations marked before framing closes, and pour dates agreed.
- 05Stage 5
Step 5: Start-up and testing
Controls set, combustion measured, sound readings taken and sent to you with the as-built sheets.
The drawing set
What is on the sheets.
A typical set. Yours lists only the systems in the house.
Zone plan
Which rooms share a zone, and where each thermostat and sensor sits.
Radiant layout
Tubing spacing and loop lengths over the floor plan, with manifold locations.
Snowmelt layout
Loops over the site plan, heat exchanger and drain details.
Equipment room plan and elevations
Every piece of equipment with its clearances, mounts and labels.
Risers, chases and penetrations
Sizes and routes through the structure, marked for the framer.
Controls diagram and equipment schedule
What talks to what, and the model of each piece of equipment.
Sound target sheet
The target for each room and the design choice that meets it.
Noise levels
Quiet, room by room.
We use NC ratings. We propose targets, you and the owner change them, and we measure at start-up.
| What usually decides it | Target we propose | |
|---|---|---|
| Primary bedroom | What usually decides itAir handler location, duct air speed | Target we proposeNC 25 to 30 |
| Guest bedrooms | What usually decides itA shared wall with the mechanical room | Target we proposeNC 25 to 30 |
| Great room | What usually decides itGrille size, throw and return placement | Target we proposeNC 30 to 35 |
| Study or library | What usually decides itPump and manifold noise through the floor | Target we proposeNC 25 to 30 |
| Beside the mechanical room | What usually decides itWall build-up, mounts and door seals | Target we proposeSet per project |
Send us the set
What we need to start.
PDF sets are fine. If you work in a shared model, tell us which one and we will say what we can use.
Please include
Plans and elevations, current set
Floor assemblies and slab thickness
The mechanical room, if you have placed one
Site plan with drive and walk grades
Target dates for the pour and for move-in
From the architects we work with.
Will you meet with the owner and the builder together?
Yes. Coordination meetings with all three tend to save the most time, and we join them in person in the valley or by video.
Who pulls the permits?
We pull the mechanical permit and schedule the inspections for our work. On a new home the builder may hold the main permit, and we then work under it. Your architect and builder will tell us which applies.
How loud will the system be?
We set a noise target for each room with you and the architect, using NC ratings, then design to it: equipment away from sleeping floors, slow air through the ducts, isolated mounts and sealed doors on the mechanical room. At start-up we take sound readings and give you the numbers.
Send the drawings.
We read the set and write back with questions before anything else.