Every construction project will have a mechanical contractor on board to help design and coordinate the project. A professional mechanical contractor will be valuable to have onsite for large commercial construction projects. But what exactly do they do? In this article, we will talk about the responsibilities a mechanical contractor has and why it’s crucial to have one on the job site.
Project Management
A mechanical contractor has domain over a vast area of expertise that includes heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC). They can also manage the plumbing, piping, and refrigeration. Large projects require highly skilled mechanical contractors to oversee these aspects of the job. These skills are incredibly important in making the building function as they should and makes them an ideal candidate for project management.
Heating and Cooling
Within their role, mechanical contractors will oversee the electrical and HVAC components of a project site. While they’re commonly associated with the commercial field, mechanical contractors also work in the residential field. A significant part of a mechanical contractor’s work is assessing a building to determine what heating and cooling systems it requires in order to maintain a comfortable and appropriate temperature.
In doing so, they will take into consideration the installation process, costs, and energy efficiency of the HVAC systems and decide, based on their knowledge, which systems are suitable for a specific project.
Plumbing
Mechanical contractors also possess skills in plumbing and piping systems but shouldn’t be confused with plumbers. Whereas plumbers specialize in plumbing, mechanical contracts don’t. Instead, a mechanical contractor can work in multiple fields relating to mechanical work. The contractor will work closely with the plumbers to ensure that the piping is installed and fitted to regulations and requirements.
Electrical
In their repertoire of skills, mechanical engineers also possess some expertise in electrical work and will decide whether it’s best to bring in an electrical engineer for the project. Mainly, mechanical contracts oversee the mechanical systems of a building, which can be anything from chillers to ventilators and ductwork to low voltage wiring.
Installation and Maintenance
Given the nature of their work, mechanical contractors are generally involved with the installation, alteration, and HVAC repairs. As such, mechanical contractors are also tasked with the ongoing maintenance of their work and, therefore, must technically be efficient in repair work.
A mechanical contractor generally takes on the role of a supervisor within a project and is responsible for ensuring that mechanical frameworks of a building are installed on time and within the allocated budget. They will suggest maintenance timelines for property owners so that regular maintenance visits can be scheduled in advance.
To this end, mechanical contractors will be responsible for getting the job done, either by scheduling subcontractors or delegating workloads to relevant parties. It is their responsibility to make sure the design is accurate before installation, and that the proper materials are ordered and within budget. Managing many aspects of the build is often required of the contractor, ensuring consistency throughout the design and build process. Mechanical contractors have a lot of responsibility, but with the right crew in place to implement the project designs, a talented contractor should have plenty of success in the construction business.
