MEP contractors in London, and how to judge one

What separates one MEP contractor from another

London is a demanding place to install mechanical and electrical services. Buildings are old, access is tight, and much of the work happens while a building is still occupied. The contractor you appoint decides more of the outcome than the specification does.

This piece sets out what to look for in an MEP contractor, and how NU Projects MEP is put together.

What defines a strong MEP contractor in London

At the top end of the market, the contractors worth shortlisting show the same things.

• Design and installation carried by the same firm
• An understanding of how the building will actually be used
• Technical coordination with the structure, the ceilings and the joinery
• Programme certainty in a live or constrained building
• Finishes and plant that age well and can be maintained
• Minimal disruption to the people already in the building
• Clear commercial control and one line of accountability

Questions to put to any MEP contractor

1. Who designs it, and who installs it?

Ask whether the design and the installation sit in the same firm. Where they do not, ask who carries the risk when the drawing and the building do not agree.

2. Who is senior on the job?

Ask for the name and the role of the person who will be on site. Ask how often, and who covers when they are not there.

3. How is the package coordinated with the rest of the build?

Heating, cooling, ventilation, lighting, power and data all compete for the same voids. Ask at which stage that coordination happens, and against which drawings.

4. What happens at commissioning?

Ask what is tested, what is certified, what manuals are issued, and who demonstrates the systems to the people who will use them.

5. What does the aftercare look like?

Ask about the defects period, the maintenance schedule and who answers the phone when a system fails in month nine.

How NU Projects MEP is set up

NU Projects MEP is the mechanical and electrical division of NU Projects. It is led by Wayne Hockham, the MEP Director, who has over twenty years of hands on MEP experience across commercial, industrial and high end residential work.

Wayne began through a plumbing and heating apprenticeship before moving across the full mechanical and electrical sector. His career covers commercial offices, industrial facilities and residential schemes across central London and the surrounding counties, including prime residential projects and packages delivered to government buildings in Westminster.

The division covers:

• Full mechanical and electrical design and installation
• Commercial and high end residential MEP packages
• Plumbing, heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems
• Electrical distribution, lighting design and smart controls
• Site coordination, programme management and safety compliance

Senior oversight on every job

NU MEP keeps a senior engineer on every project rather than spreading thin across many. Technical problems are resolved on site instead of being escalated through layers of management. Programmes are set to be achievable, and the safety standard does not move with the job size.

What that means in practice

MEP and the design are coordinated from the first drawing. The client deals with the same people from the start of the package to the end of it. The aim is not to run the most projects, but to run each one properly.

Planning a commercial MEP project in London?

The MEP page sets out the full scope of the division, from first fix through to final commissioning.

To talk to the team, send two lines through the contact form. You can also call 020 7731 6841. We usually reply within a few hours, weekends included.