MEngC PE Electrical Building Services study plan

Derive and compare the design current, voltage drop and protective-device rating for a three-phase submain feeding a mixed office and plant load, and justify each choice in writing.

Explain how TN-S, TN-C-S and TT supply arrangements in a building change the fault path and the required protective measure, using a one-line sketch you draw yourself.

Size a distribution board schedule by allocating final circuits to ways and totalling connected load and diversified demand per board.

State the key selection and erection requirements you would apply to a main switchboard and rising busbar in a multi-storey building, and note where you would verify against the local wiring code.

Calculate prospective short-circuit current at two points in a radial distribution system from transformer impedance and cable impedance, showing each step.

Select cable cross-sectional area for a given load using current-carrying capacity, derating factors for grouping and ambient temperature, and voltage drop, then check the earth fault loop impedance against the disconnection time.

Compare the operating characteristics of MCBs, MCCBs and fuses for overload and short-circuit protection and state where each is appropriate in a building distribution system.

Explain discrimination and cascading between upstream and downstream devices and identify one arrangement in your own design where discrimination is critical.

Build a maximum demand estimate for a building using diversity after diversity, and compare the result with a direct VA-per-square-metre method.

Assess the impact of large motor loads on demand and starting current and propose a starting method that keeps voltage dip within an acceptable limit.

Identify the main opportunities for energy reduction in a building services load profile, including power factor correction and load shifting, and estimate the saving for one measure.

Explain how sub-metering and energy monitoring data would be used to verify a design assumption about demand.

Calculate the maintained illuminance, number of luminaires and uniformity for an office using the lumen method, and state the assumptions for maintenance factor and reflectance.

Select luminaire types and control strategies for an office, a circulation area and a plant room, and justify each against visual task and energy use.

Explain the requirements for emergency lighting in escape routes and open areas and size a battery-backed luminaire set for a given duration.

Describe how daylight linking and occupancy sensing interact with manual switching and where the control strategy would conflict with occupant needs.

Design an earthing and bonding arrangement for a building with a TN-C-S supply and a separate structural steel earth, and identify the main protective bonding conductors required.

Explain the principle of a lightning protection system, the role of the air termination, down conductor and earth termination, and how you would determine the need for protection.

Trace the sequence of operation of a fire detection and alarm system from detector activation to sounder operation and interface with other systems.

Describe the electrical requirements for life safety systems, including fire-rated cable routes and the supply arrangement for fire pumps and smoke control.

Size a standby generator for a building load that includes motors and a UPS, accounting for starting kVA, step loading and derating for altitude and temperature.

Compare the operating principles and appropriate applications of an online double-conversion UPS and a line-interactive UPS, and state the battery autonomy you would specify for a given duty.

Design the changeover arrangement between utility and generator supply, including interlocking and the neutral earthing arrangement, and explain the risk of parallel operation.

Explain the testing and maintenance regime you would require for a standby generator and a UPS system.

Describe the layered architecture of a building automation system and explain how a field bus, a controller and a supervisory layer exchange data.

Specify the points list for a small plant room, covering temperature, pressure, status and command points, and state the alarm and trending requirement for each.

Explain the contractual roles of employer, engineer, contractor and subcontractor in a building services project and identify where design responsibility sits for a design-and-build element.

Apply a professional ethics scenario about a design change that reduces cost but compromises safety, and set out the action you would take and to whom you would report.

Re-solve two fault-current and cable-sizing problems under timed conditions without notes and check against your earlier calculation sheets.

Review your weak areas from weeks 1 to 7 and rewrite the two weakest topics as concise reference notes you can revise from.

Work through a full building services electrical design scenario that combines distribution, protection, standby power and life safety, and state the interfaces between them.

Confirm the current edition of each standard you rely on and note any clause numbers you are unsure of for further checking.