Ahmad Akra, Mechanical and MEP Design EngineerI design the systems that make buildings work.

I’m an MEP engineer. I design mechanical, electrical, plumbing and fire protection systems for residential and commercial buildings in the United States and the United Kingdom, working remotely from Lebanon.

My work covers HVAC load calculations and system design, plumbing and gas piping, fire sprinkler and fire alarm layouts, and lighting and power. The projects range from single-family homes and townhouses to retail spaces, restaurants and large multi-storey residential buildings. On US projects I design to the IMC, IPC and ASHRAE standards, and in California to the California codes and Title 24 energy requirements. On UK projects I work to the applicable UK regulations and standards.

Before design, I worked in the field. As an intern I supported MEP work on construction sites, from site visits to technical support during installation, and helped operate and maintain concrete, asphalt and sand-washing plants. That taught me how systems are actually installed, run and repaired, and what the people who maintain them need from a design.

Today I produce coordinated construction drawings in Revit and AutoCAD, check them against the architecture and the other trades, and work closely with architects and contractors so the drawings hold up on site.