insights What does a building services engineer do?

Meet Adnan Fazal

Adnan joined Atkins, a member of the AtkinsRéalis Group, in September 2015 in our Graduate Development Programme. He's now a Senior Building Services Engineer in the Epsom Building Services team. During his six and a half years with us, he's worked on many different projects across various sectors, mainly in the Bluelight and Education sectors.

What does a Building Services Engineer do?

“Imagine yourself in the most iconic building in the world. Now take away the lighting, heating, ventilation, air conditioning, plumbing, power and safety systems. You're left in a dark, cold, uninhabitable and unsafe shell and well, in need of a Chartered Engineer. The work Building Services Engineers do ensure that buildings meet the needs of their occupants by developing internal engineering systems to make the building 'COME ALIVE.’”

A building will always be more than just bricks and mortar. Especially as the industry transitions and becomes heavily reliant on the benefits of technology and how it can be used to bring buildings to life. 

How do you bring a building to life?

“I use complex dynamic models to represent it in 3D. Using the models, I create a stable internal environment with the correct temperature, air quality and lighting levels that meet health and safety regulations. I always aim to reach a brilliant engineering solution that will also be sustainable for the long term.”

3D modelling has many benefits, not only do they bring buildings to life, they let Building Services professionals like Adnan visualise how they can create a building that will stand the test of time. 

What is a Building Service Engineer’s typical work week like?

It varies depending on the projects I am working on. I could be doing calculations, modifying drawings, and modelling systems in specialist software. As a Charted Engineer, sometimes I meet clients or other discipline design leads to discuss ideas and systems. A typical week of work for me includes:

• Attending an early stage workshop with the project team to persuade a new client to incorporate low carbon technologies in their building project
• Attending site visits to review the ongoing installation or witness the commissioning of systems before the handover of a completed project
• Using the latest software packages to solve engineering problems, using design, modelling and visualization
• Undertaking site surveys to review the condition of the installed systems
• Spend time with a manufacturer to learn about new products to meet the increasing demand for sustainability and aim to reach for net-zero 
• Sharing acquired knowledge and expertise with young and upcoming Building Services Engineers
• Assisting with the Quality Assurance (QA) process by reviewing works from a project not directly involved.

What is exciting about Building Services right now?

“There’s an increasing demand for more sustainable, energy-efficient buildings and services to combat climate change. So, our role as Building Services Engineers puts us on the frontline of the crisis. We're working in different ways now, for example, collaborating with building physicists to understand how buildings' forms and functions interact with environmental conditions and performance.”

Another reason why more people like Adnan are joining the Building Services workforce is because of the sheer scale of investment in the industry.  Deloitte reported that the total construction spending reached a record high of $1.57 trillion in July 2021, which is 12% more than the 2019 average level. 

What are some of the Building Service projects you've worked on #InsideAtkins?

My projects include Gwent Police Headquarters, Yeovil Police Station, Whitmore High School and Pembroke Welsh Medium (a Net Zero Carbon in-operation primary school). I also worked on the state-of-the-art Sports Park at the University of South Wales with its full-scale indoor rugby pitch.

A large part of my responsibilities on these projects revolved around problem-solving. "Can you find the right way to make this system or that space more energy-efficient while complying with environmental regulations and improving the quality of life for the occupants?" I love this about the job. If you enjoy challenges and want a career where every day is different—you'll love it too!

What keeps you at Atkins?

Atkins has been a great company to work for because they've helped me achieve all my career goals, such as becoming a Chartered Engineer. Throughout my time at Atkins, I've continued to be supported by my line managers and mentors and have felt extremely motivated by the exceptional work culture. They've helped me develop as an engineer, gaining a wide range of sector knowledge and experience with opportunities to work worldwide and many exciting secondments.

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