Mechanical and Electrical Equipment for Buildings, 10th Edition (Hardcover)

by Benjamin Stein (Author), John S. Reynolds (Author), Walter T. Grondzik (Author), Alison G. Kwok (Author) "IN MARCH 1971 VISIONARY ARCHITECT MALCOLM WELLS published a watershed article in Progressive Architecture..." (more)
Key Phrases: street main pressure, sunpath chart, final mass temperature, New York, John Wiley, United States (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
Continuing its proud heritage, this Tenth Edition provides thorough coverage of the latest in the theory and practice of environmental control system design. This bestselling book encompasses mechanical and electrical systems for buildings of all sizes, featuring design guidelines and detailed design procedures for every topic covered and supported by more than 2,200 illustrations—over 225 new to this edition!

From the Back Cover
Two-time winner of the AIA's Citation for Excellence in International Architecture Book Publishing

The updated edition of the definitive guide to the design of environmental control systems

Mechanical and Electrical Equipment for Buildings has been a fixture in architecture and construction firms all over the world for more than half a century. It has launched the careers of generations of students and served as a reliable reference for seasoned professionals.

Continuing its proud heritage, this Tenth Edition provides thorough coverage of the latest in the theory and practice of environmental control system design. This bestselling book encompasses mechanical and electrical systems for buildings of all sizes, featuring design guidelines and detailed design procedures for every topic covered and supported by more than 2,200 illustrations—over 225 new to this edition! It also includes information on acoustics, current technologies, new and emerging design trends, and updated codes and standards—and its superb illustrations, tables, and high-quality photographs provide a quick reference for both students and busy professionals.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 1744 pages
• Publisher: Wiley; 10 edition (November 18, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0471465917
• ISBN-13: 978-0471465911
• Product Dimensions: 10.2 x 7.8 x 2.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #14,452 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The times, they are a-changin', January 29, 2006

By	A. McDonald (New York) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This book has been an essential textbook for architectural students, and reference for professionals since its first edition in 1935. Those already familiar with its earlier editions understand this book's importance - there is no other like it at all. It is by far the most complete and thorough reference on its subject.

But the impressive thing about the new (10th) edition is how transformative and transformed it is. On one hand, it should be expected that a reference on mechanical and electrical systems is a constantly changing object. Codes are always being revised, mechanical systems introduced, new lighting types invented. Photovoltaics, for example, now merit an entire chapter. Electrical code changes require revisions throughout existing chapters. And so forth.

But on the other hand, in addition to the "updating" of the material, there is considerable rethinking in this edition to building systems as an essential part of sustainable design. Mechanical systems in the book consume fossil fuels, in their use or at least in their creation. The book makes this a central theme. There is a sensitivity toward environmental issues in this book which is simply wonderful to see. The book presents a strong argument for environmentally responsible design as now being solidly a mainstream, intelligent approach to building.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very very very thick - but truly worth owning !, January 30, 2007

By	Joong Won Lee "Joongwon" (Cambridge, MA United States) - See all my reviews

I came across this book preparing Architectural Registration Exam (ARE).
I have to say that this book is an essential for architects
who are preparing MEP (Mechanical/Electrical/Plumbing)section of the ARE.

The book is divided into basically nine sections.

1. design context
2. thermal comfort
3. illumination
4. acoustics
5. water/waste
6. fire protection
7. electricity
8. signal equipment
9. transportation

It describes various systems of each section with pretty
accessible narrative.
Abundance in graphics and diagrams is very helpful.
The book is extremely helpful in understanding where each
kit of parts fit into the overall building systems.

For instance, I heard about AHUs/ cooling towers/ refrigeration
cycle/ boilers/ duct systems/ etc. , but I never knew how
they fit and interconnect to one and another. The book, being
encyclopedic in its contents, really helps to overcome that.

The book also pays particular attention to the "sustainable"
agendas and strategies.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Weighty tome shows how engineering intersects architecture, July 15, 2006

By	calvinnme "Texan refugee" (Fredericksburg, Va) - See all my reviews (TOP 10 REVIEWER)

This almost 1800 page treatise on mechanical and electrical design as it relates to architecture is one of a kind. It is not an artistic book on the subject, although some artistic ability is always needed in any aspect of building design. Instead it is a very technical book that shows how the architect must be part electrical engineer, mechanical engineer, electrician, physicist, plumber, safety specialist, and transportation engineer in order to design the modern building. And to top it all off, you need to be knowledgable of current mechanical and electrical equipment - their specifications and their costs.

The book has plenty of examples with step by step instructions on how to perform various subtasks. Many of these examples contain numerical calculations, so it will help if you have had freshman engineering physics, especially in the sections on illumination, acoustics, and electricity where calculations, tables, and equations abound.

The book is broken into nine parts encompassing nearly every technical decision involved in designing a modern building. The first section is an introductory one on the context of design. That is followed by sections on thermal control, illumination, acoustics, water and waste, fire protection, electricity, signal systems, and finally in-building transportation. A lengthy appendix contains a great deal of supplemental information, including climate data for various parts of the United States, solar geometry, sound transmission data, and a listing of software that can be helpful in performing the tasks discussed in this book, and how that software can be obtained.

I highly recommend this book to aspiring architects and also to civil engineers that are interested in the construction of modern buildings. It's been the flagship book on the subject for seventy years in its various editions, and probably will continue to be so for the foreseeable future.