Resources
Useful questions. Better project decisions.
Practical starting points for builders, designers and owners planning mechanical services.
Project checklists
Three moments that shape the result.
01
Before you issue the tender
Check that the drawings and specification align, define design responsibility, and identify controls, electrical and BMS interfaces. Include programme and handover requirements in the brief.
02
Before equipment is selected
Consider capacity, airflow and pressure, acoustics, access, electrical requirements and controls. Product data alone does not establish suitability for the building.
03
Before handover
Confirm the required testing records, as-built drawings, operating instructions, asset information and maintenance responsibilities. Keep defect obligations separate from routine servicing.
Guides by topic
Explore by service.
Guides
Latest articles.
- Section J compliance: a practical guide for commercial projectsA practical guide to NCC Section J energy efficiency on commercial projects: what it covers, which edition applies, the compliance pathways and where projects go wrong.
- Building the business case for an HVAC upgradeWhat owners, asset managers and investment committees need to see before approving a mechanical upgrade — and the mistakes that weaken a business case.
- The HFC phase-down: what it means for commercial building ownersAustralia is phasing down imports of HFC refrigerants. Existing equipment is not affected, but refrigerant should now be part of every plant replacement decision.
- Replacing a chiller: like-for-like, modular plant or water-cooled VRF?When a building’s chiller reaches end of life, a like-for-like swap is only one option. Here is how modular plant, water-cooled VRF and 4-pipe heat pumps compare.
- Passive House in Australia: what it is and who it suitsPassive House is a measurable building performance standard, not a style. A practical explainer for architects, builders and owners.
- What good indoor air quality means in a high-performance homeIndoor air quality is often reduced to a filter grade. In reality it’s a whole-building outcome — shaped by the envelope, the ventilation design and the materials inside.
Project-specific guidance
Have a question about your project?
Send the documents or a short description and we’ll point you in the right direction.