Building Services Engineer

Introduction

Building services engineers design building services such as lifts, lighting or heating in buildings. They often focus on reducing energy usage, using new technologies.

Building services engineers spend some time on-site supervising the installation of the services that they have designed. Also known as

Engineer, Building Services Environmental Engineer Work Activities

As a Building Services Engineer, you will design building services systems. You also supervise the installation and operation. These systems include:

air conditioning heating lighting and power lifts fume control

The focus of your work is often to reduce energy usage.

Certain types of buildings need complex building services. For example, computer rooms need very sensitive controls of temperature and humidity, and hospital operating theatres must be completely sterile. Buildings such as swimming pools, museums and leisure centres also have special requirements.

Some Building Services Engineers are mainly office-based as you might specialise in design work. You often use computer-aided design (CAD) or building information modelling (BIM) packages for this work. You work closely with the Architect, the client and other members of the design team to prepare a design for a building project.

Designs must meet environmental needs, use energy efficiently and meet the budget set by the customer. Engineers need overall knowledge of the full range of building services, although you usually specialise in either mechanical services or lighting/electrical services.

You maintain close links with other professionals such as the Construction Manager and the Surveyor to decide how many staff are needed and to work out costs. You supervise the installation of the building services and inspect the quality of the work, dealing with any problems that arise.

Being able to read, write and speak Welsh may be an advantage when you’re looking for work in Wales. Personal Qualities and Skills

To become a Building Services Engineer, you'll need:

to be a good teamworker as you will work closely with various construction professionals a creative and enquiring mind and an ability to solve problems to be a good communicator, as you have to explain ideas and designs to other members of the team an interest in protecting the environment, as you'll have to find the best ways for organisations to use energy IT skills

Pay

The pay rates given below are approximate.

Starting: £31,000 - £34,000 With experience: £37,000 - £45,000 Senior Building Services Engineers earn £48,500 - £53,000

Hours of work

Building Services Engineers 40 hours a week, with occasional evening and weekend work according to the demands of the project.

Where could I work?

Employers include:

large building services contractors central and local government departments small building firms design consultancies building suppliers

Some Building Services Engineers go into research and development work.

Opportunities for Building Services Engineers occur with employers in towns and cities throughout the UK, and worldwide.

Where are vacancies advertised?

A good place to look for vacancies is the Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers Journal website.

Vacancies are also advertised on all the major job boards, on Find a Job, and at Jobcentre Plus.

GreenJobs is a job board aimed at people interested in green careers:

www.greenjobs.co.uk/browse-jobs/engineering/ Entry Routes and Training

Entry routes

The most direct route into this career is to study for a relevant engineering degree that has been accredited by the Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE).

You need a Master of Engineering (MEng) degree to become a Chartered Engineer. A Bachelor of Engineering (BEng) degree leads to Incorporated Engineer status.

You can also get into this career via other engineering courses, such as electrical, electronic or mechanical engineering.

A degree Apprenticeship is also great way to get into this career. Take a look at our information article 'Apprenticeships – How do I apply', for more details about applying for apprenticeship positions.

However, check carefully that the degree course you progress to is accredited.

For a full list of accredited courses, contact the CIBSE.

Work Experience

Previous experience within an engineering position (such as an electrical and mechanical) would be useful for this career.

Training

After getting a degree, you must have a period of approved training and experience with an employer to become fully qualified.

A great way to get into this career is through an internship. Take a look at our information article 'Internships', for more details.

Progression

Experienced Building Services Engineers can move into senior positions, eg, Chief Engineer. Other routes may be to partner in a consultancy firm, a Technical Director, or into project management. Qualifications

To enter a relevant degree course, you will usually need:

2/3 A levels, including maths and/or physics GCSEs at grade C/4 or above in your A level subjects a further 2/3 GCSEs at grade C/4 or above, including English

Other qualifications are often acceptable as alternatives to A levels, for example a relevant vocational qualification and the International Baccalaureate Diploma.

A T level in design, surveying and planning for construction will cover areas of building service design.

However, entry requirements for different courses vary, so check college/university websites for more details.

Some universities offer foundation courses for applicants without the appropriate maths and science qualifications.

To get onto an apprenticeship, you'll usually need 5 GCSEs at grade C/4 or above, including English and Maths.

To get onto a degree appprenticeship, you will usually need at least 2 A levels.

Some universities accept the Welsh Baccalaureate as equivalent to 1 A level. Adult Opportunities

Age limits

It is illegal for any organisation to set age limits for entry to employment, education or training, unless they can show there is a real need to have these limits.

Age limits

Adult entrants are usually qualified or experienced in a related field of engineering or construction.

Courses

If you don't have the qualifications needed to enter your chosen degree or HND course, a college or university Access course could be the way in.

These courses are designed for people who have not followed the usual routes into higher education. No formal qualifications are usually needed, but you should check this with individual colleges.

Various institutions offer HNCs or degrees, in relevant subjects, via part-time evening study, or distance learning.

The College of Estate Management offers a BSc in Building Services Quantity Surveying, via distance learning.

Brunel University offers an MSc in Building Services Engineering, via distance learning.

Another route into this career is to train as a building services engineering technician and work your way up. It may be possible to get into a technician role via a Building Services Engineering Technology Advanced Level Apprenticeship.

Funding

Sponsorship for study at higher education level is available through the larger building/construction companies.

The Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers offers student bursaries.

Statistics

8% of people in this career are self-employed. 13% work part-time. 22% have flexible hours. Further Information

Professional institutionsProfessional institutions have the following roles:

To support their members. To protect the public by keeping standards high in their professions.

The CIBSE is the main professional institution for people working in building services engineering.

Contacts

Apprenticeships: Get In. Go Far National Apprenticeship Service (NAS) Tel: 0800 015 0400 Email: [email protected] Website: www.apprenticeships.org.uk

LGjobs Local government vacancies Website: www.lgjobs.com

myjobscotland: Scottish local government vacancies Scottish enquiries Email: [email protected] Website: www.myjobscotland.gov.uk

Semta Skills for science, engineering and manufacturing technologies Address: 14 Upton Road, Watford, Hertfordshire WD18 0JT

The Engineer Engineering technology news Email: [email protected] Website: www.theengineer.co.uk

Tomorrow's Engineers Publisher: EngineeringUK and Royal Academy of Engineering Email: [email protected] Website: www.tomorrowsengineers.org.uk

City & Guilds Address: 1 Giltspur Street, London EC1A 9DD Tel: 020 7294 2468 Email: [email protected] Website: www.cityandguilds.com

CITB-ConstructionSkills Skills for the construction industry Address: Bircham Newton, Kings Lynn, Norfolk PE31 6RH Website: www.cskills.org

CITB NI Northern Ireland Enquiries Address: Nutts Corner Training Centre, 17 Dundrod Road, Crumlin, County Antrim BT29 4SR Tel: 028 9082 5466 Email: [email protected] Website: www.citbcsni.org.uk

Construction Employers Federation (CEF) Irish enquiries Address: 143 Malone Road, Belfast BT9 6SU Tel: 028 9087 7143 Email: [email protected] Website: www.cefni.co.uk

Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) Address: Bircham Newton, Kings Lynn, Norfolk PE31 6RH Tel: 0844 5768777 Website: www.cscs.uk.com

bConstructive Publisher: CITB-ConstructionSkills Tel: 0344 994 4010 Email: [email protected] Website: www.bconstructive.co.uk

Chartered Association of Building Engineers (CABE) Address: Lutyens House, Billing Brook Road, Weston Favell, Northampton NN3 8NW Tel: 01604 404121 Email: [email protected] Website: www.abe.org.uk

Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE) Address: 222 Balham High Road, London SW12 9BS Tel: 020 8675 5211 Website: www.cibse.org

© CASCAID 2021 5 Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE) Northern Ireland Northern Ireland Enquiries Address: Caldwell Consulting, 8 Lorne Street, Belfast BT9 7DU Tel: 028 9066 9456 Email: [email protected] Website: www.cibse.org

CIBSE Journal Jobs Website: jobs.cibsejournal.com

Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) Address: Blue Court, Church Lane, Kings Langley, Hertfordshire WD4 8JP Tel: 01923 260000 Email: [email protected] Website: careers.ecitb.org.uk

Engineer Jobs Publisher: Venture Marketing Group Email: [email protected] Website: www.engineerjobs.co.uk

Getting into Engineering Courses Author: James Burnett Publisher: Trotman Website: www.mpw.ac.uk/university-guides/getting-into/engineering-courses/

Scottish Engineering Scottish enquiries Address: 105 West George Street, Glasgow G2 1QL Tel: 0141 2213181 Email: [email protected] Website: www.scottishengineering.org.uk

Engineering Council Address: 246 High Holborn, London WC1V 7EX Tel: 020 3206 0500 Website: www.engc.org.uk

Engineering Training Council Northern Ireland (ETC NI) Northern Ireland Enquiries Address: Sketrick House, Ards Business Park, Jubilee Road, Newtownards BT23 4YH Tel: 028 9182 2377 Email: [email protected] Website: www.etcni.org.uk

SummitSkills Skills for building services engineering sector Address: Vega House, Opal Drive, Fox Milne, Milton Keynes MK15 0DF Tel: 01908 303960 Email: [email protected] Website: www.summitskills.org.uk

The Building Engineering Services Association (BESA) Address: The Priory, Stomp Road, Burnham, Buckinghamshire SL1 7LW Tel: 01628 607800 Email: [email protected] Website: www.best-ltd.co.uk

Building and Engineering Services Association (B&ES) Address: Esca House, 34 Palace Court, London W2 4JG Tel: 020 7313 4900 Website: www.b-es.org

© CASCAID 2021 6 Building Engineering Services Scotland Scottish enquiries Address: The Walled Garden, Bush Estate, Penicuik, Midlothian EH26 0SD Tel: 0131 4455900 Email: [email protected] Website: www.best-ltd.co.uk

ABC Awards Email: [email protected] Website: www.abcawards.co.uk

Brunel University Address: Kingston Lane, Uxbridge, Middlesex UB8 3PH Tel: 01895 274000 Website: www.brunel.ac.uk

BPEC Address: 2 Mallard Way, Pride Park, Derby DE24 8GX Tel: 0845 6446558 Email: [email protected] Website: www.bpec.org.uk

Careers Wales - Welsh Apprenticeships Tel: 0800 028 4844 Website: ams.careerswales.com/ Related Careers

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