OPW: Office of Public Works
Oifig na nOibreacha Poiblí
MECHANICAL AND ELECTRICAL SECTION
The Mechanical & Electrical (M&E) Section of Engineering Services, is primarily involved in the design, installation and maintenance of mechanical, electrical and electronic services in state buildings throughout the country. The section offers a professional engineering consultancy service to both in-house and external design teams as well as to other Government Departments.
The M&E section also provides an advisory service for the selection, briefing, management and monitoring of external engineering consultants appointed by the OPW to carry out work on certain projects that are not handled by in-house staff.
Within the M&E Section there is a specialist division dedicated to Energy Conservation. The Energy Conservation Unit is involved with the installation of energy efficient technologies and implementation of energy efficient strategies and programs in buildings throughout the state. A major project in which they have been involved over the past number of years is the installation of Building Management Systems (BMS) in all state buildings which have floor areas in excess of 1000m2 (approximately 200 in total). The BMS are linked via phone lines to a central BMS Server in OPW HQ allowing the operation heating, ventilation and air conditioning plant be monitored and controlled remotely in the most energy efficient manner possible. The Energy Conservation Unit also provides a consultancy service using the latest dynamic thermal simulation software for computer modelling of new and existing buildings to maximise energy efficiency at early design stage.
Another function of the M&E Section is to provide advice in relation to specialist areas, such as lighting for exhibitions and accommodation of building services in historic buildings and national monuments.
The Section is involved in a large variety of work. The Viking & Egyptian exhibitions for the National Museum and the restoration of the Curvilinear Glasshouse in the Botanic Gardens are examples of some of the very specialised work that has been undertaken. Award winning buildings such as Leinster House 2000 and Turlough Park House Folk Life Museum have been completed in the recent past.
The office has also made a real contribution to work that has been carried out by consulting engineering offices. Parts of the Backweston project are being carried out by consultants and part by OPW staff.