Role of the building services engineering consultant

In the past three decades the engineering services content in buildings has grown continuously in quantity and complexity. What used to be the province of the plumber and electrician now demands the services of a body of highly educated and specialist trained professional engineers. To meet the growing demand, a body of such professional and technical engineers has been expanding rapidly. The paper provides a wide ranging view of the environment in which the building services engineer operates, the relationship with the industry and the other professionals involved, the technological content and the management skills which are needed. Many discussions with aspiring engineering graduates have left the author with the conviction that the building industry does not rate very highly as a prospect. The paper endeavours to demonstrate that the skills required, and the degree of challenge involved, offer prospects of a rewarding and varied career. What is certain is that the demand for competent building services engineers is greater than the supply.