Mechanical and piping systems in multi-family buildings age quietly until they do not. Our engineers assess what you have, tell you what it will cost to sustain or replace it, and deliver a sealed scope when the work is ready to go to tender.
Boilers, hydronic distribution, in-suite baseboards, fan coil units, and make-up air units all have finite service lives. Our engineers assess current condition, document deficiencies, and project what replacement or major maintenance will cost and when.
Exhaust fans, corridor and parkade ventilation, and fresh-air systems affect resident comfort and building performance. Engineers assess whether equipment is functioning as designed, identify end-of-life components, and recommend remediation where ventilation is inadequate.
Domestic hot and cold water supply piping, drain-waste-vent stacks, and in-suite connections degrade over time. Assessment establishes the condition of shared piping, flags active or latent issues, and informs the council's decision about repair or a phased replacement program.
Councils get a documented engineering view of their systems before anyone spends money on repairs. When work is ready to proceed, the upgrade scope is prepared and sealed so it can go directly to a mechanical contractor for tender.
How we work
A qualified engineer talks through the building, the systems of concern, and what the council already knows. We confirm the scope and what the assessment will cover before anyone signs a proposal.
Our mechanical engineers access the boiler room, mechanical rooms, rooftop equipment, and shared piping risers. We document condition, photograph deficiencies, and take the readings needed to assess remaining service life.
A written condition assessment is delivered. It describes what our engineers found, what needs attention and when, and what replacement or remediation is expected to cost. This is the document the council uses to plan CRF contributions and make repair decisions.
When the council is ready to proceed with work, we prepare an EGBC-sealed scope of work and specifications the building can tender to mechanical contractors. We stay available for questions through the procurement and construction process.
Mechanical systems in multi-family buildings interact with envelope, electrical, and structural realities. Our engineers work alongside the rest of the disciplines in-house, so a boiler replacement recommendation accounts for electrical capacity and a piping upgrade is coordinated with structural access. One firm, one sealed report, no gaps between consultants.
Mechanical and piping systems in multi-family buildings age quietly until they do not.Mechanical and HVAC consulting, BC strata
Most property managers and councils come to us for mechanical consulting in one of two circumstances.
The boiler is running past its expected service life. Piping complaints are increasing. Make-up air units are unreliable. An engineering assessment gives the council a factual picture of what is there, what it will cost to sustain, and when replacement becomes the more defensible decision.
The council has decided to replace a system and needs a sealed scope to go to tender. Our engineers specify the replacement, write the tender documents, and can review the installation during construction. The work goes out properly and the council is protected.
"The team at Strata Engineering have worked tirelessly on a number of projects I've assigned to them to deliver the best possible results. Their knowledge and professionalism have encouraged me to refer them to my peers and use them regularly."
"I have always trusted Strata Engineering to handle the engineering needs of my portfolio; everything from general questions to major projects. I highly recommend them to anyone who wants confident solutions to their needs."
"Strata Engineering has always gone above and beyond when I have engaged their services. They are both accommodating to client schedules and leave no question unanswered, leaving me and my strata with peace of mind."
If yours is not covered, ask us. We answer on the phone before anyone sends a proposal.
Recurring failures, pressure or temperature irregularities, complaints from multiple units, or systems that are approaching end of their typical service life are signals worth having an engineer look at. A condition assessment gives the council a documented picture of where things stand, which is more reliable than waiting for a failure to decide.
We look at heating systems including boilers and in-suite baseboards, ventilation including make-up air units and exhaust fans, domestic hot and cold water piping, drainage, and any shared mechanical equipment in the parkade, mechanical rooms, or rooftop. The scope is confirmed with the council before we begin.
Yes. Mechanical and piping systems are a core component of every depreciation report we prepare. If the council needs a standalone mechanical assessment outside of a depreciation cycle, we can scope that separately.
After the condition assessment, our engineers produce a specification and scope of work for the remediation or replacement. The document is EGBC-sealed and can be used to tender the work to mechanical contractors. We can also provide site review during construction if the council wants engineering eyes on the installation.
Yes in general terms. When councils are weighing system replacement decisions, our engineers can discuss the implications of fuel-switching or electrification upgrades as part of the planning conversation. For a formal GHG or energy report, we prepare those as a separate scope.
Yes. Our Burnaby office covers the Lower Mainland and our Kelowna office serves the Okanagan. Both offices work from the same engineering team and deliver the same standard of report.
See the full service menu for existing strata properties across every engineering discipline.
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When mechanical decisions intersect with emissions reporting or BC Step Code requirements, our engineers prepare the formal GHG and energy report the building needs.
GHG energy reports →
Heating system upgrades and electrification often require an electrical planning report accepted by BC Hydro. Our electrical engineers prepare and seal those alongside the mechanical work.
Electrical planning →Start with a twenty-minute scoping call. A qualified engineer learns the building and returns a clear proposal. No paperwork first.