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The Proficient Engineering Blog

Offering insights on all things MEP design

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We tell it like it is.

Get advice and insights on MEP design and engineering straight from our leadership team. We’ve seen a lot, and these blogs draw on decades of industry experience.

Stormwater Drainage Systems

Facts that every building designer, owner, and contractor should know Introduction Why should we talk about stormwater drainage? Well, in short, water is heavy. A building’s stormwater drainage system must be designed to drain all rainwater from a building’s roof … Read more

How to Choose the Best HVAC Office Design

For too many years our AEC industry has relied on past experience to continue to design and install systems for offices that are grossly less efficient than current HVAC systems that are available at similar or less of the cost. … Read more

Fire Ratings: Do You Need One?

Introduction This blog will attempt to answer the age-old question “Does this electrical room need to be fire rated?”.  Well, we are here to clear the air with an emphatic….maybe.  Electrical rooms in and of themselves do not require fire ratings because they are labeled … Read more

Demystifying LEED Certification: A Guide for MEP Engineers

How Sustainable Design Principles Shape Energy-Efficient, High-Performance Buildings Introduction What is LEED certification and why do we as engineers pursue it? As seen in Figure 1, LEED-certified buildings are constructed to be energy efficient, sustainable designs with lower operating costs … Read more

Let’s Talk About BIM Baby

Introduction We all know or have heard of the fancy work that BIM (or Building Information Modeling) can produce, but what is it really? Essentially, it is the power of information and the database behind the model/drawings of buildings. When … Read more

What is a Voltage Drop?

Introduction What is a voltage drop and how does it play a crucial role in the electrical design process of a building? Throughout this blog, we will provide answers to these questions and discuss why it is important for engineers … Read more

The Value of Air Economizers

Air economizers are required by the International Energy Conservation Code (IECC), yet their impact and value are somewhat abstract at first thought. How much energy and money do they actually save? Do economizers operate enough during the year to be … Read more

Multi-Family HVAC Systems Comparison

Packages (PTACs & VTACs) or Split Direct Expansion (DX) Air Conditioning System with Electric Heat: Each residential unit will be served by individual air conditioning unit with electric heating coil. In the case of using split systems, fan coil units … Read more

Plumbing Site Surveys

Capturing the Hidden Details for Clearer Design Plans Documenting the existing plumbing systems on a site visit can be challenging because much of the systems will not be readily visible. However, the more information that is well documented on plan … Read more
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We’ve been called a lot of things ~ Experienced, easy to work with, and proactive are a few of our favorites.

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At Niles Bolton Associates, we value collaboration and innovation, and we trust Proficient Engineering’s expertise to deliver efficient, sustainable MEP solutions that elevate every project.

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Managing Director

Niles Bolton Associates

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We have enjoyed working with Proficient’s Knoxville team to serve a variety of clients from renovation/redevelopment to new development projects. The team has provided fair and competitive pricing, communicated needs and requirements promptly and clearly, maintained schedule, and have been advocates for solutions that balance technical and functional requirements within the parameters of the given project.

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Principal, Owner

The Benefield Richters Company

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The guys at Proficient are professional and hardworking, always meeting the design and deadline.

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Partner

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