Services

Integrated mechanical & building-performance engineering.

Scopes are routinely combined — a single project may pair mechanical design with energy modelling and air leakage testing, or a retrofit with commissioning and decarbonization analysis.

01

Mechanical Engineering

Full mechanical design for new construction and existing buildings — residential, mixed-use, commercial, institutional, and healthcare. Abyssinia Consulting acts as Mechanical Engineer of Record from schematic design through permit, tender, construction administration, and close-out.

HVAC

  • Heating, cooling & air-conditioning system design
  • Ventilation & energy/heat recovery (ERV / HRV)
  • Heat-pump systems — air-source, water-source, VRF
  • Hydronic heating & fan-coil systems
  • Corridor pressurization & parkade ventilation
  • Equipment selection & load calculations

Plumbing

  • Domestic water heating systems (incl. heat-pump & electric DHW)
  • Sanitary & storm drainage design
  • Plumbing schematics & riser diagrams
  • Water meter & water entry design
  • Fixture selection & backflow prevention
02

Energy Modelling

Whole-building energy simulation (IES-VE, HAP, eQUEST) supporting code compliance, funding applications, and incentive programs — from early design guidance to permit and occupancy documentation.

Code Compliance

  • BC Energy Step Code (Steps 2–4)
  • City of Vancouver energy & rezoning requirements (TEUI / TEDI / GHGI)
  • NECB & ASHRAE 90.1 baseline modelling
  • Building-permit & occupancy energy reports

Funding & Incentives

  • CMHC funding applications (incl. MLI Select energy tiers)
  • CleanBC incentive program support
  • BC Housing program compliance
  • Utility incentive documentation (FortisBC / BC Hydro)

Performance Analysis

  • Passive cooling & overheating analysis
  • Building-envelope thermal-bridging assessment
  • Embodied-carbon analysis
  • Zero Emission Building Plans (ZEBP)
03

Commissioning

Building commissioning services that verify mechanical, electrical, and automation systems perform as designed — protecting owners through construction and into operation.

Rezoning & Code Commissioning

  • Commissioning plans for rezoning applications
  • City of Vancouver commissioning requirements
  • Building-code-driven commissioning documentation

Third-Party Commissioning Agent

  • Independent commissioning agent (CSA Z8001)
  • OPR / Basis-of-Design review
  • Pre-functional & functional performance testing
  • Issues-log management & final commissioning report

Systems Testing

  • Integrated systems testing (life-safety)
  • Seasonal & post-occupancy verification
  • Building automation (BAS/DDC) verification
04

Air Leakage Testing

On-site whole-building and suite-level airtightness testing with calibrated fan equipment — quantifying envelope performance for code compliance and funding programs.

Building Code Compliance

  • Whole-building testing to ASTM E779
  • Suite-level testing to ASTM E3158
  • BC Energy Step Code & Vancouver Building By-Law compliance
  • Building-permit & occupancy-permit reports

Funding & Verification

  • Airtightness verification for CMHC, CleanBC & BC Housing programs
  • Mid-construction diagnostic testing
  • Envelope improvement recommendations
05

Healthcare & Institutional

Mechanical engineering for healthcare and public-sector occupancies — designed to healthcare ventilation standards and delivered within operating facilities.

Healthcare

  • Clinics, mental-health & recovery facilities
  • Long-term care & hospital projects
  • Healthcare ventilation & infection control

Institutional & Civic

  • Municipal & government buildings
  • Electrification & GHG-reduction studies
  • Phased work in occupied facilities
06

Tenant Improvement & Retrofit

HVAC and plumbing upgrades for occupied buildings — improving performance and reducing emissions without disrupting operations.

Building Systems Retrofit

  • HVAC electrification & heat-pump conversions
  • Equipment replacement (AHU, RTU, boilers, chillers)
  • DDC / BAS controls integration

Tenant Improvement

  • Office, retail & childcare fit-ups
  • Federal & municipal procurement experience
  • Phased construction in occupied buildings
Start a project

Need a hand on a project?

Tell us what you're working on and we'll come back with a clear scope and quote within one business day.

Request a consultation