Engineered Solutions for Houses and the People Who Live in Them

Heating, ventilation and electrical systems that just work — clear, buildable M&E design for residential projects of any size

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Heating & Heat Pumps Electrical Design Ventilation & MVHR Compliance & SAP

Modern residential projects are increasingly complex — heat pumps, underfloor heating, MVHR, smart controls and renewables all need to work together while meeting energy standards and client expectations. But most M&E consultancies are set up for commercial work, not homes. Sustained Heat brings professional engineering discipline to domestic projects of all types: new builds and extensions, flats and houses, heritage properties and contemporary homes. We deliver coordinated, buildable designs that work for your project.

Who We Work With

Architects

M&E design for residential projects of any scale. We coordinate early, think about where services go, and produce drawings contractors can build from.

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Homeowners

Independent advice for your heating, electrical and ventilation systems. We work for you, not for equipment manufacturers or installers.

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Contractors

Clear documentation, proper specifications, responsive support. Everything you need to price accurately and install with confidence.

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What We Do

Complete M&E design for any residential project — new builds, renovations, extensions, flats and houses of all sizes

Mechanical Design

Heating systems, heat pump specifications, underfloor heating, ventilation strategy, and cooling where required.

Electrical Design

Power distribution, lighting layouts, small power, data infrastructure, and EV charging provision.

Public Health

Domestic hot and cold water systems, above and below ground drainage, rainwater goods.

Energy & Compliance

SAP calculations, Part L/F/O compliance, EPC production, and TM59 overheating analysis.

Retrofit Services

PAS 2035 coordination, whole-house M&E strategy, heat pump feasibility, ventilation upgrades.

Heritage & Conservation

M&E strategies for Listed Building Consent, discreet service routing, conservation officer liaison.

How We Work

We align our deliverables to RIBA stages and coordinate early to avoid problems on site

1

Early Involvement

We join at Stage 2 when there's still scope to influence layouts and coordinate service routes.

2

Coordinated Design

We develop M&E solutions that fit the architecture, not fight it — working with architects or directly with homeowners and contractors.

3

Buildable Output

Clear drawings and specifications that contractors can price and build from without guesswork.

4

Site Support

We don't disappear after Stage 4. Contractor liaison, inspections, and commissioning oversight.

Their calculations and design packs made installation seamless and saved me hours on site. Communication is clear, documentation is spot-on and they collaborate throughout.
Tony Waite Cox & Waite, Heating Engineers

Let's Talk About Your Project

Whether you're an architect, homeowner or contractor, we'd be happy to discuss how we can help.

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For Architects

M&E design for residential projects of any scale — coordinated, buildable, and aligned to RIBA stages.

Whether it's a new build, an extension, a flat refurbishment or a sensitive heritage project, you need M&E input that won't unpick your carefully considered layouts or create headaches on site. We're a residential M&E consultancy that understands how architects work. We coordinate early, we think about where services actually go, and we produce drawings that contractors can build from.

Why Architects Choose Us

We coordinate early

We join at Stage 2 when there's still scope to influence layouts. Finding out at Stage 4 that you need a 300mm bulkhead is no use to anyone.

We understand constraints

Tight floor voids, compact flats, exposed ceilings, heritage restrictions — we design around real-world limitations, not theoretical ideals.

We think about the architecture

Radiators that work with your interior elevations. Discreet service routes. Grilles and vents that don't ruin the aesthetic.

We produce buildable output

Clear drawings and specifications that contractors can price and build from. Less RFIs, fewer site problems.

We're responsive

Design queries answered promptly. Drawing updates when layouts change. We're available throughout the project, not just at tender.

We speak your language

We work to RIBA stages, we understand design intent, and we coordinate with your drawings rather than working in isolation.

How We Work With You

We align our deliverables to RIBA stages and coordinate throughout

Stage 2: Concept Design

Early M&E strategy. We identify service routes, flag spatial requirements, and coordinate with your emerging design.

Stage 3: Spatial Coordination

Developed M&E layouts coordinated with your GA drawings. Plant space, distribution routes, terminal positions.

Stage 4: Technical Design

Full specifications, equipment schedules, detailed drawings. Everything contractors need to price and build.

Stage 5: Construction

Site queries, drawing updates, inspections, commissioning oversight. We stay involved until handover.

Planning Compliance

We provide calculations and documentation for planning applications, including SAP assessments, Part L compliance, and energy statements required by local authorities.

For Homeowners

Independent advice and professional design for your home's heating, electrical and ventilation systems.

You're planning a new build, renovation, extension or heating upgrade. You've had quotes from installers, but they're recommending different systems, different sizes, different approaches. How do you know what's right for your home?

That's where we come in. We're M&E (mechanical and electrical) consultants — engineers who design heating, ventilation and electrical systems for homes. We work for you, not for equipment manufacturers or installers, so our advice is independent. Whether you're building from scratch, upgrading a flat, or renovating a family house, we can help.

Sound Familiar?

These are the situations where having an independent engineer makes all the difference

"I've had three quotes and they're all completely different"

Without a specification, every installer quotes their preferred system. We design what's right for your home first, then you get quotes for the same thing.

"I want a heat pump but I'm not sure it'll work"

Heat pumps need proper sizing based on actual heat loss, not rules of thumb. We calculate what you need and design a system that delivers.

"We're building/extending and want to get the M&E right"

New builds and extensions are your chance to get services exactly right. We design systems that work with your plans rather than being an afterthought.

"It's getting complicated and I need someone to coordinate"

When you're changing layouts, upgrading services and managing multiple trades, you need someone who can see the whole picture.

How It Works

From first conversation to completed installation

1

Discovery Call

A free conversation about your project. We'll ask about your house, your plans, and what you're hoping to achieve.

2

Survey & Design

We visit your property, take measurements, and develop designs and specifications tailored to your home.

3

Tender Support

You get quotes from installers based on our specification. We can help you compare them and answer technical questions.

4

Construction Support

We're available during the build for queries, site visits and commissioning checks to make sure it's done right.

Common Questions

Is this just for big projects?

Not at all. We work on everything from straightforward heat pump replacements to major renovations. If you're spending significant money on your home's services and want to get it right, we can help.

Do I really need a consultant if I have a good installer?

A good installer will do good work — but they're naturally going to recommend their preferred systems and approaches. We provide independent advice and a design that any competent installer can follow.

We already have an architect. Do we need you too?

Architects are brilliant at designing spaces and buildings. M&E design is a different specialism — it's about heating, ventilation, electrical systems and how they integrate with the building. We work alongside architects all the time.

For Contractors

Clear documentation, proper specifications, and responsive support — everything you need to price accurately and install with confidence.

We know what it's like to work from vague specifications, incomplete drawings, or no documentation at all. Then when something doesn't fit on site, somehow it becomes your problem.

We do things differently. Our design packs give you everything you need to price the job accurately and install it right first time. Clear drawings, proper calculations, specified equipment. When questions come up during the build, we're available to help.

Why Contractors Like Working With Us

Complete Documentation

Layouts, schematics, schedules and specifications. Everything you need to price the job properly and order the right kit.

Proper Heat Loss Calculations

Room-by-room heat loss to EN 12831. No guesswork, no oversizing. You install what's actually needed.

Sized Emitters

Radiator and UFH schedules with outputs matched to heat loss. Makes ordering straightforward.

Electrical Layouts

Socket positions, lighting layouts, circuit schedules. Coordinated with the mechanical design so nothing clashes.

Responsive Support

Questions during the install? We answer emails and calls. We don't disappear after issuing drawings.

Buildable Designs

We think about how things get installed, not just how they look on paper. Fewer surprises on site.

How We Can Work Together

A few scenarios where contractors bring us in

Pricing from our documentation

You've been sent a tender pack that includes our drawings and specs. Price with confidence — what's on the drawings is what's needed.

Design support for your quote

You're pricing a job but need proper calculations and drawings to back up your quote. We can provide the design work so you're not guessing.

Heat pump system design

Customer wants a heat pump but you want to make sure the system is properly designed before you quote. We do the heat loss, sizing and emitter selection.

Complex or constrained sites

Tricky routing, tight spaces, heritage constraints, or unusual requirements. We can work out the design so you know what you're dealing with before you commit.

Case Studies

A selection of projects showing the range of work we do

Georgian villa exterior
Grade II Listed

Georgian Villa

A Grade II listed Georgian villa undergoing sensitive refurbishment required a new heating system that could deliver consistent comfort without compromising historic fabric. Sustained Heat designed a hybrid approach combining discreet underfloor heating with carefully sized cast-iron radiators, all balanced for lower flow temperatures. Working closely with the conservation officer, all pipe routes and controls were concealed, fully reversible and future heat-pump ready.

St Paul's Church interior
Grade I Listed

St Paul's Church, Covent Garden

A Grade I listed Inigo Jones landmark with historic timber floors and stone fabric. The brief was to improve comfort without altering the building or introducing visible modern systems. We designed a discreet underfloor solution using a suspended Ultra-Fin system between floor joists, fully integrated with existing radiators. The result is a fully reversible retrofit that improves comfort now and prepares the church for low-carbon heating in the future.

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Get in touch to talk through your requirements.

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