Best MEP Software 2023: Compare Reviews on 30+ Solutions
What do you know about MEP (mechanical, electrical and plumbing) software and the benefits that top systems provide to engineers and other construction professionals?
Using the latest MEP software, designers, engineers, and contractors working in the MEP field are able to efficiently and accurately build systems in their discipline. Today’s top technology solutions are designed to streamline the process of designing, modeling, documenting, and constructing MEP systems.
Automation features help MEP software can catch mistakes or errors that humans might miss, ensuring the seamless integration of each MEP design into the building it’s being placed into. MEP software also helps engineers make sure their building systems aren’t causing interference with the rest of a building or its components.
Nearly all top MEP software programs are designed to integrate with cloud-based CAD software to enhance or improve an overall building design. CAD software has largely replaced manual drafting, as it’s now widely used among top architects, construction managers, and engineers.
To qualify as MEP software, a solution must:
- Offer the functionality to design mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems
- Provide clash detection within the design process
- Include reporting tools and capabilities to help professionals make smarter decisions during the construction phase
Who Uses MEP Software
While the biggest users of MEP software are clearly engineers and those working in the design and construction industries, there are actually plenty of use cases where professionals from outside the core MEP industry can take advantage of these same systems to streamline their own internal processes. For example, MEP software could be beneficial to any business that works in construction, including architecture firms and design firms.
Why is MEP Software Necessary
Given that every building requires some combination of mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems to meet current building codes, MEP software is useful—if not entirely necessary—in nearly every construction project taking place in the U.S. in 2023. Using MEP software ensures business users and their clients that everything being setup within the building is running as it should.
30+ Top MEP Software Systems
AutoCAD MEP offers an industry-specific toolset for MEP professionals that increases productivity by up to 85%. The software includes a library of more than 10,500 intelligent MEP objects. Free trials are available.
Best For: Increasing productivity through MEP automation
Revit has developed a number of BIM tools for MEP engineers. Model, analyze, and iterate systems design in BIM to support better performance and sustainability. Streamline the engineering design process, and coordinate design intent in a single model before construction begins.
Best For: Firms looking to streamline design processes
Trimble Field Points is a type of point creation software for MEP professionals. Engineers can use Trimble Field Points to ensure field layout points in BIM-coordinated models are accurately located in the field.
Best For: Ensuring field layout points are accurately located
AutoPIPE is an analysis and design application used to calculate piping stresses, loads, and deflections under static and dynamic load conditions. High-quality, cost-effective, and reliable pipe and vessel designs. 12-month subscription licenses available.
Best For: Calculating piping stresses and loads
AutoDesk Fabrication is a type of construction cost estimation software that helps MEP contractors handle bids, detailing, fabrication, and installation workflows. Users can create more accurate detailed models for installation, and they can estimate, detail, and drive fabrication at LOD 400 for mechanical building systems with tight integration to BIM and CAD design workflows. Free trials are available.
Best For: Handling bids, detailing, and fabrication
MagiCAD is the most popular BIM solution for MEP design. It is used by thousands of engineering firms worldwide. It enables powerful modeling and engineering calculations. MagiCAD software makes the design of accurate BIM models easier and less time-consuming.
Best For: Performing modeling and engineering calculations
MSUITE BIM is design automation software for fast-paced MEP firms. The software increases design quality, eliminates the bore of dimensioning and tagging, and improves productivity for MEP professionals.
Best For: Automating the dimensioning and tagging process
HEC-RAS software models the hydraulics of water flow through rivers and other channels. The software is one-dimensional, which means there is no direct modeling of the hydraulic effect of cross section shape changes, bends, and other aspects of flow.
Best For: Modeling the hydraulics of water flow
EVOLVE Electrical is a best-in-class, all-in-one Revit plug-in solution that dramatically reduces modeling times. It automates detailing tasks and modeling with standardized content.
Best For: Speeding up the time is takes to model each project
Joint Integrity’s accountable flange management software is critical for a leak-free start-up. The software captures high volumes of data, so MEP professionals can control, validate, issue, track and index all project joints in a way that’s safe and compliant.
Best For: Safely controlling and validating project joints
Advance Steel’s three-dimensional modeling software drives collaboration between engineers and detailers, improves coordination, clarifies design intent, and reduces reworking. Users can achieve a seamless design and detailing workflow for projects in BIM and move rapidly from design to fabrication.
Best For: Driving collaboration between engineers and detailers
OMS, which stands for Opta Management System, is a torque software package with a fully-encompassing range of functions to provide MEP professionals with a complete company-wide solution to all torque-related activities.
Best For: Users looking for support managing torque-related activities
PowerCalc is a new way to design using digital tools and the latest automation processes. With three inputs and instant changes, the cloud-based software adheres to NEC standards and makes it easy for MEP engineers to access the most advanced technology on-the-go in real time.
Best For: Accessing MEP technology from outside the office
Intuitive software is used to simulate the fluid flow, heat transfer, and fluid forces that are critical to the success of MEP designs. When embedded within SOLIDWORKS 3D CAD, this software enables engineers to quickly simulate liquid and gas flows through and around designs to calculate project performance and capabilities.
Best For: Calculating project performance and capabilities
Benchmark Software offers a wide set of solutions for every part of an MEP professional’s business. Streamlined 3D CAD design tools create detail or takeoff drawings. Accurate estimates can be generated with customizable costing and scheduling.
Best For: Users who want a way to fabricate straight from detailed drawings.
MPDS4’s pipework software delivers intelligent routing functionality and tools for dynamically loading, positioning, replacing and analyzing piping components.
Best For: Dynamically analyzing most piping components
EVOLVE uses a software as a service (SaaS) platform that enables faster detailer workflows, smarter use of skilled labor to reduce instances of human errors and generate higher quality work, so MEP professionals can complete more projects on time.
Best For: Speeding up the detailer workflow
The QuoteCAM software company specializes in accurate quoting. Users can generate accurate cost analyses, recover overheads, and increase profit margins using QuoteCAM’s online tools.
Best For: Generating accurate cost analyses
With Mapline, MEP professionals can easily create maps from Excel spreadsheet locations. Just paste your own data to see a map within seconds.
Best For: Creating maps from Excel spreadsheets
Electrical system planning tool for creating complex embedded electrical systems utilizing simple pictorial representations of electrical components and interconnectors. SolidWorks Electrical Professional software combines the electrical schematic design capabilities of SolidWorks Electrical Schematic Professional with the 3D capabilities of SolidWorks Electrical 3D.
Best For: Engineering teams looking to increase the capabilities of other SolidWorks software systems
Design Master Electrical is an MEP software solution that allows engineers to do calculations and drafting, organize files, manage time, and design using automated tools.
Best For: Designing MEP projects using automated tools
Envisioneer develops 3D home design software for builders. Not only does the software offer immersive 3D design opportunities, but it also generates the required construction documents and framing information for every project.
Best For: Automatically generating construction documents and framing information
AVEVA software is used by more than 90% of leading industrial companies. It provides users with tools to design, operate, and drive more responsible use of resources. The software is ideal for firms in the energy, infrastructure, and manufacturing industries.
Best For: Driving a more responsible use of resources
Trimble SysQue MEP software enables designers and contractors to design in Autodesk Revit with manufacturing-specific content that’s ready for fabrication. The software provides MEP engineers and contractors with a coordinated workflow from design to fabrication to construction, which improves the accuracy and coordination of their models.
Best For: Engineers looking to get more from Autodesk Revit
SkyCAD Electrical provides MEP engineers with access to all the features they expect from high-end wiring diagram software, with automated wiring and component numbering. A free standard license is available.
Best For: Engineers that need high-end wiring diagram software
PADS Professional is an intelligent, integrated PCB design and verification flow for hardware engineers and small workgroups. It delivers compatibility with Xpedition technology and extended collaboration for PCB engineering projects.
Best For: Collaboration for PCB engineering projects
ArCADiasoft creates software for designers of electrical and power equipment systems in buildings. It can be used to create the professional documentation of internal low-voltage electrical systems. The company’s electrical module expands the capabilities of its BIM program with advanced functions.
Best For: Creating documentation for internal low-voltage electrical systems
METS software addresses all major business processes, from proposal stage to post-implementation. The platform’s material estimation and tracking system tools are particularly useful for MEP professionals who need assistance in building and maintaining WBS, BoQ, work orders, and transportation projects.
Best For: Developing material estimates and tracking projects
Trimble EC-CAD is Trimble’s premier AutoCAD-based CAD product. It’s designed to be used primarily by HVAC engineers and mechanical contractors. For MEP detailers who are creating three-dimensional models, EC-CAD makes it easier to collaborate with other trades.
Best For: Collaborating with other trades on 3D models
Vectorworks Spotlight design software facilitates improvisation and creativity, so users can transform MEP designs into real world productions. Spotlight software balances processes with the need for coordinated, accurate information to create unmatched experiences for users in the entertainment industry.
Best For: Building professionals working in the entertainment industry
KMB, Experts in MEP Consulting
KMB Design Group is a leading consulting firm providing MEP engineering services to a wide range of industries. To learn more about KMB’s commitment to excellence in MEP engineering, click here