MBE / HUB-Certified Texas MEP
School and Educational Facility MEP Engineering in Houston, Texas
Pyra Engineering delivers sealed MEP for schools across Houston and the wider Texas metro. We're MBE/HUB-certified, TBPE-registered, and write to the codes the Houston AHJ actually enforces — not the generic version.
What we deliver for schools in Houston
- Classroom ventilation per ASHRAE 62.1
- Kitchen and serving-line MEP
- Gym and multi-purpose room HVAC
- Restroom group plumbing per IPC fixture counts
- Lighting and daylighting integration
- Power for AV and IT closets
- Energy code with K-12 / daycare provisions
Recent schools work — Texas portfolio, anonymized
- educational project — College Station, TX — 1458 sf — M/E/P scope — City of College Station — 2018 IBC/IMC/IPC/IFC, 2018 IECC, NEC — completed 2022. HVAC schematic and construction documents (released to owner); Electrical distribution and lighting
- early childhood / daycare — Sugarland, TX — 375 sf — M/E/P scope — City of Sugar Land — IBC/IMC/IPC/IFC 2021, NEC 2023, IECC 2021, TAS, NFPA 17A/96/10, City of Sugar Land + Fort Bend County amendments — completed 2026. HVAC + kitchen exhaust (Type I hood); Commercial cooking equipment electrical (range, oven, dishwasher)
- school — Fort Worth, TX — M/E/P scope — Tarrant — IBC/IMC/IPC/IFC 2021, NEC 2020, TAS
- school — TX — M/E/P scope — IBC/IMC/IPC/IFC 2021, NEC 2020, TAS
- early childhood / daycare — TX — M/E/P scope — IBC/IMC/IPC/IFC 2021, NEC 2020, TAS
Project descriptions are anonymized. Pyra Engineering does not publish client names or contract values.
Houston permit notes
City of Houston permits route through Houston Public Works Code Enforcement. Plan reviewers commonly comment on duct route and 506.3 grease duct enclosures; we draw to head off the typical second-round.
Frequently asked questions
Does Pyra Engineering design fire alarm or sprinkler systems?
No. Fire alarm system design and installation is the fire alarm vendor's scope. Sprinkler design is the fire-protection contractor / FPE scope. Pyra Engineering's scope is mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) only — we coordinate locations and conduit notes for FA/sprinkler tie-ins on our drawings, but we do not stamp those designs.
Do I need a sealed Texas engineer for a school project in Houston?
For most schools of any meaningful size, yes. Texas Occupations Code §1001 requires MEP designs above certain thresholds to be stamped by a licensed Texas Professional Engineer. Drawings without a TX seal can stall plan review or trigger code-enforcement action. Pyra Engineering is a Texas-licensed firm; the drawings we deliver are stamped and ready for Houston permit submittal.
What's typical turnaround on MEP drawings for a school in Houston?
Standard school fit-outs run 2–4 weeks from kickoff to permit-ready package, depending on scope and how quickly architectural backgrounds settle. Fast-track schedules are doable when we surface the deadline at quote — we have a separate workflow for franchise-rollout pace and developer-deadline pressure.
Will Pyra Engineering stamp drawings done by a contractor or designer?
We perform an engineer-of-record review before stamping any third-party drawings. If the design is sound, we mark up the corrections needed and stamp once they're incorporated. If it isn't, we'll tell you up front rather than stamp something we don't stand behind. Stamping fees are scoped to the review effort.
Does the MBE/HUB certification benefit me on a Houston project?
Yes if you're tracking diversity-spend goals on public-sector or large corporate projects. Pyra Engineering's HUB and MBE certifications count toward those goals; many City of Houston, county, and Fortune-500 supplier-diversity programs accept them. Bringing us in lets you both meet the goal and get the engineering.
How does Pyra Engineering quote schools MEP design?
Fixed fee based on conditioned area, scope (full MEP vs. discipline-specific), and project type (shell, TI, or ground-up). Quotes typically come back within one business day of receiving the architectural set or a one-paragraph scope summary. No estimates without scope — we don't do range pricing that creeps.
ASHRAE 62.1 vs local code for classroom OA — which governs?
Whichever is stricter. Most TX cities adopt ASHRAE 62.1 by reference, then add local amendments. We tie the calc back to the architectural occupancy schedule.
What's typical MEP scope for daycare vs K-12 wing?
Daycares add specific plumbing (low fixtures, hand-wash counts per TX licensing), and ventilation tied to nap/play room occupancy. K-12 carries more on AV power, IT closet cooling, gym/MPR HVAC.
Mass notification and fire alarm — do you handle both?
No. Both are out of our scope. Fire alarm is the FA vendor's scope; mass notification is a separate vendor. We coordinate locations only.
Energy code provisions specific to schools?
IECC 2021 lower lighting power densities for classroom and library spaces. We meet with LED + daylighting.
Code edition for Houston schools?
2021 IBC/IMC/IPC/IFC + 2021 IECC + NEC 2020 or 2023.
Gym / MPR HVAC?
Sized for high-occupancy peak with VAV zoning. Demand control ventilation required for energy compliance.
Kitchen and serving-line MEP?
Same scope as restaurant Type I exhaust + commercial dishwashing if served on-site.
Restroom group plumbing per IPC?
Calculated by occupant load + grade level. K-12 has specific child-height fixture provisions.
Lighting and daylighting integration?
Required per IECC 2021 §C405. Daylight harvesting in regularly occupied daylit zones.
Power for AV and IT closets?
Dedicated isolated-ground circuits for AV racks. Cooling for IT closet equipment per heat load.
Permit cycle for schools?
2–3 cycles. ISD-owned schools may have additional ISD board approval timeline.
TDLR / TAS for schools?
Yes, every K-12 and most daycare submittals trigger TDLR. We design TAS-compliant from day one.
Do you handle exterior lighting / parking?
Yes — pole base, area lighting, photocell controls.
Sprinkler coordination?
Sprinkler is the FPE / fire-protection contractor scope, not ours.
Construction administration for schools?
Heavy CA scope — site visits, life-safety verification, equipment startup.
Cost premium vs office TI?
Similar per sf; assembly-grade ventilation and AV/IT add about 15-25%.
How do you handle mechanical room access?
Locked, accessible only by maintenance staff; safety-rated electrical disconnects within reach.
Special program rooms (science lab, art, music)?
Each has its own ventilation and equipment requirements; we design per program.
Mobile classroom (portable) MEP?
Different scope; typically vendor-supplied with our coordination for utility tie-in.
Do you stamp out-of-state schools?
TX and FL only.
Open: Texas Tenant Fit-Out MEP Schedule Risk Survey (Q2 2026)
We’re surveying 100+ Texas GCs, architects, and developers on what actually breaks tenant fit-out MEP schedules — and what predicts the projects that stay on time. If you’ve shipped two or more TX commercial fit-outs in the last 12 months, your data would help.
Take the 5-min survey → · respondents get an early preview of the findings before public release.
Need MEP for a school in Houston?
Send the architectural set or a one-paragraph scope and we’ll quote within one business day.