MEP Basics for House Construction Pakistan 2026

Electrical System

Wire Specifications

Application	Wire Gauge	Load Capacity
Lighting circuits	1.5mm²	10-15 A
5A power sockets	2.5mm²	20-25 A
Heavy appliances (AC, geyser)	4mm²	32 A
Main distribution	6mm²+	50+ A

Brands

Wire: Pakistan Cables, Newage, Fast Cables (copper only, no aluminum)
Distribution Boards: Schneider, ABB, Legrand
Switches: Clipsal (Schneider), MK Pak, Bticino (premium)
Circuit Breakers: Schneider, ABB, Hager. Always include ELCB (residual current device)

Load Calculation (10 Marla)

Typical 10 marla home: 30-50 kVA connected load. Distributed across 8-12 circuits. Main 3-phase connection for AC + heavy loads. Generator/UPS backup separately.

Plumbing System

Pipe Types

PPRC (Polypropylene Random Copolymer) — hot + cold water supply. Master Hot & Cold, Adam Jee. Critical: SDR rating (7.4 best).
UPVC — drainage + sewerage. Master, Galaxy.
CPVC — premium hot water alternative (less common in Pakistan).
Copper — luxury hot water, antimicrobial. Imported, expensive.

Water Pressure System

Overhead Tank: 500-1500 gallons (sizes vary by household)
Underground Tank: 1000-3000 gallons (water shortage backup)
Pressure Pump: For consistent flow at upper floors (1-2 HP typical)
Hot Water: Gas geyser (cheap), electric (clean), solar (eco), heat pump (premium)

HVAC (Mechanical)

AC Sizing (1 ton ≈ 12,000 BTU)

Small bedroom (120-150 sqft): 1 ton
Master bedroom (200-300 sqft): 1.5-2 ton
Drawing room (300-500 sqft): 2-3 ton
Family lounge (400+ sqft): 3-4 ton
10 marla home total: 12-18 ton (6-8 split units typical)

Options

Split Units — Most common. Each room independent. Rs 80K-3 Lac per unit.
Cassette/Ceiling Units — Open spaces, premium look. Rs 1.5-5 Lac per unit.
Central AC — Premium 1 kanal+ luxury. Rs 50 Lac - 2 Crore total.
VRV/VRF Systems — Ultra-luxury, energy-efficient. Rs 1-5 Crore.

Gas Piping

Material: Galvanized iron pipes (GI) or copper. PVC not permitted for gas.
Connections: Sui Northern Gas (SNGPL) for Punjab/KPK. Sui Southern (SSGC) for Sindh/Balochistan.
Safety: Mandatory pressure test before commissioning. Gas detectors recommended in kitchen + boiler rooms.
LPG Alternative: Where SNGPL unavailable. Underground LPG tanks for premium homes.

MEP Total Cost

5 Marla: Rs 8-15 Lac (basic MEP)
10 Marla: Rs 15-30 Lac (standard MEP)
1 Kanal Premium: Rs 30-80 Lac (premium fixtures, full AC)
1 Kanal Luxury: Rs 80 Lac - 2 Cr (central AC, smart home, solar)
2 Kanal Ultra-Luxury: Rs 2-5 Cr+ (full automation, premium systems)

FAQs

Most common MEP mistakes?

Sub-standard wire, PVC pipes for hot water, no ELCB, undersized AC, no proper grounding, generator not isolated from grid.

Should I add solar?

Worth it for 10 marla+ homes. 5 kW system Rs 15-25 Lac. Payback 4-6 years on grid-tied (net metering). 7-9 years with batteries.

UPS vs generator?

UPS for short outages (computers, lights, fans). Generator for long outages (full home or critical loads). Premium homes have both.

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MEP Basics for House Construction in Pakistan 2026