Animal shelters are meant to provide short-term housing for dogs, cats, and other domestic animals until they can find their forever home. Depending on their background, many shelter animals can have a rough past due to no fault of their own. Whether they were abused, neglected, lost, or replaced, animals in shelters are often broken and in need of a home with a family who will love and care for them unconditionally – just as they do for us. Until they are adopted, however, animals need an environment in which they can stay healthy.
With dogs and cats coming to and from a shelter every single day, it is crucial to keep the air clean and the spaces habitable to reduce the stress of the animals, as well as prevent the transfer of diseases and bacteria. While implementing mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) systems for animal shelters can be very technical, it is worth the time and money to provide comfortable living spaces for the animals.
Air balance, air changes per hour (ACH), energy-efficient lighting, power distribution, security features, back-up generators, ventilation, and relative humidity are just some of the factors that need to be considered when designing an animal shelter to keep the health and safety of animals, workers, and volunteers in mind. At Baird, Hampton & Brown, we understand the importance of meeting all requirements for this specific type of facility. We have years of experience designing animal shelters and control centers for many municipalities in Texas, including the following:
- City of Allen
- City of Arlington
- City of Baytown
- City of Fort Worth
- City of Grand Prairie
- City of Grapevine
- City of Harker Heights
- City of Hurst
- City of Lewisville
- City of Mesquite
- City of Midland
- City of North Richland Hills
- City of Odessa
- City of Pearland
- City of Pflugerville
- City of Seguin
- City of Weatherford
- City of Wichita Falls
- Fort Bend County
- Kaufman County
- Montgomery County
According to the ASPCA, 4.1 million shelter animals are adopted each year. At BHB, we are trying to do our part by designing animal shelters with the mindset of creating comfortable interim housing for animals that are longing to be loved. Pets are part of the family. They make their way onto holiday cards, they’re almost always included in family pictures, and they are loyal friends that stay by your side for the long haul. A pet’s love for their owner is insurmountable—and behind every animal shelter are dogs, cats, and more waiting for their chance to be adopted by someone who will love them back.
Sean Rath, senior mechanical designer at BHB and proud owner of two rescue dogs, specializes in the design of animal shelters.
“The HVAC design of a shelter is all about the health and comfort of the animals,” Rath said. “We strive to provide a system that controls odors and inhibits the spread of disease, while providing a comfortable and dry climate.”
To learn more about engineering design for animal shelters, download our white paper, “Animal Shelter Design from an Engineering Perspective.” Gain more insight into the requirements for designing a shelter, how to keep shelter environments healthy and safe, and the technical aspects of a mechanical, HVAC, and plumbing arrangement. If you have any questions about how we can help benefit your municipality with an animal shelter or control center, email us at mail@bhbinc.com. We would be happy to help.
