KJ Tait run a program of internships for students. Jasmine has most recently spent some time with us and here is her experience: 

‘’This past summer, I had the incredible opportunity to intern at KJ Tait. This internship has enabled me to gain first-hand experience and a deeper understanding of the diverse roles within the field. I worked closely with various teams, including Energy and Sustainability, Mechanical, and Electrical, gaining practical skills and knowledge that are essential for a career in engineering. This internship not only enhanced my technical abilities but also gave me an inside look into how engineering solutions are implemented in real-world projects. 

I primarily worked with the Energy and Sustainability Team, developing models using IES software and performing calculations to analyse a buildings performance throughout a year. By applying various constructions and thermal templates, I ensured the models correctly reflected the materials and systems used in the buildings. This allowed for accurate calculations of heating and cooling loads, as well as compliance ratings. These calculations show how efficient a building is and highlights the importance of having low carbon emissions. I also investigated the impact of lighting sources on a building’s carbon emissions and explored options to mitigate this factor. 

Additionally, I worked with the Mechanical Team, drawing ventilation schematics to illustrate how the ventilation system connects to each component, ensuring clarity for installation. I also worked on coordination drawings for the same project, integrating every system to be implemented in the building. I also calculated heating and cooling losses in a building by imputing data into a spreadsheet. 

As part of the Electrical Team, I conducted lighting calculations using DIALlux software. This tool allowed me to model buildings and place lights in areas to perform calculations and renders to show lighting levels throughout a floor plan.  

During my time at KJ Tait, I had the opportunity to be on site and visit buildings at various stages of completion. Observing how designs are implemented and how systems interact was fascinating and demonstrated the real-world impact of the work which is completed in the office.  Being able to look around plant rooms and see how a building is controlled was very interesting.  I also learned what to look for during Energy Performance ratings and which systems influence a building’s energy utilisation. 

Working at KJ Tait has been an incredible experience, teaching me what it means to be an Engineer and providing insight into the building services industry, an area I hadn’t considered before’’.