Books, journals and information

The Information and Library Service compiles occasional subject guides for engineers and students.

To contact the Information and Library Service please ring +44 (0) 20 7973 1274 or email: library@imeche.org.

  • Access ebooks, ejournals and engineering resources in the IMechE Virtual Library
  • Titles can be borrowed via postal loan and the library also offers a document supply service. For further details of our collection, please search the Library Catalogue
  • The library offers a research service for members. We can carry out literature searches, identify technical data sources and find company information

E-books

Available to IMechE members via the Knovel service in the IMechE Virtual Library

ASHRAE handbook – fundamentals (2009)
ASHRAE handbook - heating, ventilating, and air-conditioning applications (2011)
Fans and ventilation - a practical guide (2005)
Fundamentals of materials for energy and environmental sustainability (2012)
Mechanical estimating manual: sheet metal, piping and plumbing (2007)
Pipeline rules of thumb handbook: quick and accurate solutions to your everyday pipeline, 7th ed (2007) 
Testing and balancing HVAC air and water systems, 4th ed (2006)

Available to IMechE members via the Ebrary service in the IMechE Virtual Library

Building regulations in brief, 6th ed (2010)
Building services handbook: incorporating current building and construction regulations, 5th ed (2009)
Concrete design to EN 1992 (2006)
Corrosion in reinforced concrete structures (2005)  
Faber and Kell's heating and air-conditioning of buildings, 10th ed (2008)
Fans and ventilation: a practical guide (2005)
Galvanized steel reinforcement in concrete (2004)  
Piping and pipelines assessment guide (2006)  
Steel designers' handbook, 8th ed (2012)

Available to members via the Springer service in the IMechE Virtual Library

Advanced structural wind engineering (2013)
Construction and building research (2014)
Construction safety (2013)
Control systems for heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (2003)
Design and management of sustainable built environments (2013)
Digital fabrication in architecture, engineering and construction (2014)
Durability of building materials and components (2013)
Earthquake resistant buildings (2011)
Eco-efficient construction and building materials (2011)
Energy management in buildings using photovoltaics (2012)
Explosion-resistant buildings (2006)
Green building: guidebook for sustainable architecture (2010)
Improving the earthquake resilience of buildings (2013)
Micro cogeneration: towards decentralized energy systems (2006)
Project management for building construction (2010)
Sick building syndrome (2011)
Small wind turbines: analysis, design, and application (2011)
Solar electric power generation: photovoltaic energy systems (2006)
Solar lighting (2011)


Ejournals

Members have free access to:

  • 4,000 leading full text journals via the EBSCO Science and Technology and Business Source Corporate databases
  • 244 full text technical journals from Springer
  • All IMechE journals, apart from issues published in the last 12 months
  • Up to 20 articles a year from the 2,500 peer-reviewed ejournals on ScienceDirect
  • Access them all in the IMechE Virtual Library


    Useful web links

    There is a list of useful links on this topic on the IMechE website.


    Useful books

    Available to borrow by postal loan or in person - search the IMechE library catalogue to locate these titles or look for more.

    Administration of heavy construction equipment (2012)
    ASHRAE green guide : the design, construction, and operation of sustainable buildings , 2nd ed (2007) 
    ASHRAE handbook: HVAC applications (2007) 
    ASHRAE handbook: HVAC systems and equipment (2004) 
    ASHRAE handbook: fundamentals (2005) 
    ASHRAE handbook: refrigeration (2006) 
    Building services engineering (6th ed) (2013)
    Building services handbook, 5th ed (2009) 
    Caterpillar construction equipment (2012)
    CIBSE concise handbook (2008)
    CIBSE guide A: environmental design (2006) 
    CIBSE guide B1: heating (2002) 
    CIBSE guide B2: ventilation and air conditioning (2001) 
    CIBSE guide B3: ductwork (2002) 
    CIBSE guide B4: refrigeration and heat rejection (2003) 
    CIBSE guide B5: noise and vibration control for HVAC (2002) 
    CIBSE guide C: reference data (2007) 
    CIBSE guide D: transportation systems in buildings (2010) 
    CIBSE guide E: fire engineering (2010) 
    CIBSE guide F: energy efficiency in buildings (2012)
    CIBSE guide G: public health engineering (2004) 
    CIBSE guide H: building control systems (2009) 
    CIBSE guide L: sustainability (2007) 
    CIBSE guide M: maintenance engineering and management, a guide for designers, maintainers, building owners and operators and facilities managers (2008) 
    Combined heat and power for buildings (2nd ed) (2013)
    Cranes in the construction industry (2012)
    Design checks for HVAC (2002)
    Essentials of fire safety management (2007)
    Faber & Kell's heating and air conditioning of buildings, 9th ed (2002)    
    Fire safety engineering: a reference guide (2003)
    Ground source heat pumps (2013)
    A handbook of sustainable building design and engineering (2009)
    Heat pump technology, 3rd ed (2002) 
    Heating and cooling of buildings: design for efficiency, 2nd ed (2010)
    HVAC building services calculations (2003) 
    HVAC troubleshooting guide (2009)
    Mechanical properties of engineered materials (2003) 
    Microgeneration: low energy strategies for larger buildings (2008) 
    Practical design of steel structures: based on Eurocode 3, with case studies: a multibay melting shop and finishing mill buildings (2010) 
    Shock and vibration handbook, 6th ed (2010) 
    Spon's mechanical and electrical services price book 2012, 43rd  ed (2012 – for loan, current ed reference only)
    Structures: from theory to practice (2004) 
    Solar domestic water heating: the Earthscan expert handbook for planning, design and installation (2010)
    The solar electricity handbook: a simple, practical guide to solar energy, how to design and install photovoltaic solar electric systems (2013)
    Sustainable facilities: green design, construction, and operations (2008)
    Sustainable solar housing. Vol. 2 exemplary buildings and technologies (2009)
    Tendering and procurement in construction (2008)
    Refrigeration and air-conditioning, 4th ed (2008)
    Roark's formulas for stress and strain, 8th ed (2012)
    Urban wind energy (2009) 
    Wood pellet heating systems : the Earthscan expert handbook for planning, design and installation (2010)


    Useful Contracts (some of which are available online, to borrow or to purchase) 

    Building regulations for England and Wales           
    FIDIC Conditions of contract for design, build and turnkey        
    FIDIC Conditions of contract for plant and design-build: for electrical and  
    mechanical works and for building and engineering works designed by  
    the contractor                   
    NEC: engineering & construction contract (ICE)         
    MF/1 Home or overseas contracts for the supply of electrical, electronic or  
    mechanical plant: with erection (IMechE, IET)       
    MF/2 Home or overseas contracts for the supply of electrical, electronic or  
    mechanical plant (IMechE, IEE, ACE)           
    MF/3 Home contracts for the supply of electrical and mechanical goods  
    (IMechE, IEE, ACE)                  
    MF/4 Home or overseas agreements for the provision of consultancy  
    services by engineering consultants (IMechE, IEE, ACE)


    Recent IMechE conferences and seminars

    Available to borrow by postal loan or in person - search the IMechE library catalogue for more.

    Engineering structures survival: blast and impact protection 2010
    Healthcare ventilation 2013: improving air quality in healthcare facilities 2013
    Heritage buildings: keeping valued buildings working effeciently 2013
    Hospital ventilation 2012: improving air quality in healthcare facilities 2012


    Useful journals

    Please check the IMechE library catalogue to see if the library subscribes to your required journal. Current issues of key journals are held on the journal display rack.  The back copies of these journals are stored in the basement. Please ask a member of staff if you wish to view any.   

    ASHRAE journal 1959-
    The British Association of Refrigeration – proceedings 1928-1943
    Building services engineer: journal of the Institution of Heating and Ventilating
    Engineers 1971-1976
    BSJ : building services journal 1994-2009
    CIBSE journal (and predecessor) 1994-
    Heat Transfer and Fluid Mechanics Institute: papers 1949-1959
    Heating & ventilating engineer 1929-1998
    International journal of fatigue 1993-2008
    Journal of the Institution of Heating and Ventilating Engineers 1933-1971
    Journal of refrigeration 1957-1969
    Journal of strain analysis for engineering design 1966-
    Modern refrigeration: and air conditioning 1939-1969
    Report/Proceedings of the Institution of Heating & Ventilating Engineers 1989-1933
    Proceedings of the IMechE part L: journal of materials design and applications 1999-
    Proceedings of the Heat Transfer and Fluid Mechanics Institute 1960-1974
    Proceedings of the Institute of Refrigeration 1943-
    RAC: refrigeration and air conditioning 1970-80, 1988-95
    Refrigeration, air conditioning and heat recovery 1981-1988
    Transactions of the ASME: journal of engineering materials and technology 1880-
    Transactions of the ASME: journal of pressure vessel technology 1880-
    Refrigeration, air conditioning and heat recovery 1981-1988
    The ROSPA occupational safety and health journal Current 5 years


    Databases

     

    ESDU
    The library holds the ESDU (Engineering Science Data Unit) datasheets which contain validated data and design methods, principles, worked examples, programs and related equations on over 1,200 specific aerospace, process, structural and mechanical engineering topics. The ESDU database can be viewed in the library. Datasheets are available for week loan to members and cannot be photocopied. 

    Get in touch

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    Contact our Member Engagement Team