Make sure that the architect gives you floor space instead of pushing you into the ceiling. The only one that can enforce such a thing is the owner or his maintenance guy. The poor engineers have no weight in decision making.
For most engineers out there: Please make sure your VAV boxes, dampers, valves etc, are accessible (i.e no higher than 11 feet above finished floor), and of course no AHU/FCU in ceiling space. As for Mechanical rooms, make sure you have a pathway to remove every single piece of equipment from the space.
It is criminal to give a brand new facility to an owner who spent money hiring a bunch of "Experts" only to be handed a non-accessible and non-serviceable Mechanical equipment.
You need to take a stand against the architect when they shove you into the ceiling space, you owe it to the wage payer.
I believe the best thing for you to do would be to read the IO&M for the equipment, it will have all of the suggestions on maintaining the equipment you will need. Of course also as stated before, check that it is still hanging from the ceiling.
