Selecting the right mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) products is one of the most consequential decisions a home builder makes. These systems determine how a home performs day after day—how efficiently it heats and cools water, how reliably it delivers power and data, and how well it resists the wear of moisture, heat, and time. The 2019 Pro Builder Top 100 Products list featured several MEP innovations that remain relevant benchmarks for quality construction. In this article, we examine the technologies, materials, and design philosophies behind these products and explain why smart product selection builds better, more durable homes.
Modern Plumbing Systems: PEX Technology and Tankless Water Heating
Plumbing has evolved significantly from the copper and galvanized-steel systems that dominated residential construction for decades. Today’s builders have access to advanced piping materials and high-efficiency water heaters that reduce installation complexity, improve energy performance, and extend system longevity.
Crosslinked Polyethylene (PEX) Plumbing Systems
Uponor’s PEX plumbing system, featured among the 2019 Top 100 Products, exemplifies why professional builders continue to specify crosslinked polyethylene tubing for residential projects. PEX is flexible, durable, and straightforward to install. Unlike rigid copper, PEX tubing can be routed through walls and around framing with fewer joints and connections. The home-run configuration—where each fixture has a dedicated line running back to a central manifold—eliminates fittings behind walls, removing the most common leak points in a conventional plumbing system.
The material properties of PEX offer real advantages. It will not pit, scale, or corrode, which means water quality remains consistent over the life of the system. PEX retains more heat in hot-water lines than copper does, reducing standby energy losses. And because the tubing can expand up to three times its diameter, it resists freeze damage—a critical benefit in cold climates where burst pipes are a leading cause of water-damage claims.
Push-to-Connect Plumbing for New Construction
The SharkBite EvoPex system from Reliance Worldwide takes PEX technology a step further for new construction. This evolutionary push-to-fit plumbing system allows installers to plumb an entire potable water solution without special tools. No soldering, crimping, or glue is required. The result is cleaner installations with fewer potential leak points and significantly reduced installation time.
The complete system includes fittings, PEX pipe, outlet boxes, valves, and accessories—everything needed for a full install from one manufacturer. For builders managing multiple trades and tight schedules, a integrated system like EvoPex reduces coordination overhead and standardizes quality across the plumbing rough-in phase. Proper product selection across all building systems is essential, and as noted in our analysis of building product testing and evaluation, verifying code compliance and real-world performance data should guide every specification decision.
Tankless Water Heaters: Noritz and Rinnai
Two tankless water heaters from the 2019 list illustrate how engineering refinements continue to improve the installer and homeowner experience.
Noritz’s EZ Series was specifically engineered for the North American market, with a focus on reducing installation time and cost when replacing conventional storage-tank units. With an energy factor of 0.97, it delivers near-condensing efficiency. Top-mounted connections simplify access during installation and service, while the stainless steel heat exchanger resists corrosion and extends unit life. Wi-Fi capability gives homeowners and builders remote monitoring options.
Rinnai’s Sensei tankless water heater prioritizes the installer experience. Features include a corrosion-resistant stainless steel heat exchanger, an integrated check valve that prevents backflow without an external component, and an entirely electric ignition that eliminates the standing pilot light common in older gas units. Flexible venting options make retrofit installations more feasible, and the Wi-Fi module enables remote management. The absence of a standing pilot saves energy continuously through the unit’s service life.
| Feature | Noritz EZ Series | Rinnai Sensei |
|---|---|---|
| Energy Factor | 0.97 | 0.96 (typical) |
| Heat Exchanger | Stainless steel | Stainless steel |
| Ignition Type | Electronic | Fully electric (no pilot) |
| Wi-Fi Capability | Yes | Yes |
| Connection Location | Top-mounted | Standard |
| Key Advantage | Fast replacement install | No standing pilot |
Both units demonstrate that tankless technology has matured beyond early-adopter status. Builders specifying tankless water heaters should evaluate venting requirements, flow rate needs, and local climate conditions to match the right unit to each project.
Electrical Innovations That Save Time and Add Functionality
The electrical category in the Top 100 list showcased products that reduce installation labor, improve charging convenience, and add smart-control capabilities—three priorities that remain central to modern home building.
Plug-on Neutral Panels and USB Outlets from Eaton
Eaton’s Plug-on Neutral platform eliminates pigtail connections at the panel, saving electricians meaningful time on every rough-in. Instead of twisting and capping neutral wires, the electrician simply plugs the breaker onto the neutral bus bar. Over a multi-home development, these labor savings accumulate significantly.
Eaton also introduced Type-C USB outlets that offer fast, efficient charging for modern devices. As homes increasingly serve as both residences and home offices, integrated USB charging eliminates the need for bulky wall adapters and reduces clutter at key locations such as kitchen counters, home office walls, and bedside tables. The Z-Wave Plus wireless smart lighting controls add a programmable delayed-off mode of up to four minutes, giving homeowners flexibility in automating their lighting schedules without complex hub configurations.
Structured Cabling Solutions from ICC
ICC’s structured wiring and cabling products range from 8-inch to 28-inch enclosures that combine voice, data, and video distribution in a single organized panel. For builders, installing a structured cabling system during the rough-in phase is considerably less expensive than retrofitting after drywall is hung. Homes wired with structured cabling support reliable networking, whole-home audio distribution, security systems, and future smart-home upgrades.
ICC also reduced pricing by 20 to 40 percent for members of its Elite Installer program, making structured cabling more accessible for production builders. For builders evaluating their technology infrastructure choices, essential home technology products that professional builders recommend offer a useful starting point for planning integrated systems.
Electronic Cabinet Locks for Security and Access Control
Assa Abloy’s HES K20 and KP20 Stand-Alone Cabinet Locks provide electronic access control using standard AAA batteries. These locks offer 150 pounds of holding force and are ideal for cabinets that store pharmaceuticals, documents, firearms, or sensitive electronics. For builders designing home offices, mudrooms with package delivery lockers, or specialized storage in luxury homes, integrated cabinet-level security is an upgrade that differentiates a project from standard builder-grade offerings.
Mechanical Systems: Dryer Venting, Audio, and Design Software
Mechanical products in the Top 100 list addressed practical construction challenges—from dryer vent efficiency to weather-resistant audio systems—as well as the design software that helps builders plan these systems correctly in the first place.
Dryer Venting Innovations from In-O-Vate Technologies
In-O-Vate Technologies earned multiple spots on the 2019 list with three dryer-venting products that each address a different installation scenario:
- DryerJack Roof Vent: Vents the dryer straight through the roof, creating shorter duct runs that improve drying efficiency and reduce lint buildup. Engineered specifically for clothes dryers, it meets or exceeds all code requirements.
- Dryer Wall Vent: Powder-coated 26-gauge steel in three color options resists fading and cracking that plastic vents experience in sunlight. Balanced magnets protect against animal entry and negative air pressure flapping, while the 30-gauge damper delivers full airflow.
- Dryerbox Transition Duct (Model 480): A larger receiving area safely collects exhaust at floor level or pedestal height. Made from 22-gauge aluminized steel, it accommodates stand-alone and pedestal dryers with a uniform corner design that allows up or down venting.
Proper dryer venting is one of the most overlooked details in residential construction. Inadequate duct runs increase drying times, waste energy, and create fire hazards from lint accumulation. Products like the DryerJack and Dryerbox give builders a code-compliant path to safer, more efficient laundry areas. For builders designing high-performance mechanical systems, selecting the right HVAC system for each project category follows a similar evaluation process—matching product specifications to real-world installation conditions.
Weather-Resistant Outdoor Audio
PlanterSpeakers from Intelligent Audio Products take a creative approach to outdoor audio. These speakers are sealed against the weather in enclosures made from sustainable teak, reclaimed wood, Azek, or industrial-grade polymer resin. The North Dakota model features a three-way speaker housed in North American cedar wood with an 8-ohm impedance rating and a recommended amplifier range of 150 to 250 watts.
For builders designing outdoor living spaces—a category that continues to grow in buyer importance—integrating weather-resistant audio during construction is far more elegant than relying on portable Bluetooth speakers. Pre-wiring for outdoor audio during the rough-in phase and specifying products that are genuinely weather-sealed ensures long-term reliability.
Design Software for Faster, More Accurate Construction Documents
SoftPlan software automates home design and lets users create construction documents faster and more accurately than hand-drafting. The key innovation is smart objects that echo real-world building components. When a window is drawn on the plan, the shutters, trim, header, and jack studs are automatically added, and the rough opening is framed with correct dimensions.
For production builders, design software that enforces building standards at the drawing stage eliminates a major source of field errors. When drawings automatically reflect accurate framing dimensions, the likelihood of costly mid-construction corrections drops significantly. This kind of precision matters across all building systems, and builders who invest in proper design tools gain an edge in both speed and quality.
Selecting and Specifying MEP Products for Your Next Project
The MEP products featured in the 2019 Top 100 list share common characteristics that remain relevant for today’s specification decisions. Understanding these traits helps builders evaluate new products as they enter the market.
Key Criteria for MEP Product Evaluation
- Installation Efficiency: Products that reduce labor time and tolerance for error—such as push-to-fit plumbing and plug-on neutral panels—deliver measurable savings on every home. Evaluate whether the product requires specialized tools, training, or trade coordination that your crews do not already have.
- Durability and Warranty: PEX resists corrosion and freeze damage. Stainless steel heat exchangers outlast copper. Powder-coated steel vents outlast plastic. Compare warranty terms carefully—a longer warranty reflects manufacturer confidence in the product’s service life.
- Code Compliance: Every MEP product must meet applicable building codes. Verify that products carry listings from recognized testing laboratories and comply with ICC, NFPA, and local amendments. The DryerJack and Dryerbox products explicitly meet or exceed code requirements, which reduces inspection risk.
- Energy Performance: Tankless water heaters with energy factors above 0.95, structured cabling that eliminates wireless dead zones, and efficient dryer vents all contribute to the home’s overall energy profile. High-performance MEP products support green building certifications and appeal to energy-conscious buyers.
- Integration and Expandability: Products with Wi-Fi modules, Z-Wave compatibility, or structured wiring enclosures make it easier for homeowners to add smart-home capabilities later. Specifying expandable systems during construction avoids expensive retrofits and increases the home’s long-term value.
Applying These Lessons to Your Specification Process
The products reviewed here represent a cross-section of the MEP innovations that earned recognition from Pro Builder’s expert panel. Builders can apply the same evaluation framework to current product releases. Start by identifying the specific performance gap you need to address—is it installation speed, energy efficiency, durability, or code compliance? Then research products that target that gap, verify claims with independent test data, and test the product on a single project before scaling across your production schedule.
Systematic product evaluation is a discipline that pays dividends across every building system. Builders who develop a structured approach to specifying MEP products reduce callbacks, improve homeowner satisfaction, and build homes that perform better over the long term.
By staying current with mechanical, electrical, and plumbing innovations—from PEX manifolds and tankless water heaters to structured cabling and smart electrical panels—builders equip themselves to make specification decisions that raise the quality of every project.