What Consulting-Specifying Engineer does

Consulting-Specifying Engineer (CSE) is a B2B trade media publication founded in 1987 that serves mechanical, electrical, plumbing (MEP), and fire/life safety engineering professionals working on nonresidential buildings in North America. Its core product is a professional trade magazine delivered in print and digital form (hosted on Issuu), accompanied by a topic-segmented digital content platform at csemag.com that publishes technical articles, case studies, code/standards updates, and product news across categories such as Building Automation and Controls, Codes and Standards, Electrical and Power, Fire and Life Safety, HVAC/R and Mechanical, Lighting, Motors and Drives, and Plumbing. The editorial positioning emphasizes peer-reviewed content written by engineers for engineers, with recurring award and ranking programs — Product of the Year, 40 Under 40, MEP Giants, and Commissioning Giants — that double as engagement vehicles for both readers and advertisers.

CSE distributes content through a multi-channel stack: a website, segmented email newsletters (Building Automation, Codes & Standards, Electrical & Power, Fire & Life Safety, HVAC-R & Mechanical, Hospitals, Plumbing), a podcast series, video/webcast content (including commissioning-focused webinars), and downloadable eBooks and research reports (e.g., 2026 State of Integrated Building Systems, 2025 Career & Salary Report, Specifying Fire & Life Safety Systems 2026). Audience-side, content is offered free to engineering professionals, which is typical of advertiser-supported trade media.

The business model is B2B advertising and sponsorships: revenue is generated from print and digital advertising, sponsored newsletters, sponsored webcasts and podcasts, sponsored research reports and eBooks, and entry/sponsorship fees from award and ranking programs. CSE is a private, unlisted title operating under parent Arrowfly (formerly WTWH Media), within the DesignWorld and Industrial Automation Network. Operations are based in Downers Grove, Illinois, with a stated headcount band of 11-50 employees that includes editorial (Amara Rozgus, Editor-in-Chief), sales (Richard Groth Jr as Sales Director plus account managers and sales consultants), and program management (Awards & Research, Marketing). Geographic reach is concentrated in the U.S. and Canada, with editorial coverage anchored to North American codes and standards (ASHRAE, NEC, NFPA).

Name

Consulting-Specifying Engineer

Legal name

Consulting-Specifying Engineer

Website

https://csemag.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1987

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Consulting-Specifying Engineer is a B2B trade media brand serving MEP and fire/life safety engineers in nonresidential buildings through a magazine, digital content, newsletters, podcasts, research reports, and industry award programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Trade Publishing and Engineering Media

NAICS

Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services (54)

SIC

Miscellaneous Publishing (2741)

akta.pro primary industry

Engineering & Technical Standards (Civil, Mechanical, Electrical; Codes & Standards) (EDAGAGAC)

akta.pro secondary industry

MEP (Mechanical, Electrical & Plumbing) Engineering Consulting (BPAHAIAE)

Keywords

• Engineering trade publication
• MEP engineering content
• Building systems journalism
• HVAC engineering media
• Fire life safety media

Headquarters

HQ city

Downers Grove

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Digital Commerce or Content

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Consulting-Specifying Engineer is a B2B trade publication delivering engineering news, technical articles, case studies, and industry insights to mechanical, electrical, plumbing (MEP), fire/life safety, lighting, and building automation engineers working in nonresidential building design and construction. The publication operates as a multi-channel content platform including a print and digital magazine, newsletters, podcasts, videos, webcasts, research reports/eBooks, and industry award and ranking programs (Product of the Year, 40 Under 40, MEP Giants, Commissioning Giants).

Product overview

Consulting-Specifying Engineer is a professional trade publication offering a content platform for MEP (mechanical, electrical, plumbing) and fire/life safety engineering professionals. The core product is the magazine/publication delivering engineering news, technical articles, and industry insights. The publication supports its audience through multiple related offerings including award programs (Product of the Year, 40 Under 40, MEP Giants, Commissioning Giants), research products (eBooks and reports), audio/video content (podcasts, webcasts), and subscription services (newsletters, print/digital magazine).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Product of the Year: Annual reader-choice award program for new products in HVAC, fire/life safety, electrical, and plumbing systems engineering markets
• 40 Under 40
• MEP Giants
• Commissioning Giants

Products and services

• Consulting-Specifying Engineer Magazine
• Product of the Year Program
• 40 Under 40 Program
• MEP Giants Program
• Commissioning Giants Program
• eBooks and Research Reports
• Podcast Series
• Video and Webcast Content
• Newsletter Subscriptions
• Case Studies Archive

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Electrical Construction & Maintenance (EC&M): EC&M is a leading B2B title for electrical designers, contractors, and specifiers. It competes with CSE's Electrical & Power vertical for the same engineer audience and for electrical-OEM and distributor advertising budgets.
• ACHR News: Air Conditioning, Heating & Refrigeration News is a long-running B2B trade publication covering HVAC/R contractors and engineers. It directly competes with CSE for HVAC engineering audience attention and HVAC-OEM advertising dollars in the nonresidential building market.
• Facility Executive: Facility Executive targets executives and engineers responsible for commercial building operations, including MEP systems. It overlaps with CSE's audience and advertiser base around building automation, HVAC, and building-system performance.
• HPAC Engineering: HPAC Engineering covers HVAC, plumbing, and hydronic systems for engineering and contracting professionals. It directly overlaps with CSE's HVAC-R/Mechanical and Plumbing verticals and shares the same engineering-firm and OEM advertisers.
• Engineered Systems Magazine: Engineered Systems targets MEP engineers and building systems designers with technical content on HVAC, controls, and energy efficiency. Its editorial scope and advertiser base (HVAC/controls OEMs, engineering firms) overlap tightly with CSE.
• Plumbing Engineer: Plumbing Engineer is a trade publication serving plumbing system designers and engineers. It competes with CSE's Plumbing newsletter and editorial coverage for the same specifying engineers and plumbing-OEM advertising dollars.

Broad incumbents

• ASHRAE Journal: ASHRAE Journal is the flagship publication of ASHRAE, the dominant professional society for HVAC&R engineers. It competes with CSE as a higher-authority, society-backed incumbent in the same HVAC engineering audience and codes/standards editorial lane.
• Building Design + Construction: BD+C is a broader B2B title covering the full building design and construction ecosystem. It competes with CSE for the attention of consulting engineers and design-build firms, and for building-products manufacturer advertising spend.
• Endeavor Business Media: Endeavor Business Media is a large B2B media operator with multiple engineering, facilities, and construction titles. As a scaled peer-portfolio operator, it competes with Arrowfly (CSE's parent) for advertising share and acquisition targets in the engineering media space.

Emerging players

• Firehouse Magazine: While primarily focused on firefighting, Firehouse covers fire-protection and life-safety topics adjacent to CSE's Fire & Life Safety vertical, and competes for fire-protection manufacturer advertising and engineering-specifier attention.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/CSEmag
• Facebookfacebook.com/csengineers
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/consulting-specifying-engineer

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Consulting-Specifying Engineer