The sanitary installation design sector in Poland is undergoing a severe crisis, with industry insiders warning of systemic challenges far beyond the usual issues of delayed payments. Design offices are being forced to accept projects that fail to cover their operating costs, leading to business closures and an alarming exodus of qualified engineers from the profession. “Offices take on work that’s financially unsustainable just to stay in business—or they shut down. Engineers, meanwhile, are leaving the field altogether,” says Przemysław Tkaczuk, a sanitary installation engineer and co-owner of PM Projekt. The root cause is consistently low profit margins, which have destabilized the sector and discouraged new talent from entering the profession. Young graduates see little incentive to pursue careers in a field where financial rewards are minimal. “Many engineers earn less than supermarket cashiers,” Tkaczuk notes. “It’s hard to justify staying in a profession, no matter how interesting, if it doesn’t provide basic financial security.” This outflow of professionals is creating significant skills gaps. A shortage of qualified HVAC and sanitary designers is already leading to errors in planning, project delays, and even poor selection of key technologies such as heat pumps—issues that ripple through the wider construction sector. “The consequences extend well beyond our industry,” warns Marcin Kosieniak, an MEP specialist, forensic expert in sanitary design errors, and co-owner of PM Projekt. “Design is an early, critical link in the construction chain. Mistakes or delays at this stage cascade into major problems during execution.” Both Tkaczuk and Kosieniak stress that the situation requires immediate intervention. One potential remedy, they suggest, would be to implement minimum fee standards for design services—similar to regulated professions such as architects or property valuers. This could help prevent destructive price competition and ensure that basic project quality and viability are maintained. They also call for systemic investment in education and professional development. “We need to support future engineers,” Kosieniak explains. “That means offering scholarships and grants for students in sanitary engineering, building mentoring networks with experienced professionals, and promoting awareness of the value and impact of this career path.” As Kosieniak puts it, “Once students are introduced to the field, they often find the work deeply engaging—but too many never get the chance. If we don’t act now, the situation could become irreversible. This is a shared responsibility across designers, investors, authorities, and educational institutions.”