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AIA Small Project Design (SPD) Knowledge Community supports, celebrates, and promotes small projects by engaging designers and the public.

Working with Structural Engineers

  • 1.  Working with Structural Engineers

    Posted 09-26-2014 11:52 AM
    Lisa, there are a few things for you to consider:
    1. Your structural engineer has huge liability and a duty to the public for what he/she does. Your contractors do not. I'm not slagging the contractors, but most builders do not understand the concept of protection of the public. For them it's just a business. And few can do structural calculations. "That's what the engineer is for!" they will say if pressed. Easy to criticize, hard to do.
    2. I have watched many wood-frame buildings being built. In fact, I am considered an expert in building envelope consulting for wood-frame buildings. I have many times watched structural engineers require additional nailing, a return to specified fasteners versus what's installed, etc. Framers look at structure through the eyes of a nail gun; structural engineers can tell you exactly how many pounds of load a nail of a certain gauge can support.

    As a practical matter, why not do what many commercial clients do with architects. If you ask a business client why she/he shares work amongst two or more architects, the response will be a combination of "to keep your fees in check","different architects are best for different types of project"  and "what if you get hit by a bus?" The latter is especially true if your are a sole principal. If there is another structural engineer in your area who can assist you, send some work to that individual, explaining to your original engineer whichever of these three reasons makes most sense. Continue to use the original engineer as well until you have feedback. If your contractors push back the second engineer's work, then clearly the fault is with the contractors, not the engineers.

    Hope that helps. Good luck,

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    Brian Palmquist Architect AIBC Intl. Assoc. AIA MRAIC BEP CP LEED AP
    President
    Quality-by-Design Software Ltd
    Vancouver BC
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