What Structural Engineers Do, and Why They're Absolutely Essential to Any Building Project

Key Takeaways That Will Help You Understand What Structural Engineers Do

• Structural engineers design loadbearing structures that not only stay safe under normal and extreme loads, but get built at the right price and on time to boot.

• You're likely to need a structural engineer if you're building a new place, adding an extension, doing a loft conversion or giving a property a major refurbishment.

• Structural engineering keeps people safe by making sure a building remains stable, can withstand accidents and has clear load paths - so if something goes wrong, it doesn't collapse.

• Structural calculations are a vital part of making sure a building meets all the necessary health and safety regulations - and actually gets built.

• Getting a structural engineer on board early in a project can save cash, get the project finished faster and make sure everything gets done on time.

• Structural engineers can also identify problems like cracking foundations, walls that are too weak, and other issues that might make a building look dodgy.

Core Stuff A Structural Engineer Should Do

1. Work out the load paths and structural layout for the building - and make sure it's safe and reasonable.

2. Calculate the loads the building has to handle, from the weight of the building itself to the wind and rain.

3. Design the foundations based on the type of soil they're going to be built on.

4. Choose the right materials for the job - like steel, concrete, timber or masonry.

5. Do all the structural calculations and draw up plans for approval and building.

6. Check that the building is stable, won't collapse or get damaged easily - and that the risk of catastrophe is super low.

7. Work with the architects and contractors to make sure the building gets built in a way that's easy to put together.

8. Check up on the temporary conditions and sequencing at the building site - just to make sure they don't cause any problems.

9. Do site visits, make reports on the state of the building and give advice on any repairs that might need doing.

10. If there are any problems or defects with the building, provide advice on how to fix them.

How Structural Engineering Fits into A Building Project

Structural engineering is absolutely crucial from the beginning of a building project - right from the first rough idea, to the final build. The structural engineer is the one who figures out how loads are transmitted through beams, columns, floors, walls and frames into the foundations. When it comes to materials, the structural engineer has to choose the right stuff for the job - and that might involve choosing steel for really long spans, concrete for something that needs to last a long time, timber for a low-carbon build or masonry for a smaller loadbearing structure.

Structural Calculations and Making Sure A Building Complies

Structural calculations show that the structural elements of a building can cope with all the loads they'll be subject to. In the UK, this usually involves making sure a building meets the Building Regulations - and that typically means following recognised standards like Eurocodes and British Standards.

What Structural Calculations Usually Involve

• Working out the loads that the building has to handle - normal and extreme loads.

• Figuring out how the wind is going to affect the building's stability.

• Checking that the individual elements of the building (like beams and frames) are strong and won't collapse.

• Checking that the building won't move too much (because that can be annoying).

• Checking how much weight the foundations can handle - and whether the soil they're built on can take it.

• Working out how much steel reinforcement is needed for a concrete design.

• Working out how the individual bits of a steel frame are connected.

• Figuring out if the building needs to be made safer (because that's just good practice).

When Do You Need A Structural Engineer ?

Situations Where A Structural Engineer Is Absolutely Essential

• When you're building a new place, and you need someone to design the foundations and frame.

• When you're doing an extension that changes the way loads get moved through the building.

• When you're doing a loft conversion that adds weight to existing walls and floors.

• When you're giving a building a major refurbishment that involves removing walls or making big changes.

• When you need to do underpinning, add new beams or columns or fix some cracks.

• When you're trying to fix a building that's developed some problems - like cracking or moving.

• When you need to investigate why a building has started to sink or settle.

Structural Assessments and Site Visits

A structural assessment is just a fancy way of saying that a professional has taken a good hard look at the building and figured out what's going on. The structural engineer uses site visits and reports to identify any problems, figure out how bad they are and say what should be done next.

Common Issues That Show Up During A Structural Assessment

• Cracks in the walls or plaster - especially if they're getting bigger.

• Floors that are sagging or foundations that are settling.

• Signs that the building is sinking, settling or heaving.

• Damp that's causing damage to the timber.

• Corrosion in the steel and other metal parts.

• Walls that don't have enough support - especially after some alterations.

Summary

Structural engineers are a must-have because they make sure buildings are safe, sound, comply with regulations and get built without too much hassle. If you're doing a new build, extension, alteration or defect investigation, getting a structural engineer on board as early as possible will help you avoid all sorts of problems and headaches down the line.