Structural Engineers
New buildings are usually built to the design of an architect, who defines the rooms and spaces and who decides matters of appearance. A structural engineer is then needed to decide upon the necessary strength, thickness and size of the load bearing components, while making sure (as far as possible) that the architect's vision and the client's requirements are adhered to. At Civils Consulting Ltd our wide experience and knowledge of construction methods and materials enables us to provide safe and economical structural designs for building types including traditional brick and timber, steel or concrete frames, or various combinations.
Structural alterations to existing buildings.
Buildings are always being changed. This includes the addition of extensions, partial demolitions, structural alterations and changes of use. The structural engineer has to understand the way the building was originally built in order to design safe and sympathetic alterations and to check that the elements of the building will not be overloaded by the new work or use. Few building owners are able to supply the original construction plans. With traditional building types it is usually fairly simple to understand the structure but with more modern buildings this becomes more difficult and site investigations may be needed.
Appraisals of existing buildings
Building owners, or those planning to buy, often want to know whether the structure is sound. This requirement may come about as a result of noticing cracks or sloping floors for example. Often, a surveyor or valuer looking at the property in connection with a change of ownership or mortgagor will notice defects, and recommend that a report be obtained from a structural engineer. A report from a structural engineer with technical knowledge and experience can usually give a useful insight into a building's problems or condition.
Services to contractors
Building contractors engaged by a client usually build according to the designs of the client's architect and engineer, but they sometimes need to engage their own structural engineer to provide them with in-house expertise. This may be needed to:
Give advice about alternative methods of construction which the contractor would prefer to those proposed by the client's design team, because they would give some advantage of time, safety or cost
Prepare a method statement showing how the work will be built safely. This is often required for work close to other buildings, and may have to be presented to neighbouring party wall surveyors for approval
Design temporary works, which are often part of the contractor's responsibility under the building contract
Design structural steel connections or concrete reinforcement schedules, which are often left to the contractor
Produce structural designs for the work when the contractor has been engaged on a 'design and build' contract.
