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Structural Engineers

Structural engineers are required in many building projects to ensure that the home is safe and comfortable to live in. Read on to learn more about their role.

What are Structural Engineers?

In a building, there are minimum codes and standards, many of which are related to safety, that need to be complied with.  A structural engineer can help with this.  Even though it costs money to hire a structural engineer, they can actually save you money in the long run by reducing maintenance and repair costs, and identifying problems before they become an issue.

Structural engineers are responsible for designing the individual structural elements of a building such as beams, columns, or floors, or they may be responsible for the structural design of an entire building that needs to resist vertical and lateral forces without collapsing or failing to function.  Structural engineers need to understand both static (still) and dynamic (moving) loads.  While the architect is the primary designer of the building, the structural engineer is employed as a sub-consultant.  Most homes are structurally simple and are led by architecture – the structural engineer is only required to ensure that the building will be structurally sound once built.

Services Performed by Structural Engineers

Structural engineers can perform the following services:

• engineering construction advice, including formwork design, certification shoring options, and construction loading appraisal
  
• review of existing structural designs to identify savings, reduce construction costs or to match the builder’s expertise and resources
  
• pre-purchase inspection reports on domestic and commercial buildings
  
• expert witness reporting on damaged or defective work or inappropriate design
  
• forensic investigation of collapsed structures

Qualifications and Cost of a Structural Engineer

To be considered fully qualified, a structural engineer will have an undergraduate degree coupled with at least three years of professional practice.  They are licensed or accredited.  A structural engineer may charge up to $1,500 or more for a large project but, as previously stated, employing the engineer at the right stage of the building project will ensure that the building is structurally sound and remains safe for years to come.