What You Need to Consider When Looking for a Structural Engineer
The two biggest factors that affect the structural integrity of a building are the materials used in building it and the structural engineer on top of the construction. Definitely, choosing the right structural engineer makes a tremendous difference in the operational efficiency and safety of a project.
Below are pointers for assessing the professional background of a structural engineer:
Check their qualifications.
Before anything else, take a look at the structural engineer’s formal training. A well-trained, knowledgeable engineer will be able to pinpoint problems in the site, as well as provide solutions to them. You want someone with a post-graduate degree in either structural or civil engineering or related degree like quantity surveying.
Scope of work has to be clearly defined.
Before hiring a certain engineer, look into their scope of work as well as their previous projects. A scope of work is a formal proposal that presents cost estimates and a timeline for your project. To have a sharper picture of the workmanship of a particular engineer, make sure they submit an accurate and thorough scope of work.
Prioritize technical competency above all.
Structural engineers carry a large toolbox of skills and knowledge, thanks to long years of extensive studies and experience. Assessing an engineer’s technical competence can be done by asking them about hardships they’ve faced in the past and how they managed to overcome those. With their answers, you will get a pretty good idea about their expertise.
Pay attention to project-specific experience.
Since experience with general structural engineering is usually inadequate, learn more about your potential engineer’s project-specific experience. They should have vast experience with projects that are comparable to yours.
Building code familiarity is a must.
There are building codes that must be followed in every jurisdiction to guarantee the safety of construction projects. A structural engineer should know these by heart. If you’re considering an engineer who doesn’t seem well-versed in this subject, look elsewhere.
Put importance on innovative thinking.
Keep in mind that structural engineering projects are never ever the same. This is where innovative thinking becomes important. To assess your potential engineer’s creativity, ask them about the biggest challenge they’ve ever faced in their profession and how they overcame it.
Make comparisons.
Finally, don’t feel limited to the first structural engineer you meet. In fact, talk to at least two or three before making a choice. Compare them in all the crucial aspects mentioned above to know who’s right for you.
