Structural engineers are a type of civil engineer. Their line of work focuses on safe construction design, ensuring that structures of all types are stable. A structural engineer is usually responsible for assessing the efficiency of building designs and calculating the stresses they need to withstand.
It’s both a technical and creative job that requires collaborating with many other professionals, such as architects and environmental engineers. Structural engineers can work on a variety of projects, including residential buildings, public infrastructure, and private or commercial properties. Per the Designing Buildings Construction Wiki, here are some examples of structural engineering projects:
- Site surveys and project feasibility appraisals
- Geotechnical research and ground improvement studies
- Risk assessment of building designs or demolitions
- Structural design (e.g. foundations, retaining walls, city infrastructure)
- Assessment of fire protection and compliance with building regulations
- Calculating special loads and additional structural requirements
- Community impact analysis for new developments
- Diagnosing structural defects and developing remedial solutions
- Providing testimony as an expert witness for insurance or court cases
Throughout their career, a structural engineer could work on everything from roads and bridges to apartment buildings and airports. Whether public or private, proposed or pre-existing, they’re a crucial part of most construction projects. Let’s run through some of their specific areas of interest.
New construction
Arguably the most common job for a structural engineer is helping to develop new structures. When new construction is taking place, be it a building, bridge, or anything else, structural engineers are responsible for ensuring that the foundations and other load-bearing elements are strong and stable enough. Their assessments should take everything from soil type to weather patterns into account.
New structures can include all types of buildings and land development, from roads and tunnels to rural barns and urban high-rises. Project directors will normally bring a structural engineer on board as early as possible to help with the design stage, before overseeing the actual construction process. They’ll make sure that the work meets the required standards, so the foundation and walls are safe.
Existing structures
The other type of work that structural engineers are involved in is the redevelopment of existing structures. Project managers might consult a structural engineer for a proposed extension or architectural enhancement that will add more weight, or for assessing damage to the structure.
Whether an architect wants to remove existing load-bearing components or install new ones, a structural engineer should evaluate the current structure and the feasibility of the planned changes. They’ll use their specialist knowledge to calculate the best methods and materials for reinforcement.
Structural engineers are also often part of restoration efforts in older buildings or faulty structures. When structural elements have deteriorated over time or weren’t constructed properly in the first place, a structural engineer can diagnose the causes and suggest the best ways to fix any defects.
Planning and inspections
Structural engineers don’t always have to be part of a project from start to finish, or join partway through. In some cases, they might only be hired to help with the initial planning, or to carry out an inspection when construction is almost complete. They can evaluate structural designs to suggest any necessary changes before any work begins, or assess the stability of a newly finished structure.
When a large-scale development is proposed, it’s common for a structural engineer to conduct ‘impact analysis’ research. It’s important to assess not just structural integrity, but also how building new roads or motorways, redirecting or expanding public water sources, and other community-based construction work might affect the local people and environment before it goes ahead.
The larger the construction project and the more weight and stresses the structure needs to bear, the more likely it is that it will require the assistance of multiple structural engineers throughout.
When should you hire a structural engineer?
If you are working on any of the kinds of projects mentioned here, you’ll probably need a structural engineer on your team. Structural failure can result in devastating damage and injury, so it’s not worth overlooking the expertise of a specially trained engineer when it comes to the integrity of your building design. Their professional advice could save you money and stress in the long run.
It’s best to look for qualified civil engineers who are local to the area where the project site will be based. For example, if you were planning a housing development in North West England, you should search for structural engineers in Manchester.
Don’t forget that qualifications are more important than a cheap quote – you should only work with chartered engineers who are registered with a professional body, like the Institution of Structural Engineers or the Institution of Civil Engineers.