Structural Engineers are underrated, and we need to change it!

Structural engineers are the backbone of modern society. From designing towering skyscrapers to ensuring the safety of bridges and the durability of homes, their work impacts every aspect of our daily lives. structural engineers are underrated, and we need to change it. In this video, we explore why structural engineers deserve more recognition and respect for their expertise, creativity, and problem-solving skills. We’ll discuss the challenges we face, from tight budgets and fee undercutting to navigating public safety concerns. We’ll also share why engineers need to step into leadership roles, amplify their voices, and advocate for better practices in the construction industry. If you’re passionate about engineering or simply curious about the hidden heroes behind the structures you rely on, this video is for you.
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[@BrendanHasty]

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[@kahuna1247]

In my experience, people are happy to pay thousands for dodgy illegal work, then call me begging me to help them fix it.... until I provide a fee proposal. Then they go quiet. I just don't care anymore, if you can pay thousands for idiots to ruin your home, you can stump up a little more to fix it professionally.

[@alexander-n8c2s]

The problem is that the engineer's job is hard to estimate, the customer actually doesn't see the whole process. Contrary to Architects, the customer can see beautiful and colourful plans, visualisation etc. The job market dictates the salary, there are a lot of engineers ready to earn pennies.

[@malikdaniyel146]

Well said

[@kwadwoasare5985]

And it is even evident that a structural engineer’s job on a project will even save the client a lot of cost. However, many clients don’t see this and are only concerned about the “initial” charges for our services. We really do need a lot more recognition for what we do. 😅

[@saqibsultan8806]

That's very true, you save them millions yet they will give you penny in comparison

[@bosseurinc.]

Bad planning leads to over over runs, and most of the times, it is because owners don’t consider the impact of changes on the structure. You are right! We don’t respect structural engineers as much as they deserve in this industry.

[@greatapo3177]

We have hit rock bottom. Today, there is no reason why somebody should become a structural engineer, unless he likes it so much that he overlooks the cost. Unfortunately the only way out, is just getting out...

[@keshav479]

I am a structural engineer from India. Thanks for your words. 🙏🙏

[@Padam561]

What's your CTC

[@johntrenerry5951]

Agreed. Some of my recent policies: 1. Raising rates - and am about to again. 2. Have high standards - value engineering is not done when there are cost pressures on the engineering fee, so a quick conservative design solution is offered. 3. Innovative solutions and NCC performance solutions come at a high premium. 4. Don't accept any disrespect of the profession - when asked to inspect and certify something that has already been built, refuse becasue the structural engineering was not valued to begin with. And when offered an opinion on structural integrity by a non-engineer on site when something is outside your specifications - literally walk away and say, "You do not need me - I'll leave it to you". If they haven't asked beforehand, they don't value what you do, so do not leave any more value with them. I am tired, worn out and becoming cynical about my profession. I've just received PI insurance policy renewal forms and I now go through my annual will I or won't I get insurance this year, and if I do, will it be just 25% more or >100% more than last year's?

[@grumpycardcollector4292]

I totally agree, we are taking so much risk very little incentive. Imagine signing of a design and being responsible for the structure for the rest of its design life. I tried asking for royalties on the structures that I designed and sign off but was not taken seriously 😅

[@Sancho931118]

This is good content Brendan!!!! Engineers are the 8th wonder of the world!

[@mattashford3508]

As a site supervisor, for small to medium tilt panel commercial projects i deal daily with issues resolving around engineering from upper management or owners wanting to pay bottom dollar for plans and engineering, start building before plans have even been signed of or making changes 3/4 of the way through a build and then complaining about cost. We understand that good designed and planned projects succeed. Just need to encourage the guys with the cheque books that you can save them money by spending more money.

[@dykodesigns]

I think society doesn't always have a clear picture of what we do as engineers. I remember an instance where someone in an office building where I worked many years ago thought that our job was cost estimation. Also it is somewhat difficult to find new colleagues or to entice students to choose this field of work, most building engineering students either want to become a builder / contractor ot they want to become architect. We need to make our job more visible and perhaps a bit more populair. Us engineers are often not that good at promoting ourselves. Architects on the other hand are quite savvy at "selling" a project to client by impressing them with fancy 3d renders. As there are "Starchitects" we need something similair, but in our own way.

[@malikdaniyel146]

Hi Brendan, you hit on many key points relating to the engineering profession. Engineers are treated like the step- child in the construction family. We provide, instruct and insure all structural elements are within safety parameters. Our voices are one to be echoed throughout the construction industry. As i always say " civil engineers help civilized civilizations". We are not only Engineers but scientists in the building world. Would love to see a follow up on this topic. Stay safe Malik from Barbados.

[@OG_KS]

Thank you Brendan, this is a very good strategy. The level of efficiency that structural engineers bring to the table is probably also concealed by facades. Maybe if engineers reduce the need for paint and facades as in old infrastructure, things could improve. Lets make structural members aesthetically appealing!

[@thealienrobotanthropologist]

To be more highly respected and more highly paid, engineers need to increase their authority. Architects don't even do a good job making buildings look nice or be functional and their training is basically an art program, so they don't bring any real hard skills to the profession. Project managers generally don't understand the work that needs to be done and just come up with fantasies in Excel. And yet they're the ones imposing things on engineers and not the other way around. Everybody already knows this, but it doesn't matter. Highlighting the value of engineers isn't going to help anything. If engineers are the ones with all the responsibility for making things work, they need to have the programmatic level decision making authority to go with it. Until some power can be usurped, probably from architects, engineers will continue to become increasingly marginalized. As the calculations part of engineering becomes increasingly automated, I see no reason why this couldn't happen. Otherwise in 100 years architects will just press the "engineer" button and do away with most structural engineers.

[@Corea4sure]

Preach brother. Totally agree with you

[@stephenbrickwood1602]

British construction projects are often run by quantity surveyors. 😮😮

[@DanielCampos-vu2hc]

i am agree

[@kennedysikapundwachitimbwa1786]

My observation as well

[@vikrantv.rastogi892]

Structural engineers are least paid in the entire construction cycle. The structural design charges have to be reset worldwide.Leading structural design consultancy worldwide should come together and set standards of billing/charges. Structural design charges are basis of sq.ft. The structure takes load of all other agencies, charges should be percentage of selling price of building. Structure is 3 dimensional. Also consultancy should follow with govt to make legislation support for Structural engineers.

[@stephenbrickwood1602]

Some engineers underprice better design engineers, a bid to the bottom. The client just does not understand. The low quality young engineers just do not know. The medical doctors can have patients die, the worst outcome and their life goes on. An engineer's estate can be pursued even after they died.

[@stephenbrickwood1602]

The silence is deafening. .

[@stephenbrickwood1602]

The silence from engineers on Australia's clean energy future is utterly ridiculous. I think professional engineers have mortgages, and families and government projects are dominating their cash flow. I think that they are keeping quiet. I have heard some speak quietly. Grid capacity construction costs are critical to understanding future clean electricity energy to the consumer. The grid is too expensive to expand and too valuable to waste. Customer switching off the grid electricity supply is a massive future problem. Grid cashflow is a critical concept. The nuclear promoters are all non experts. Dirt dam CivEng, a medical doctor, a physics PhD candidate, politicians, ... Even the renewable promoters are getting things mixed up.

[@recker5180]

It’s all supply and demand, if engineers are satisfied with a bid that puts food on the table for their family then they will simply take it. You cant encourage engineers to show higher quality standards and risk their potential of earning an income. However the main blame is mainly with the investors. They are the ones purchasing the building and the only way they can make good money is if everyone involved in the construction works quick. Every week you waste can lead to a loss of lots of money. Anyways becoming a structural engineer is not enough. Doing a certificate 4 and attaining a builders license while being a licensed engineer can go a long way. Or doing architectural engineering or even project engineering. Having multiple skills especially in australia is the only way you make money. We are not in 1980’s, there is huge competition out there.

[@stephenbrickwood1602]

If engineers told people what forces and loads they deal with then people would get Shttsnpants feelings. 😮 😊😊😊 😅 If people understood how fast structures collapse under gravitational effects they might not be able to go up in a lift. Some site workers say that some buildings have been up so long that they have forgotten how to fall down. 😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊 😅 A demolition worker. 😮😮😮😮😅

[@PeterDebney]

@BrendanHasty this is excellent, thank you. Maybe we need more engineers with the qualities possessed by Ove Arup and Peter Rice, who can get out there and show the advantages of having great engineers.