Unlocking the Secrets of Structural Engineering - An Expert Interview

[@RedlandShed]

Really interesting to listen to. As an old school Building Surveyor I found many of the points chimed. Look forward to hearing more.

[@johncranna]

Thanks. Roger did say we would do some more. just finding time to get round to it and also hope to start my own channel as well.

[@alecwaite5644]

Small world being a subscriber I was born and lived in abergavenny up until I was 9 fantastic content Roger very helpful as always 👌

[@johncranna]

Hi Alec. I moved here in 1989 and now live in Lower Monk Street if you remember that - its behind the main Anglican church and I can see it from my office window and hear the bells!

[@alecwaite5644]

@@johncranna I used to live on Hereford Road 4 doors up from the fire station

[@Tevez2367]

Great interview and consideration with how to to achieve the desired outcome not just design

[@johncranna]

Thank you Jimmy

[@leondmcgrath]

Thanks Rodger what a wide range of subjects you cover

[@SkillBuilder]

We try to cover all things building but feel free to make suggestions

[@ollyb7570]

I’ve seen plenty of older brick houses with noticeably darker bricks below the damp proof course during wet months. The barrier is definitely stopping rising damp.

[@johncrannastructuralengine8177]

They tended to lay engineering bricks up to floor level and those darker bricks are probably them. They have a much lower water absorption than common bricks.

[@SkillBuilder]

You are so right, it is there for all to see.

[@Jules_Pew]

When we were buying a property 20 odd years ago, had the full survey done, and they suggested a structural engineer to confirm certain points. That sale fell through due to our buyer messing us about, but as we didn't need a mortgage, we used the structural engineer for a walk around for a set fee. Saved us buying a shit house etc and tons cheaper than a full survey each time. Will do this again next time.

[@explorerjlc1743]

most structural engineers wont know a lot about architecture though. Insulation, waterproofing, etc

[@markrainford1219]

@@explorerjlc1743 Doubt he'll be lifting inspection chamber covers either.

[@mikes4163]

For more on stress concentration round windows refer back to the original Comet airliner design ... with square windows.

[@johncrannastructuralengine8177]

Yes, I often think of that when talking about stress concentration.

[@markrainford1219]

Yeah but rising damp never bothered it much though.

[@theinspector621]

Would vote on it's a ventilation issue. The way moisture was beading on the underside of the floor boards looks like condensation. Air bricks are only effective with cross flow achieved. When air moves outside it creates negative pressure on one side of the building and the air pulled out from under the floor then pulls in fresh air from the opposite side. Doesn't matter how many airbricks are around the bay if there's nothing on the opposing sides of the house/ the sub floor void is not clear / other airbricks have got blocked. With the other side being back garden, is there a patio / planting built right up/ over the airbricks there? As others have said the floor isn't insulated, but is sealed now by the newer flooring on top. Well heated room above when the fires on. Cold space underneath. Forms a condensation point when its not ventilated.

[@Jonathan_Doe_]

You can avoid those huge steel beams (and renting out the huge crane) on a loft conversion by using a telebeam system. Basically it’s a series of prefab steel A frames that bolt together on site. The sections of each a frame are light enough to manhandle or pulley up to the roof.

[@johncrannastructuralengine8177]

Possibly, Jonathan. It would involve more design work and a lot more fabrication and you'd need to check and detail fixing of bases as you need to take out horizontal loads. I have done it previously where the clear span of a beam would have been 8m plus.

[@SkillBuilder]

Hi Jonathan We looked at that system and meant to do something on it. We will look again.

[@owenoneill5955]

I was sat in a meeting with the lead engineer on the Wimbledon roof from Ove Arup on the day it jammed and got skewed by the wind. His face went from white to grey by the end of the phone call. The immediate problem was how to release the roof and the tensions that were in it but incalculable. I mentioned this, he nodded, and left the meeting. 😁

[@johncrannastructuralengine8177]

I started off working with Ove Arup in London in 80s and spent 4 months on Lloyd's of London as it was being built.

[@SkillBuilder]

Great story. There are cock-ups all over the industry and they keep quiet

[@johncrannastructuralengine8177]

Ove Arup were also responsible for the Millenium footbridge over Thames which had to be closed after it moved too much under heavy footfall. The problem was created by people's gait actually being forced to fit in with the rhythm of bridge movement/oscillations. It's also a very slider bridge for its span so it is always susceptible to side sway. But it was fixed and reopened within a year by adding dampening which I think was an achievement in itself.

[@colinmiles1052]

Interesting video Roger - thanks. One or two points that John made I was not quite understanding. However, informative none the less.

[@enjek5654]

Which ones?

[@LukeStratton94]

Roger, I think a lot of people would love to see this kind of video with Peter Ward, similar to what you did with Heat Geek. What do you reckon? Can we get him on?

[@SkillBuilder]

Wd contacted him years ago. He is not up for awkward conversations but it would be fun. Maybe I will try again

[@philiphurdwell3443]

Unsung heroes of architectural design,

[@djburland]

I am adding a 1m front extension and yes, we needed a structural engineer

[@jimgeelan5949]

Blimey that 1/2 hour just flew by, bring on part two

[@darrenmilo9565]

Enjoyed this but I am a piling design engineer so it’s a bit of a busman’s holiday for me 😂 nice to see engineering being represented on the channel.

[@johncrannastructuralengine8177]

Thank you Darren.

[@SkillBuilder]

You and me both!

[@tinytonymaloney7832]

Hes a diamond that guy, we need more of him, a very interesting person. I have to say that I was suprised when my architect later said we now needed a structural engineer to do some roofing calcs. When he did the extension drawings. I also believed that's what I was paying the architect for. I'm sure it wasn't like this in the 70's.

[@johncrannastructuralengine8177]

Thank you very much Tony. The architect should have said an engineer was needed if the roof was not standard and there is nothing different now than in the 70s, although I didn't start as en engineer till the 80s!

[@craigstephens93]

Well since the 1970s the Planning and Building Standards have become a minefield - including the structural part. So the Architect can no longer 'lump' it in with his work. Your Architect should have been clear about this at the beginning. Even if it does put some clients off.

[@Jonathan_Doe_]

@@johncrannastructuralengine8177 if you get a steel truss roof system, the company that prefabricates the trusses have their own engineer for the trusses them self, then you’ll only need one to sign off on whether your wall is solid enough to support the conversion.

[@stufo_]

@@johncrannastructuralengine8177 Hi John, really enjoyed listening to this video. I'm curious what software you use to design your splice connections, is it done to Eurocode? We're looking for new solutions at my work. Thanks

[@johncrannastructuralengine8177]

@stuartfowler4685 all my portal frame design is done using Quiksoft and they produce two programs Quikport to design the frame and Quikjoint that designs all the connections in a portal frame and it does lots of other standard steel frame connections. Not cheap but saves so much time. To think that I started in 1982 with a pad of paper and a calculator!! And programs all done to Eurocode. For my domestic work I use a steel and timber beam program that designs to BS449! Called Superbeam by Greentram, they also have a Eurocode design program.

[@RB-xg2vz]

We used a structural engineer to do a design so we could remove a big supporting wall in our house He saved us a fortune and loads of time, because he was able to design it using timber beams and posts which were way cheaper and easier to install than steel, and no lead time on materials either. And far easier to box in.

[@johncrannastructuralengine8177]

mmmm. That's surprising. I can only think the span of the opening was not too great as you would need very deep timber to support any opening 3m or more.

[@johndevlin980]

Loved that, would like to hear John on again sometime 👍

[@SkillBuilder]

For sure!

[@johncrannastructuralengine8177]

Thank you, John

[@normanboyes4983]

I enjoyed this long form chat and John was a great guest on the show - he probably has much more to offer.👍 Change of subject: ‘Where’s James’? How is he doing? Used to love his featured projects.😀👍

[@johncrannastructuralengine8177]

Thank you Norman. Roger and I hope to do at least one more video together.

[@theconsistentnoddy9851]

It’d be great if you could do an up to date video regarding building materials & what your thoughts are on them either going up more or possibly coming down in price Roger in the next year. I’ve delayed my full house renovation for 18months now as the increase in materials & quite often labour just makes it impossible. Will have to re apply for planning come autumn. We were never trying to add value to our hone, more just happy to break even & have it how we wanted but with the price’s how they are it’d probably put us in negative equity.

[@totalprecisioncarpenter5922]

prices are never going down again unfortunately

[@theconsistentnoddy9851]

@@totalprecisioncarpenter5922 do you not even expect slight reductions over the next say 12-24 months? Assuming say the cost of fuel comes down within that time so should shipping costs, also I would have to assume that even the uks shocking government will eventually make trading post brexit cheaper once alliances\deals are made elsewhere & the uk eventually starts to produce more itself or am I just wishful thinking?

[@belucky9630]

Hi mate question for you if possible be great to get a reply please.Ok doing a barn bungalow conversion .zinc roof its brick built so going to do a block work skin inside and go overboard and all of the insulation everywhere . The building regs have not specified that I must have green energy however, I’m going to install a new gas supply electric supply all new services to the property and so on . Shall I just go with the norm efficient, boiler, underfloor, heating (log burner)and so on or a combination of green energy . And if so, which one would you go for solar panels? Hot water solar? Heat pump ? Because they have not specified that I need to have this do I hang it out for a while to see if all of the systems improve? then add something later. difficult one. 🤷🏻‍♂️ or just stick with installing a new traditional system and go over the top with things like insulated plasterboard as well ? Be great if you can have a think on this and get back to me. Much appreciated. what would you do 🤔

[@craigstephens93]

I know you're looking for a reply from Roger but I'm an Architectural Consultant and love this kind of thing. I presume you have an architect involved? Ask him for the U-Values of all your wall/roof/floor types and their respective areas. Multiply the areas by their u-values and you will get the total fabric thermal transfer (heat loss). Multiply that entire number by 1.25 to allow for air infiltration, ventilation etc. Then multiply that number by 10 (yearly average inside/outside temperature difference). That will be your average heat loss in w/h. Multiply that number by 24 to get your daily requirement. From there you will be able to figure out what you need. My advice is that if your heat loss is low enough, get a small heat pump - 5-8kw, and pair up with PVs if you have the space and underfloor heating. If you go with gas, just use normal radiators. You can also have a hybrid system (gas and heat pump with underfloor or rads).

[@belucky9630]

Thank you I will have a good read on your advice . Thanks for the advice on how to work things out. 👍🏻

[@martinclemmensen8071]

Were is part 2? More of this please. Maybe also talk to architects. But more expert talk please.

[@kingofthetrowel1725]

Cracking video 👍👍 wish you lived closer John proper interesting genuine bloke 🙌🏻🙌🏻

[@johncrannastructuralengine8177]

Thank you very much.

[@adrianocastelo7289]

Awesome material, thanks for that!

[@johncrannastructuralengine8177]

Thank you, Adrian.

[@burwoodbuild]

Very interesting stuff… always learning something useful! 👍🏼😉

[@johncrannastructuralengine8177]

Thank you!

[@djavvi]

Looking forward to seeing the 2nd part.

[@johncrannastructuralengine8177]

We're hoping to do another in Feb! Thank you

[@scottnever8732]

the distance between expansion joints(usually 12 mtrs in brickwork but no more than 15mtr depends on openings, weird but more openings more joints, stress points) isn't related to the elevation drawing, its a total length, however if a return is less than 1mtr an expansion joint should be placed in the corner

[@Jonathan_Doe_]

How come the Victorian’s managed to build really long walls around parks and along roads without any expansion joints that have held up just fine?

[@johncrannastructuralengine8177]

@johnathandoe5688 because the lime mortar is a lot more flexible and much weaker than the masonry itself hence you get micro cracking in the mortar.

[@johncrannastructuralengine8177]

I would normally go 9-12 m spacing in brickwork and 6m in concrete blockwork

[@therealdojj]

I'll catch the entire thing later tonight, but having gone through the planning stage for an extension it's been very very complicated and I thought I knew what I needed to do, how wrong I was, every few weeks there's a new thing that I needed to have added to the plans 🤦

[@johncrannastructuralengine8177]

Are you project managing it yourself because if you had an architect then that should tell you all the extra advice you need to get building reg approval.

[@chapman9230]

Looking through the comments I think it seems to me many are missing a very good reason for using one. Great defence against claims for negligence, you employed as far as you could be reasonably aware a competent person. Also I imagine if there is a failure and the calculations /advice you could claim against their insurance. Your insurance may also require that you use one for certain aspects of your work. I had to employ one once to inspect a wall. He made me laugh at every report he made. Never ever could you get a straight answer always shall we say sitting on the fence or perhaps it should be wall. I have a legal background and could spot it easily. I think many would not.

[@johncrannastructuralengine8177]

House insurance does not cover any defect due to wear and tear or poor design/workmanship so you should always employ a professional engineer that has Professional Idemnity insurance, as like what I have! And I have used it as I've made a few mistakes and I just had to be open and honest and things got resolved quicker that way.

[@architecture.designhouse]

Great channel 👍

[@SkillBuilder]

Thank you 👍

[@charlessayer]

Great video Roger and John. Im a qualified chartered structural engineer and thought that John did an excellent job in his explanation and communication of matters discussed. In the domestic market, very often Structural Engineers will be criticized for 'beams being too big'. This isn't done so to cover our asses, rather a solution is selected which is compliant with relevant codes of practice which try to anticipate realistic worst case scenarios. Easy to bash the size of a new beam untill the wall above starts to crack due to the weight of snow on the roof and a room full of people. Errors of course will unfortunately be made, but on the whole a Structural Engineer should be looking to save you money in the long run.

[@johncrannastructuralengine8177]

Thank you Charles, very much appreciated. One definition of an engineer is they do for £5 what anyone else would do for £100, ie save you money. But we do make mistakes and I mis-read a drawing, underestimated load on a beam and the rooms above started cracking and had to put my hand up to the error and it all got sorted through professional indemnity insurance!

[@soylentgreen326]

Very interesting. More load 🤔 Rodger increases safety by a factor 10 .... puts wallet on top 🎯

[@MMJ501]

As a practicing structural engineer, I can advise young ones to kindly avoid this profession. We engineers are grossly underpaid even though we are responsible for people’s lives and safety! And we pay to get a masters, licensing etc too. Talk about return on investment! The stress and deadline pressures are unbelievable in this job too! I hope every structural engineer leaves, and a demand for us occurs and that we get paid what we deserve! We are underselling our intelligence and services honestly! Structural engineers exist because unfortunately we love our job! :)

[@SkillBuilder]

You should become a nurse

[@MMJ501]

@@SkillBuilder what a weird reply. why? Because I’m good at math and physics? I love designing buildings, and that’s the excuse of this industry to underpay their engineers! I’m pointing out the reality of the industry which I literally am part of. Sorry if you can’t take it!

[@gloveyourway2000]

@@MMJ501 Engineers (bar a few select fields such as oil and gas, and software) in the UK are not paid well...at all. Better off working overseas, or moving into finance (more pay, for less stress and less responsibility).

[@MMJ501]

@@gloveyourway2000 exactly! I’m in the States and it’s not any different. While we get paid more than any other country, it’s still way less for a structural engineer with so much talent and responsibility

[@saintslad5399]

The main thing that I learnt from Pete Wards Warm Dry Home book that really made me think was how can a DPC, slate bitumen or whatever, actually fail? Especially fail to the degree of the whole bottom of your wall becomes soaked. The worst failure you could have with slate for example would be a little crack from building movement (its thousands of years old for christ sake) Your telling me that a little crack in a slate DPC can cause the entirety of your wall to become soaked and require full damp proofing. No chance! Can capillary action cause moisture to rise through the capillaries of brick? I think more lab scientific testing is needed. I have never see a study during my brief university research that it can given a common bricks pore structure.

[@johncrannastructuralengine8177]

Yes, I'm with you on the 'dpc has failed' debate and hence damp is rising all along the wall! My feeling is that no definitive and scientific research has been done into the mechanism of rising damp. Jeff Howell's attempts were very basic at best and showed nothing. Even Peter Ward says that damp rises a few courses at most so even he admits rising damp happens but not to the height people assume. I believe rising damp exists but most instances are missing diagnosed for commercial gain.

[@saintslad5399]

@@johncrannastructuralengine8177I have never seen it in all my years as a surveyor. Plenty of interstitial condensation, plumbing leaks and high ground level mis diagnosed though. I am considering doing a masters or phd in building surveying and this subject has interested me a lot. Having multiple bricks and mortar types set in up submerged conditions and then real world soil conditions is what I would investigate and publish.

[@malcolmfunnell4501]

Just doing a chimney removal , we found what the structural engineer thought was there was different . So called him out again to redo his mistaken calculations, charged the customers full price again for his f#*k up

[@johncrannastructuralengine8177]

If it was his mistake then he shouldn't have been charging you to correct his error.

[@enjek5654]

SEs aren’t able to see through solid materials, unfortunately. Are you sure it was his error?

[@johncrannastructuralengine8177]

@@enjek5654 that's a good point. Surveyors cannot see hidden defects, unless there are external signs to indicate possible problems (leaking gutters/downpipes) and engineers working on existing buildings (similarly builders) often find things when they open up that they had no idea existed when they first looked at the job.

[@malcolmfunnell4501]

@@enjek5654 Yep his error. Saw his mistake straight away without and prep work , and I’m just a mere builder , he sent the client the invoice within an hour before returning the next day

[@jamesforte-mason8849]

We had an architect 7ys ago who seemed to be a decent person at the start, took about 3 weeks to produce something in electronic format for us to look at and emailed us which we couldn't open, When I asked for paper prints to approve it was going to cost us £40 to print and post. I went into work and found a guy in the office who had access to his own CAD software but only print on A3 for free. We looked over the prints and requested changes of stuff we specifically did not ask for, we just wanted simply basic design to keep costs down and he was rather abrupt like he knew best. After another couple of weeks we had an email to say he needs to get a structural engineer to work out the roof design. And when I asked why he wasn't doing it he then broke the news that it going to cost about £1500 if the design was straight forward. I was furious but had no choice so reluctantly. agreed. Many weeks passed and eventually about 15 drawings in electronic form appeared in an email. Again I asked for paper but it would be a further figure of around £150. The drawings were mostly A2. In the end I paid £30 on line, I just forwarded the email with contents. The drawings were of good quality, I cant knock that, but I would never pass this architects details on to any colleagues, I think he is a pretentious idiot who preys on peoples lack of building knowledge. I can see why he drive about in some top of the range 4x4. I ended up paying over £8000 for all this once other little extra bits crept in, never again. I'll just move. I was relieved to be rid of him.

[@GeorgeBrown-yu4df]

Be great to get a few more videos like this, I'm a building surveyor and find the structural engineering videos really informative and interesting. Keep it up!

[@johncrannastructuralengine8177]

Thank you. Roger and I hope to do a few more together.

[@gdfggggg]

Structural engineers email you a sketch with some numbers on it and you send them 350 quid. Happy days.

[@johncrannastructuralengine8177]

My charges start from £100 for a beam design. If there is a drawing then we can work from that as half the charge could be travelling to site and measuring.

[@saabsonsan]

You missed a zero on the end of that. £3500. Inflation and all

[@enjek5654]

So you don’t understand what’s involved in making sure those calculations and sketch do the necessary then?

[@gdfggggg]

@Enjek Yes, I do understand, that's the point.

[@enjek5654]

@@gdfggggg Tell us what you understand in more detail.

[@kenkennedy5516]

Salt from washing up liquid……..try one of the premium brands…..very eco friendly……no salts…👍🚀

[@markrainford1219]

Salt isn't eco friendly?

[@neatripple2784]

Missed opportunity here to mention the structural engineer's statutory duty to comply with the CDM Regulations. A SE cannot 'ignore' the situation the beam is being used in, and must provide guidance on temporary support requirements 😖

[@neatripple2784]

Forming movement joints are time-consuming and expensive. These days we tend to use bed-joint reinforcement to control cracking 🤪

[@neatripple2784]

There's a big difference between beam 'lateral restraint' and 'torsion' 😁

[@neatripple2784]

Not only must the SE size the beam but they also need to ensure the beam end reaction is safely distributed down to foundation level 😁

[@neatripple2784]

You need to be very careful using Strongboys; they are eccentrically loaded and have relatively low load-carrying capacity. 'Needling' is the right way to go 😁

[@SkillBuilder]

I agree that Strongboys are not great but for smallish openings they are a good option. It is often difficult to needle through.

[@edthompson9337]

I would say from my experience alot of engineers don't provide practical solutions and give little or no thought to the fitting of the steels, the trend towards using one larger steel with a 10mm plate welded underneath when supporting cavity walls is a good example, it's so much easier to bolt together 2 individual steels. I would love to see one of these engineers manhandle their steel design into place, perhaps they would go back to the office and rethink some of their designs!

[@enjek5654]

The ‘trend’ of using a single beam with a plate welded beneath isn’t an example of that; it’s used to minimise thermal bridging.

[@edthompson9337]

@@enjek5654 The new extension is now the external structure so is thermal bridging a major issue? All engineers should have a month on site fitting steels as part of their training to give them an insight to what is involved.

[@enjek5654]

@@edthompson9337 You haven’t said where this hypothetical beam is in relation to the external thermal envelope. Are you saying that it’s in the knock-through opening between existing building and new extension? If so, there’s no need to reduce thermal bridging in that location. I’ve never seen that done. Have you come across lots of examples of it?

[@edthompson9337]

@@enjek5654 Yes in the knock through, recently we have had a number where this method has been used, it's been a real struggle to get the beams round to the location let alone into position.

[@enjek5654]

@@edthompson9337 Sounds weird. There’s no reason to do this. I’d be speaking with the engineer when quoting for the job to make it easier for you to construct. I’d never design it this way.

[@anthonymott7385]

Cracking video

[@johncrannastructuralengine8177]

Thank you Anthony.

[@michaelfraser5723]

13:25 there's the hand sign, google loves them

[@michaelfraser5723]

bears no relation to the subject, at all : ) ill umi nati

[@scottnever8732]

lime mortar was self healing

[@johncrannastructuralengine8177]

Yes, it is relatively soft compared to cement mortar and can accept a lot more movement hence walls can lean to some alarming amounts. But if movement is too great and too quick then it can't self heal and will open up cracks.

[@DerekTJ]

Roger, you talked too much on this mate. Very interesting guy!

[@johncrannastructuralengine8177]

Thank you Derek. I let Roger talk and then came in when I felt a response was needed. Often difficult to get the balance right!

[@SkillBuilder]

yes I agree, it is difficult to find the balance on a live interview

[@ferrworxeinside3985]

Is structural engineer a new modern thing? My ground floor joist are just laid on top of great big rocks/stone no mortar no nothing! 1890's build btw atleast that's what it says outside.

[@johncrannastructuralengine8177]

They've been around since beginning of 20th century as a lot of the structural mechanics design principle s had been established by then. But in most of Victorian era it was very much design accepted method. It was the era of railways and tunnels and bridges so civil engineers like Telford and Brunel were to the fore. In the 1930s new architectural forms like shell roofs meant new design methods were needed but all done by hand! In 60s computers started to be used and I can't imagine life without a laptop to do my design work!!

[@SteveAndAlexBuild]

That was a very interesting video, thoroughly enjoyed that Rog 👏🏽👏🏽🧱👍🏽

[@johncrannastructuralengine8177]

Thank you Steve and Alex. I've been watching some of your videos and found them very interesting - especially when you instalm steel beams etc! Well ve hopefully doing another video in Feb to cover damp and disputes with builders!

[@SkillBuilder]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@soylentgreen326]

🤔 an insurance policy 🎯

[@endangereddangerous8102]

I recently spent £1600 on a surveyor/architect. Then spent £500 ona structural engineer. Give the structural engineer anyday. Got back the £1600. Did our own drawings.

[@johncrannastructuralengine8177]

The roles of an architect compared to a structural engineer are not analogous or an alternative. You would normally employ an architect initially and then get in an engineer if they are structural items that need a bespoke design. Architects are aware of all of the parts of a building to comply with the Building Regulations which cover Parts A to P, structural engineers only concern themselves with part A which means there are a lot of parts that we don't cover. I'm concerned that you view them as an alternative.

[@johncunningham3547]

Why does Roger look bored?

[@craigstephens93]

I think he is. He asked the Engineer a simple question and got an Engineer's response.

[@loafersheffield]

@@craigstephens93 He never wanted to be a structural engineer. All he ever wanted to be, was a lumberjack.

[@loafersheffield]

A dozen bottles of champagne and some loose whamin'.

[@samuelellwood3643]

Bloody heavy steels! I understand arse covering but it’s getting ridiculous

[@johncrannastructuralengine8177]

Does that mean you've had a job where you felt the steels were bigger than they needed to be?

[@enjek5654]

Have you identified any mistakes with the calculations? If not, how do you know they’re larger than required to meet the standards?

[@planb1853]

U absolutely spot on 😮 I've done a fair few and they just no need

[@TheWheelofLife100]

Hopefully presents.

[@ttfweb1]

I think everyone is hoping beer.

[@cypeman8037]

Hopefully take the blame when the building collapses.

[@johncrannastructuralengine8177]

That is why we need to be qualified and have the right theoretical and practical experience. If we make a mistake then it could kill people. I have made mistakes and when I've checked my work and seen an error then I will hold my hand up and admit to the mistake. Fortunately it has only meant damage to building fabric and not anyone's death . All engineers should have professional indemnity insurance to cover these instances as I do. It costs me £1700 pa.

[@bigmobsy2104]

Take 6 months to spec 2 steels then charge £750 for the hassle without even making a site visit….knew I should have stuck in at school

[@johncrannastructuralengine8177]

I would have charged you £200 max if working from drawings.

[@enjek5654]

6 months is probably because the SE has 6 months of other work booked in before yours, unfortunately.

[@johncrannastructuralengine8177]

@@enjek5654 Yes! We can get booked up for a few weeks ahead but 6 months does seem excessive!

[@bigmobsy2104]

And they don’t help you lift the steel in when you can’t get a genie lift in

[@michaelfraser5723]

Is it all math?

[@johncrannastructuralengine8177]

Yes!! And using computers but to be a structural engineer then a good grasp of maths is needed. We often do checks by hand to get an idea of sizes and also you need to have an idea of what the computer program will throw out. If a beam size comes out very large or small or the deflection of the frame is very different to what you expected then you go back to your data input and modelling and look for the error.