Structural Engineer
When you look for a Structural Engineer in Amersham simple answers are often not forthcoming.
On this page, you will find the answers to: what, why and how. We have also prepared a simple step-by-step guide to the selection of a structural engineer for your project so you can get the most out of your engagement and know what to expect.
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In our operation, we help routinely survey deteriorating houses and commercial properties, we also design structures for houses and commercial properties and we do it from the perspective of a Principal Designer. You know, one cannot switch the expertise just because the service is singled out so the collateral benefits are all yours to take. If you want to talk about your project, click the button below.
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WHAT IS A STRUCTURAL ENGINEER?
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ANYONE WHO WILL CALL THEMSELVES SUCH - YOU WILL ASK WHY? IT IS BECAUSE ALTHOUGH THE ADVICE GIVEN IS SAFETY CRITICAL THE PROFESSION IS NOT REGULATED. WE LIVE IN A FREE MARKET SO YOU CHOOSE WHO YOU WANT TO DO BUSINESS WITH AND THE RISK ASSOCIATED WITH THAT CHOICE ARE ALSO YOURS TO TAKE.
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PROFESSIONAL STRUCTURAL ENGINEERS ARE CIVIL ENGINEERS WHO PREFER TO DEAL WITH BUILDINGS RATHER THAN INFRASTRUCTURE. THE UNIVERSITY DEGREES THEY DO ARE INDEED CALLED CIVIL ENGINEERING AND STRUCTURAL DESIGN IS A MAJOR PART OF THE ENTIRE COURSE.
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MOST OF THE STRUCTURAL ENGINEERS ON THE MARKET HAVE BACHELOR'S DEGREES, SOME GO FOR THE EXTRA EFFORT OF FURTHER UNDERSTANDING AND CAPABILITIES BY GETTING MASTER'S DEGREES EVEN FEWER BECOME MEMBERS OF PROFESSIONAL INSTITUTIONS WHERE THEIR WORK AND CAPABILITIES ARE ASSESSED BY THEIR PEERS AND ACADEMIA. THE INSTITUTIONS ARE TWO - ICE AND ISTRUCTE.
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THE INSTITUTION OF CIVIL ENGINEERS (ICE) - A LARGER INSTITUTION, PRIMARILY INFRASTRUCTURE-BASED INSTITUTION THEIR MEMBERS NEED TO UNDERGO PEER ASSESSMENT AND INTERVIEW.
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THE INSTITUTION OF STRUCTURAL ENGINEERS (ISTRUCTE) - A SMALLER INSTITUTION, PRIMARILY BUILDINGS-BASED INSTITUTION THEIR MEMBERS NEED TO UNDERGO PEER ASSESSMENT, INTERVIEW AND A 7-HOUR EXAM.
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THIS WOULD GIVE THE IMPRESSION THEY ALL CAN DO IT ALL AND IN SOME CASES THEY CAN BUT THAT COMES WITH YEARS OF ADDITIONAL TRAINING, A VERY EXPENSIVE LIBRARY OF STANDARDS, GUIDES AND MANUALS AND CLEVER DISSEMINATION OF KNOWLEDGE, ON THE OTHER HAND, YOU CAN HAVE ENGINEERS WHO JUST COPY AND PASTE SOLUTIONS WITHOUT EXTRA THOUGHT. IF YOU ARE A SERIAL DEVELOPER YOU MAY HAVE A CHANCE TO FIND OUT WHO IS WHO AND SETTLE FOR THE BEST VALUE BUT WHEN YOU ARE A HOMEWNER DOING A SINGLE PROJECT THIS IS UNLIKELY.
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WHY DO PEOPLE ENGAGE STRUCTURAL ENGINEERS:
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THAT DEPENDS WHO YOU ARE AND AT WHAT STAGE OF THE PROJECT DEFINITION.
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HOMEOWNERS/BUSINESS OWNERS/DEVELOPERS
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THEIR BUILDING SUFFERS DILAPIDATIONS A BUILDING SURVEYOR IS OUT OF DEPTH TO DEAL WITH
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THEY EXTEND OR MODIFY THEIR EXISTING BUILDING STRUCTURES
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THEY WANT TO BUILD A NEW BUILDING.​
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THEY WANT TO CHANGE THE USE OF THEIR BUILDING
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THEY WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THEIR PLANS ARE FEASIBLE
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THEY WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THEIR PLANS ARE VIABLE - PROJECTS ARE OFTEN FEASIBLE BUT NOT VIABLE
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THEY WANT TO MAKE SURE THEIR PLANS ARE SAFE
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THEY WANT TO MAKE SURE THEIR BUILDING IS SAFE
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MAIN CONTRACTORS/SUB CONTRACTORS/BUILDERS
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THEY WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE WORK CAN BE CONSTRUCTED SAFELY
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THEY NEED TO SUPPORT A WALL, EXCAVATION FACE, UNDERPIN A SECTION OF WALL
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THEY NEED TO LIFT SOMETHING UP OR KEEP ON LIFTING THINGS UP
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THEY NEED HELP WITH TEMPORARY WORKS
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THEY WANT TO KNOW WHAT TO CONSIDER IN THEIR WORK
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THEY WANT TO KNOW THE METHODOLOGY OF EXECUTION OF THE WORK
WHY DO I NEED A STRUCTURAL ENGINEER?
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THE HOW BEHIND THE WORK OF A STRUCTURAL ENGINEER?
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IN BRITAIN WE OPERATE A 7 STAGE FRAMEWORK OF PROJECT DEFINITION AND AT EVERY STAGE YOU MAY EXPECT DIFFERENT SCOPES OF POSSIBILITIES FOR THE INVOLVEMENT OF A STRUCTURAL ENGINEER. IT PAYS GREAT DIVIDENTS TO HAVE US INVOLVED AS EARLY AS POSSIBLE BUT THAT OFTEN IS NOT THE CASE NEARLY ALWAYS LEADING TO WASTE AND HEADS-ON COLLISION WITH THE VIABILITY OF THE PROJECT.
STAGE 0 - STRATEGIC DEFINITION - WE HELP TO DETERMINE INITIAL FEASIBILITY AND VIABILITY
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STAGE 1 - PREPARATION AND BRIEF - WE HELP TO DEVELOP THE INITIAL FEASIBILITY AND VIABILITY
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STAGE 2 - CONCEPT DESIGN - WE DO AN INITIAL DESIGN FOR FURTHER EVALUATION
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STAGE 3 - SPATIAL COORDINATION - WE HELP TO MAKE SURE THE STRUCTURE IS COORDINATED
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STAGE 4 - TECHNICAL DESIGN - WE DEVELOP THE STRUCTURE TO THE LEVEL ENABELING CONSTRUCTION.
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STAGE 4.5 - PRODUCTION INFORMATION - WE DEVELOP IN DETAIL INFORMATION FOR CONSTRUCTION
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STAGE 5 - MANUFACTURING AND CONSTRUCTION - QUALITY ASSURANCE, CONSTRUCTION ASSISTANCE, DOCUMENTATION
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STAGE 6 - HANDOVER - POST PRACTICAL COMPLETION EVALUATION AND DOCUMENTATION
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STAGE 7 - USE - RESEARCH INTO THE PROJECT DATA, LESSONS LEARNT AND DISSEMINATION OF KNOWLEDGE
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ON SMALL PROJECTS UNDER £500K OFTEN STAGES 0-3 AND 5-7 ARE MISSED ALTOGETHER LEADING TO PLENTY OF WASTE AND POOR RESULTS. WE RECOMMEND TO APPROACH THE PROCESS HOLISTICALLY. YOU CAN FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THE STAGES IN OUR PODCAST AND BLOG.
SIMPLE APPROACH TO
THE STRUCTURAL ENGINEER SELECTION
STEP 1
1. START WITH YOURSELF - AT WHICH STAGE OF THE PROJECT DEFINITION ARE YOU?
WHAT STAGES? - DOWNLOAD OUR FILE OR GO SEE THE PODCAST AND THE BLOG
2. DO YOU HAVE A PRINCIPAL DESIGNER?
STEP 2
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IF YOU DO NOT HAVE A PRINCIPAL DESIGNER GO AND GET ONE FIRST OR ASK IF YOUR STRUCTURAL ENGINEER CAN BE YOUR PRINCIPAL DESIGNER - STRUCTURAL ENGINEERS ARE SELDOM PRINCIPAL DESIGNERS. WE ARE AND WE ARE UNIQUE IN THIS REGARD.
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DEPENDING ON THE STAGE YOU ARE AT PROVIDE SUFFICIENT BRIEF FOR THE ENGINEER TO QUOTE TO.
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IF YOU DO NOT HAVE A BRIEF IT MEANS YOU DO NOT KNOW WHERE YOU ARE SO IT WOULD BE BEST TO START WITH ADVICE - YOU CAN BOOK ONE HERE
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ASK FOR THE PROFESSIONAL LIABILITY INSURANCE CONFIRMATION
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SEE IF THEIR TERMS AND CONDITIONS IDENTIFY THE STAGES OF PROJECT DEFINITION OR ALLOW FOR ADHOC SERVICE AS AND WHEN YOU NEED IT.
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CHECK IF YOUR DESIGN PROGRAM CAN BE ACCOMMODATED BY THEM AND THEY WILL BE READY TO RESOLVE SITE ENQUIRIES IN A REASONABLE TIME.
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ASK IF THEY CAN DO THE TEMPORARY WORKS DESIGNS FOR THE PROPOSED WORKS - IF THEY CAN NOT IT IS LIKELY THEY ARE NOT FAMILIAR WITH HOW THINGS ARE BUILT AND YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO RELY ON THEM SHOULD YOUR CONTRACTOR NEED HELP IN THIS REGARD.
STEP 3
IF YOU HAVE APPOINTED A PRINCIPAL DESIGNER, A STRUCTURAL ENGINEER AND A CONTRACTOR
FACILITATE THE CONVERSATION BETWEEN THEM
- YES IT COSTS MONEY TO DO IT -
- YES IT COSTS MORE IF YOU DO NOT -
Phone Numer:
01233 367987
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Address:​
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75 Sir Henry Brackenbury Road, Ashford, TN23 3FJ
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80 Churchill Square, Kings Hill, West Malling ME19 4YU
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Email: info@bytnar.co.uk
WHAT PEOPLE SAY
WE WORK ON PROJECTS IN KENT, LONDON AND HOME COUNTIES
OUR OFFICES ARE LOCATED IN KINGS HILL AND ASHFORD
