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What is a
Structural Engineer?
Structural
Engineer designs the structure (skeleton) of a building or bridge so that it
won’t fall down during normal use and to prevent loss of life during an
earthquake or wind force.
What is
the difference between a Civil Engineer and a Structural Engineer?
Very good question. Structural Engineering is a
discipline of Civil Engineering. Most of the Universities give
their degrees in Civil Engineering with a concentration in Structural
Engineering. In the state of California this is a title which
needs to be earned by examination. In the state of California,
"any civil engineer may practice structural engineering except in those
areas specifically restricted. The practice is restricted by laws and
ordinances enacted by State, counties, and municipalities after the
authority was established. Currently, one must be registered as a
Structural Engineer to design Hospitals and schools (primary, secondary,
junior college) and structural systems."
What’s the
difference between an Architect and a Structural Engineer?
The Architect
designs what a building will look like and the Structural Engineer designs the
structure (skeleton) of the building so that it will not fall down.
What does a
typical workday for a structural engineer involve?
A
typical workday would involve performing structural calculations, building
computer based models of the structure, drawing up supportive details, making
plan changes, interacting with the client/architect and other consultants
involved in the project. Depending on what capacity you are working in, it
might also involve supervising junior engineers working with you on the
project, coordination/generation of cad drawings etc. If your involved
is in the construction administration phase of a project, you would be
frequenting the job site to resolve construction related issues and working
with the contractor on the project. In a nutshell, a typical day calls for a
right mix of engineering, fieldwork, public relations and
decision-making.
How do I talk with
a structural engineer to obtain more information?
Your best resources to find a Structural Engineer in
your area are to look in the yellow pages under “Engineers – Structural”
and then this Web page under engineering referrals. When calling a Structural Engineering Firm ask to speak to
one of the principles of the firm and be prepared to give a little information
about your specific problem or question.
How do I hire a
structural engineer to do engineering analysis?
This will depend upon your design project (house,
office building, etc). On larger
projects, often the architect you selected for your project hires the
structural engineer and other consultants.
As a prospective building owner, you can always request that the
architect use the structural engineer you personally select.
For small projects you may choose to have a written contract directly
with the Structural Engineer. The
engineer should tell you exactly what would be covered by their services
(engineering analysis, any corrections required by Building Department, site
inspections, etc.).
Who Designs Schools
and Hospitals in California?
The structural
framing members (beams, columns, walls, floor, roof, etc.) of Schools and
Hospitals can only be designed by California licensed Structural Engineers.
California licensed Civil Engineers are not allowed to specially design these
types of structures.
What is a
Structural Engineer?
Structural
Engineer - a person engaged in the professional practice of consultation,
investigation, evaluation, planning or design of structures (buildings,
bridges, or other structures) to safely resist vertical and horizontal loads
which include gravity, earth pressure, wind and seismic forces.
What’s the
difference between an Architect and a Structural Engineer?
The Architect
designs what a building will look like, he defines the buildings style and the
Structural Engineer designs the structure (skeleton) of the building so that
it will not fall down during normal use and to prevent loss of life during an
earthquake or wind force.
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