Structural engineers are crucial to most projects, whether the project is a new building, new bridge, or a renovation to an existing structure. Most people have heard of structural engineers but don’t really understand what we do as a profession and when we should be consulted. The following is an explanation of structural engineers: who we are, what we do, why we are important, and when you should consult us.

Who we are

In order to practice as a structural engineer, you must become licensed within the state or U.S. territory to which the project belongs. For example, a structural engineer may work out of Ohio but if the project is in Texas, the engineer must hold a Texas license. Each state and U.S. territory has its own requirements for licensing, and these requirements vary greatly from jurisdiction to jurisdiction. The requirements for a high-rise building in California are vastly different than a ski lodge in upstate New York, or a beach house in Florida, so it makes sense that each state would set its own standards.

There are multiple steps in order to become a licensed engineer. First, you must earn a minimum four-year bachelor’s degree within the engineering field, typically civil engineering, from an ABET (Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology) accredited program. You then must pass the six-hour Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) Examination that can be completed during or after your senior year of college. Completion of this test earns you the title of Engineer in Training (EIT). You must complete four years of relevant experience in the structural engineering field under the supervision of a licensed engineer(s). This requires you to develop technical skills that are broad enough to allow knowledge in engineering overall but focused enough that you are highly skilled in the structural field. You can then qualify to take the eight-hour, Principle, and Practice of Engineering (PE) Exam. Completion of this exam earns you the title of Professional Engineer (PE). Some states require you to take an additional sixteen-hour exam, the Structural Engineering (SE) Examination in order to work on various types of structures, such as hospitals. Completion of this exam earns you the title of Structural Engineer (SE). While the above-mentioned steps are the most typical, there are a few exceptions to the experience and requirements needed to become licensed, but those will not be discussed in this post.

What we do

In short, a structural engineer makes an architect’s or designer’s vision possible. A structural engineer designs the skeletal system of a building for its stability within the aesthetic envisioned by the designer or architect. We work directly with architects and designers, starting at the conceptual phase of a project, to ensure the success of the building’s structure within the design intent. Typically, the structural system is hidden within the walls, above the ceiling, and below the floor of the building, that is, unless we are lucky enough to get to showcase our designs like in the following photo examples.

Commercial Office Building Concept. Design by Onyx Creative.

Structural engineers design a building’s stability system to withstand forces from wind, earthquake, rain, snow, ice, flooding, earth, occupancy live, and the structure itself per requirements from national and state-driven building codes and industry standards. They counter these lateral and vertical loads using structural materials such as concrete, wood, masonry, and steel.

To counter horizontal forces from sources such as wind or earthquakes, a system is developed to transfer the force from the roof, all the way down to the foundation. The roof and floor diaphragms are designed to transfer these forces to structural systems, such as shear walls (made from wood, masonry, concrete, or steel), steel moment frames, steel-braced frames, or any combination of these. Essentially these systems keep the building from “pancaking” or twisting during a seismic or wind event. For vertical loading, a path is used to get the loads from the roof and all floors down to the foundations. This is commonly accomplished through a combination of beam, column, and bearing wall systems

Why we are important

The Structural Engineers Association of Ohio (SEAoO) states, “If one considers the human body analogous to a building, structural engineers would be the professionals that design the skeleton so that the body can support its weight and other forces that act on it.”

Structural engineers are able to design a system that is optimized for the loading requirements. They understand the capacities of various materials and can design a structure that is safe and cost-efficient. According to Design Everest, “From a budget perspective, quality calculations can help you economize on your project. On average, the materials and labor involved in erecting a building’s structure can add up to 20% of the total construction costs. With such a large portion of your budget at stake, your structural calculations must afford the most efficient way of constructing a compliant, sturdy building. An experienced engineering team will pinpoint structural efficiencies through their calculations and help your project meet its intended budget”.

Most importantly, we know how to keep your building standing up.

When you should consult us

In essence, you should consult a structural engineer any time you are constructing a new building, performing a renovation, or notice any structural damage. Some renovation examples include enlarging a window or door opening, adding a brick or stone façade, adding an interior or exterior wall opening, any kind of building addition such as a basement, and even adding a hot tub to your balcony. If a structural engineer had been hired then such catastrophes as shown below could have been avoided.

When buildings experience damage from things like a storm, fire, or termites, a structural engineer is able to perform an investigation. From this, the engineer will be able to determine how to repair the damage in a cost-effective manner.

Most jurisdictions require stamped drawings when a significant renovation is done to a building. These come from a structural engineer licensed in that state. The contractor then uses these drawings to complete the project.