Engineered Shop Drawings
Engineered Shop Drawings
(OP)
This is a general question for practing structural engineers....Do you require sealed shop drawings for all prefabriacted componets on a building you are the E.O.R.? I'm thinking of wooden trusses, timberframes ect. Where does the architect fall in the scheme of things if they are required...what if this shop drawing review wasn't in the contract? Thanks.






RE: Engineered Shop Drawings
RE: Engineered Shop Drawings
RE: Engineered Shop Drawings
Don Phillips
http://worthingtonengineering.com
RE: Engineered Shop Drawings
RE: Engineered Shop Drawings
Are you talking about shops for items you design like the main structural steel?
Why would you not want calcs for something that someone else is designing? Ultimately, it is your responsibility if anything goes wrong since you are the EOR.
We require calcs to review for everything we don't design in-house.
RE: Engineered Shop Drawings
The responsibility I understand, but I have never requested nor reviewed another engineers calculations as part of the shop drawing review process. The day you request calculations you may as well just have done the design yourself. We have had clarification requirements and subsequent changes in the submission phase. We will submitt our calculations at the request of Building Officials only. Structural Steel except for special connections we design the fabricator submitts sealed drawings we review the drawings ask for clarification as required. Exactly what and how do you review the submitted calc's?
RE: Engineered Shop Drawings
I'll give a couple of examples.
1. For metal studs - We always write this as a performance spec. The engineer that designs them submits shops and calculations to us. We review the calcs for proper loading, proper intent (just because a metal stud is crossing a beam doesn't mean the beam was designed to clip back to it and cause weak axis bending). We also check for coordination between their calcs and drawings. If they have 4 different base connections at different jamb studs we check to make sure the capacity for the connection provided is greater than the reaction (you would be surprised how often this is not the case).
2. For stair shops - We again check for proper loading. We have got many stair shops where they cut the string at a kink and don't provide any reinforcement where the cut section is inadequate. Again, check for coordination items, check connections to the main structure.
3. For curtain wall shops - We check for loadings, make sure the correct GCpi was used.
There are definitely things to review in the calcs
RE: Engineered Shop Drawings
If you review calcs yes '... there are definetly things to review ...', infact I would sugest that there is everything to review. You must then do the design for a second time. It would appear to me that you do a 'selective' review. What if you have missed an arithmatic error? By asking for calc's have you then implied that you will check all the cal's, or do you specify that you will check only certain calc's or components of the design?
RE: Engineered Shop Drawings
I always get sealed and signed drawings for metal building framing.
I never get sealed and signed drawings for bar joists. I've tried in total futility to get them.
I sometimes get sealed and signed shop drawings for trusses. It depends on the fabricator. Most provide the seal and signature if they provide trusses for commercial project. Fabricators who do mostly residential rarely provide sealed and signed shop drawings.
RE: Engineered Shop Drawings