×
INTELLIGENT WORK FORUMS
FOR ENGINEERING PROFESSIONALS

Log In

Come Join Us!

Are you an
Engineering professional?
Join Eng-Tips Forums!
  • Talk With Other Members
  • Be Notified Of Responses
    To Your Posts
  • Keyword Search
  • One-Click Access To Your
    Favorite Forums
  • Automated Signatures
    On Your Posts
  • Best Of All, It's Free!
  • Students Click Here

*Eng-Tips's functionality depends on members receiving e-mail. By joining you are opting in to receive e-mail.

Posting Guidelines

Promoting, selling, recruiting, coursework and thesis posting is forbidden.

Students Click Here

Jobs

Temporary structure design (Construction site protection fence design)

Temporary structure design (Construction site protection fence design)

Temporary structure design (Construction site protection fence design)

(OP)
I have a situation in which my duty as a structural engineer is to tell my client if the code (IBC) has any design requirement for temporary structures like construction site protection fence design. Does IBC say anything about this? I looked at IBC, and could not find anything specific on how to design such temporary structures? In my case, the temporary fence at the construction site fell down, and hurt the worker. Now, it is legal issue.

I would appreciate your inputs.

RE: Temporary structure design (Construction site protection fence design)

dont you rent those? Why would you spend the time and money to design and fabricate it?

Never, but never question engineer's judgement

RE: Temporary structure design (Construction site protection fence design)

(OP)
COEngineer, thanks for the response.

I understand what you say. However, the problem is that the fence fell down, and somebody was hurt. Now it is in court. The matter of fact is the court believes on written evidence, not your personal judgement.

Again, the fence supplier must provide some evidence that the fence installation is per code. As a supplier you can not just supply something that is not safe to the public. Does it make sense? And my question is: is there any provision for this in IBC on how to design it?

RE: Temporary structure design (Construction site protection fence design)

I don't know about the IBC code, but, depending on your country of origin, you might start by checking with OSHA standards.  If it was a worker that was injured, it's an L&I claim too.

Mike McCann
MMC Engineering

RE: Temporary structure design (Construction site protection fence design)

Section 3306 on IBC maybe?   

Never, but never question engineer's judgement

RE: Temporary structure design (Construction site protection fence design)

From the 2007 OBC (based on the 2006 IBC)

105.2 Work exempt from approval. Approval shall not be required for the following:
Building:
2. Fences not over 6 feet (1829 mm) high.


 

Don Phillips
http://worthingtonengineering.com

RE: Temporary structure design (Construction site protection fence design)

It has been my experiance that the General Conditions section of the specifications defines the design of temporary construction like fencing, sheeting and shoring as the responsibility of the Contractor.  Most of those kinds of things can be found in the OSHA Standards for protection of workers.  So, as the structural engineer of record, I don't see how you could be held libel, BUT if it is in court already there's no telling what can happen.

Red Flag This Post

Please let us know here why this post is inappropriate. Reasons such as off-topic, duplicates, flames, illegal, vulgar, or students posting their homework.

Red Flag Submitted

Thank you for helping keep Eng-Tips Forums free from inappropriate posts.
The Eng-Tips staff will check this out and take appropriate action.

Reply To This Thread

Posting in the Eng-Tips forums is a member-only feature.

Click Here to join Eng-Tips and talk with other members!


Resources