Client insisting that the EOR should design and detail handrails
Client insisting that the EOR should design and detail handrails
(OP)
This is a new one for me. I have never had a client request and insist on this before. In my experience, handrails/posts/anchorage design has always been done by the misc. metals designer - and they stamp their drawings. Client's rationale is that handrails are a safety issue and as such should be designed by the EOR. Maybe I'll be asked to design OWSJ, hollowcore, steel stringers next...
How would you go about this...
How would you go about this...






RE: Client insisting that the EOR should design and detail handrails
RE: Client insisting that the EOR should design and detail handrails
RE: Client insisting that the EOR should design and detail handrails
RE: Client insisting that the EOR should design and detail handrails
Mike McCann, PE, SE (WA)
RE: Client insisting that the EOR should design and detail handrails
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RE: Client insisting that the EOR should design and detail handrails
1. The EOR takes overall responsibility of the design of the project. In this he/she defines criteria for certain subsets of the job (stairs and rails, structural steel, miscellaneous metals, light gage steel framing, aluminum/steel canopies, etc.) to those who are better equipped to get the construction details correct for their specialty. All of these are specialized engineering applications. The EOR then transmits the design criteria to the specialty engineer.
2. The specialty engineer is one who either does this routinely in his/her practice or is captive to the fabricator. In either case, he/she has direct control over the produced plans/calculations/specs, etc, thus the statutory responsibility of responsible charge is met. The EOR cannot do this for several reasons:
3. The specialty engineer is obligated to the EOR to meet the design intent but has the latitude to design the system within the criteria outlined by the EOR. The specialty engineer must then submit to the EOR, adequate information that allows the EOR to review the submittal in accordance with the design intent.
Is your client an Engineer? They should not be dictating your engineering practice and decisions unless they want to take the responsibility for them. If they are non-engineers, you might be obligated to write a letter to your engineering board (depending on where you're located), letting them know that your engineering decisions are being overruled by a "lay authority".
RE: Client insisting that the EOR should design and detail handrails
RE: Client insisting that the EOR should design and detail handrails
My whole experience is in offshore structures, and for the first time I am on an industrial job. For offshore structures, made of all steel, 100% of the engineering was done by one firm. Drawings were all detailed by one firm. I'm talking everything from girders, to handrails, connection details etc.
On this industrial job, one firm did the "structural" design, and I was surprised that an entirely different firm did the connection design. I am told this is standard. So what is the usual scope you all perform? I feel like most of the work is in the details, and it sounds nice to just focus on the structural members.
Why wouldn't the structural firm want to increase their scope to include connection design, handrail etc?
RE: Client insisting that the EOR should design and detail handrails
I think the main reason behind the splitting the connections from the main structure is efficiency and cost (as mentioned in posts above). If you give fabricators the general criteria (design loads) they can determine which connections best suit their means and methods of fabricating and erecting the structure (welded vs bolted, type of moment connection etc...). This way when you put a set of drawings out to bid you can get the most competitive bid from each fabricator instead of restricting them to a set of details they are not familiar or comfortable with.
RE: Client insisting that the EOR should design and detail handrails
that makes a lot of sense! Thanks!
RE: Client insisting that the EOR should design and detail handrails
For other projects that are architecturally driven (schools, hospitals, etc) our typical practice is that the handrails will be a delegated design item. They usually have some fancy shape, material, or architectural feature that does not match our typical details. Of course, we would design it if asked (and for an additional fee if it was not included in our scope)
RE: Client insisting that the EOR should design and detail handrails