I have been contacted by a steel fabricator to assist them in the design of supports for some sprinkler pipes in an old gymnasium. By some chance, they have sent me the old structural drawings from 1949 which give us the beam sizes and spacings for our supports. The existing roof decking is...
I have a project where the client has had the architect client has had the bright idea to have a fancy canopy project out from the front of the building. To add to the complexity, this canopy is to have AESS (architecturally exposed structural steel). One area requires a rectangular HSS to...
I have a project that I am currently working on that is to fall under FM Global Requirements. We are in snow country and it appears as if FM is requiring the roof to be in compliance with ASCE7-22 which uses ultimate snow load vs allowable snow load (which I know and love). Regardless, I am...
As the name suggests, I need to design a foundation for an aluminum extrusion machine. I have been given the loading requirements for the foundation from the manufacturer. In one location I have a pier with dimensions (LxWxH) 39"x107"x30". The load on top of this pier was given to me as 90...
I have had an issue throughout my short career with telling people no. I like to consider myself a somewhat logical person. I like to make sure I can prove a design works rather than just wing it.
Throughout my career I have had numerous GC's and clients come to me with questions and...
I have a building that is currently under construction that I am quite miffed about. The building is utilizing some CMU stair shafts as shear walls. We are grouting the walls solid and have give the contractor the option to do low lift grouting or high lift grouting. The contractor selected...
Just doing a sanity check with this one.
I have a client who is looking to add an elevator outside of an existing wood framed building. The elevator shaft is to be constructed using 8” cmu on all 4 sides with dimensions of 8’-2” x 9’-7” (I know this is not coursing, but it’s what is required by...
I would post this in the Geotechnical forum., but that forum isn't as active as this one.....
I have a project that I am designing a foundation for. The project is a single story industrial/manufacturing building that will be constructed using a metal building. I received the geotechnical...
I have a project under construction that utilizes composite steal beam and deck (concrete slab supported by composite steel deck on steel beams with nelson studs). See attached photo.
For whatever reason, the contractor decided to pour a cold joint right at the edge of this composite beam...
I have a client who needs to do some work on an old post and beam structure. The client, a restoration contractor, is looking to removed and replace some beams that are 150+ (maybe even 200+) years old. These beams are sagging and have some shear cracks at their ends. The client is extremely...
I have a project that is currently under construction that I designed over 4 years ago.
In the infinite wisdom of the foundation contractor, they decided to install a contraction joint at the end of a concrete beam in a foundation wall at the location we have a integral concrete beam...
I have a brief question regarding Simpson Joist hangers
Due to some design constraints, I would like to connect a beam to a PT column using a concealed joist hanger. I can't find anywhere where this is prohibited.... or, for that matter, allowed. I have a few different instances on a project...
I am currently trying to rough out the design of a small single-story retail building. I am check the diaphragm and I am calculating a demand of roughly 850 plf (allowable) which is quite high. Currently, due to loading issues, I have open-web steel joists spaced at 3'-0"+/- o.c. I opened up...
I have a building I am designing with a small bridge crane inside. We are being asked to provide a detail for the end stops of the crane. The crane manufacturer has provided the force that needs to be resisted of 3,000 lbf (not exactly sure about the height.... but it looks to be applied 7"...
I am in the process of reviewing a concrete mix design for an industrial building. A few weeks ago, we were submitted a concrete mix design that was outside our parameter for slump. I rejected the mix and then had a conversation with the GC in regards to what could be done and we came up with...
I have a project that I designed last year that the client would like to make some changes to.
Current project is designed using IBC 2015 and is a single story warehouse with an eave height of 41'-0". Building utilizes open-web steel joists supported by joist girders and steel columns...
I was recently called out to look at an issue a client found while renovating an old 1800’s era brownstone. During demolition of the existing partitions, the client hit an old column that appears to be holding up a header beam ( 5 ¼” x 11”) that frames around an old fireplace. This column ends...
I have a residential project where the contractor ran into some poor soils conditions when they were excavating for the foundation. The contractor decided to place the footing for the residence on top of virgin ground vs a controlled backfill (which was a wise decision considering who I am...
This is a new one to me. I have been asked to look at putting some additions onto an existing structure. The additions are currently planned to add significant snow drift to the existing office area which is a single story building. I was asked to visit the site today to look at the existing...
I am currently designing an industrial building that is to be embedded in the side of an existing hill. The design requires a suspended floor and I will have some steel beam that need to be supported by a perimeter concrete wall. Under normal conditions, I am planning on resting the steel...
