I was brought in to look at a 40+ year old building due to concerns with the roof framing. The roof framing consists of piggyback scissor trusses that span roughly 55 feet. My brief assessment revealed failed plate connections, bowed top chord members, trusses bowed out of plane and evidence of...
What is the going rate for engineering fees on a pre-engineered metal building foundation? I have a decent grasp on fees for other things but I have a hard time with these. Do you guys quote these on a percent construction cost basis or dollars per square foot?
Does anyone have any information regarding cold formed shapes from the 1960's? We're doing a hospital addition/renovation and the existing roof is framed with I-shaped, cold formed joists. I've never seen anything like them and can't find any info on them. Any info would be appreciated.
Thanks!
I have an existing building (circa 1960) with, what the plans call, "4 1/2" cellular steel floor + 2 1/2" conc." I'm trying to analyze the floor deck and framing for a new piece of equipment the tenant wants to install. Does anyone have any idea what this decking might be? It appears to be...
I've noticed recently there is very little information out there that supports HSS members used as beams. My connection design software doesn't support it and there are few connection design examples out there. AISC tabulates information (total UDL) for WF beams and other shapes but not for HSS...
I have an architect that wants to use a concrete slab on metal deck but he wants to put several inches of rigid insulation between the concrete and deck. Has anyone ever seen or done this? Any input would be appreciated.
Thanks in advance!
I have a couple projects going where we keep coming up with the same issues regarding interior stud framing. It's always been my understanding that the interior stud work was basically delegated but I'm finding that it's really just left up to the installer to put up something that "works". In...
I have an architect in my office who continually gripes about us putting "specifications" on our structural drawings. I've worked at several places throughout my career and we've always included a General Notes sheet. I think some people have differing ideas of what is required/what gets...
Does anyone have any experience checking drawings for code compliance? My firm has signed on with a local municipality to check drawings that have been submitted for building permit. Each department in the office is checking their own portion of the drawings, so I get to do the structural.
My...
I was recently asked to assist a local foundation repair company with a house that is experiencing foundation settlement issues. The northwest corner of the house was underpinned (think PermaJack) approximately 19 years ago but it appears the settlement is continuing. The house is two stories...
In my experience, it is typical in a structural engineering office to have several tiers of engineering staff. At the bottom, there are EIT's and young engineers; then above them you have mid-level engineers who have their PE's; and at the top you have Senior Engineers/Principals/Owners, etc...
I am in the process of designing my first clarifier (roughly 95' diam x 20' tall) and I have spent some time reading other threads on the subject but I have an issue when it comes to the design of the foundation/base slab. I am using the Circular Concrete Tanks publication from PCA but it...
Has anyone used masonry shear walls for their lateral system on a load bearing cold formed structure? I am getting ready to start work on a two story apartment building that is to be constructed using load bearing cold formed walls. The building will include a stair tower on each end and an...
With regards to sliding snow, ASCE 7-05 gives a simple formula for calculating a load and states that sliding snow shall be applied uniformly over 15' on the lower roof. Does anyone have any idea why you would just blindly apply the load this way? Wouldn't snow falling from a roof tend to pile...
Does anyone have any experience with designing a laterally curved wood beam? I have a client who wants a 35' long beam with a 22' radius that will be supported on the ends and at the center. I am trying to figure out the best way to construct the beam, whether it be built up from dimensional...
