Stone Panel Anchorages

[jike]

Who's responsibility is it to design the anchorages for stone panels? The architect, the structural engineer, the stone panel supplier or the general contractor?

How is this normally done?

 

[jheidt2543]

My background has been with general contractors, although I'm doing engineering work now, so my position may be colored by that perspective. I maintain it is the Designer-of-Record's responsibility. Now, he may delegate that responsibility, but ultimately the buck stops with him.

If the DOR is not confident in doing the actual connection design and expects the stone or precast panel supplier to perform the design, then the specifications should be absolutely clear that that is what is required. In the end, the DOR still has the ultimate responsibility for the overall design of the building.

This is similar to any component design of structural steel, precast concrete or wood trusses. The DOR specifies the design requirements and loads and then delegates the final detailed design to the component specialist.

 

[ishvaaag]

In Spain the architect that signs the project, or the architect that direct the works if modifying (or not doing, when necessary) what the project has about.

 

[ERV]

It has (almost) always been my experience that the stone panel manufacturer bears the responsibilty for anchorage of their panels, provides specifications to the EOR, the EOR details this to the architect, the architect incorporates this into the plan.
This assumes that this is a premanufactured engineered cladding.

 

[CSEllc]

I have done several projects with a significant amount of cast stone. Much of the stone was vbery ornate. On my structural drawings, I showed the system to support the stone.

I requested that the stone supplier submit signed and sealed calculations and shop drawings for the final design of all the anchors.

As previously mentiooned, the EOR can delgate the design responsibility but (s)he is ultimately responsible.

 

[DaveAtkins]

I have extensive experience acting as a consulting structural engineer to natural stone panel suppliers, and my experience is that on most projects the stone panel supplier includes engineering in his bid. The Structural Engineer of Record typically does not provide this service. However, backup framing or CMU must be provided so that the panels can be connected to something adequate.

DaveAtkins

 

[JAE]

DaveAtkins:
But you as SE do prepare the structure to receive the stone, right? For example, a stone wall system may be linked together by pins, etc. and this is by the stone supplier, but the underlying support of the stone may be set up similar to a brick ledge and the ledge and ledge connections to the supporting structure would be the SE's to do?

 

[DaveAtkins]

That's right, JAE. The stone supplier's engineer will assume that the superstructure is adequate to support the stone panels for gravity loads and lateral loads. Now, if I am engineering the stone panels and I see something that looks completely out of whack, I call the Engineer of Record.

DaveAtkins