Important Factors to Consider when Deciding on a Structural Engineer
Your building needs to be brought up to Life Safety standards and reduction of PML (SEL and SUL now) for your peace of mind. It is time for a seismic upgrade and/or structural repairs. The first step is to find a structural engineer to complete the designs. There are several types of engineers, yet a structural engineer is the most reliable for seismic retrofit designs. A few factors to take into consideration as to why the pricing may vary include the following:
- Scope of Work – Are you comparing apples to oranges? This is often the case when pricing varies considerably. Engineers propose different scopes of service based on experience performing this type of design. Therefore, it is essential to work with an engineer who is experienced in seismic retrofits.
- Rough Estimates vs. Detailed Proposals—For budgeting purposes, a rough estimate of the scope of work typically provides low, median, and high-cost ranges. In contrast, a detailed proposal usually provides details with line items on specific costs and fees.
- Design-Build Engineer vs Structural Engineer – What is a design-build engineer firm? This firm is under one contract and one team; therefore, the design plans may seem low, yet the construction costs may inflate due to pre-existing conditions that were not considered. Saunders recommends having two separate entities, one of which completes the design and the other one completes the construction documents. A design-build firm is not recommended for seismic retrofitting. They sometimes develop the design with construction costs being as low as possible. The problem with this is when you go to sell the building, the new owner’s engineer may say that the design is not up to standards (SEL or SUL). Seismic retrofits are voluntary, and the building departments do not check to make sure the retrofit is designed to meet most engineers’ standards.
- Engineers and Additional Fees—What are you paying for? Developing a seismic retrofit for your building may slightly differ based on location, type of building, and tenant operations. It is imperative to know if you are receiving any additional assistance from the engineer. For instance, does he expect you to submit the plans to the city, or will each additional service be an additional fee?
These are just a few factors to consider when choosing an engineer to perform structural work or seismic upgrades on your building. Saunders Seismic has 40+ years of experience and has completed thousands of projects, so we can assist with the entire process, from recommending the appropriate engineer per your building type to assisting with value engineering.
Saunders Seismic is a premier seismic retrofit and structural repair company serving California, Washington, Oregon, Nevada, and Utah. Contact us today for a free assessment.