A mechanical engineer is trained in the design, construction and use of machines. This means they look after all of the machinery that is used and installed within a property. Mechanical engineers are often considered to be the most creative of engineers. There is a high level of complexity to design and manipulate the systems that they work on.
Civil engineers sometimes choose to complete further study that allows them to become a specialist in structural engineering. Structural engineers are concerned with the structural design and analysis of buildings, tunnels, bridges and other infrastructure of a vertical nature.
A civil engineer’s main focus is the design and planning of a proposed structure. However, a structural engineer focuses mainly on a structure’s strength and stability. Structural engineering does work on aspects of building design, but mostly from the perspective of structural integrity and choice of materials.
Structural engineers work from architect’s plans and drawings to determine whether the selected materials can support the proposed design.
A structural engineering report is a visual property inspection that evaluates the overall condition of an existing property. It considers the condition of the roof, foundation, floor and the building’s overall structure.
The main purpose of the report is to assess the structural condition of a property. It then outlines issues that need to be repaired. The report will cover inspection of the structural components that are visible including portions of the roof. Also included are visible internal and external load-bearing walls, floors, columns, beams and roof structure.
Please note that this report is only concerned with the structural integrity of a property. As such, it may not assess compliance with electrical codes. You will require a separate electrical code compliance inspection and report for this purpose.
Site conditions and safety concerns may limit the inspection of some areas of a building. For example, access to the roof or entry into a crawl space may require an additional fee. Please inform your engineer of any access issues prior to your inspection day.