DO I need an Engineer

sea12

My architect designed my house and went through all the planning. He did did up the construction drawings. We are going for the opt out on building regulations. The bank is happy for the Arch to sign off on staged payments.  The Arch did the commencement notice and said he will look after the house. It is being built by contract with a building firm. Good reputation. Do I still need an Engineer? 
Many Thanks for any replies.

Calahonda52

1: maybe its the language but you cannot opt out of the Building Regs.

You need to be clear on:

1. what you are opting out of and
2. that you will get a cert at the end to meet the requirements.

to your question
Are there any steel beams in the build or any other special features that need specific engineering design and sign off

sydthebeat

As long as the architect is competent to sign off the structural elements then no.

Its not unusual to bring engineers in to sign off isolated specific elements

sea12

sydthebeat wrote: »

As long as the architect is competent to sign off the structural elements then no.

Its not unusual to bring engineers in to sign off isolated specific elements

And down the road if your selling the house ( no intention but u never know what happens in life) is there any issues with not having had an engineer sign off on it

sydthebeat

sea12 wrote: »

And down the road if your selling the house ( no intention but u never know what happens in life) is there any issues with not having had an engineer sign off on it

My initial reply covers this again.

sea12

sydthebeat wrote: »

My initial reply covers this again.

Ok thanks

sydneygolfdude

sea12 wrote: »

My architect designed my house and went through all the planning. He did did up the construction drawings. We are going for the opt out on building regulations. The bank is happy for the Arch to sign off on staged payments.  The Arch did the commencement notice and said he will look after the house. It is being built by contract with a building firm. Good reputation. Do I still need an Engineer? 
Many Thanks for any replies.

As long as the Architect is registered (usually chartered) there is no issue. The banks would not allow the loan if the Architect was not charted so its all good there.

I work in a engineering consultancy and its the norm for Architects to manage/sign off on house builds as any structural elements that they potentially need clarity on they engage with someone like us for advice.

But I am not sure what you meant by "opt out on building regulations". can you clarify?

sea12

sydneygolfdude wrote: »

As long as the Architect is registered (usually chartered) there is no issue. The banks would not allow the loan if the Architect was not charted so its all good there.

I work in a engineering consultancy and its the norm for Architects to manage/sign off on house builds as any structural elements that they potentially need clarity on they engage with someone like us for advice.

But I am not sure what you meant by "opt out on building regulations". can you clarify?

The arch is not a chartered arch but has his own practice for 20 years and I've been assured by bank of Ireland that he is suitably qualified to sign off on stages and they have no issue with him.

The opt in/ opt out . I've attached photo

Calahonda52

sydneygolfdude wrote: »

As long as the Architect is registered (usually chartered) there is no issue. The banks would not allow the loan if the Architect was not charted so its all good there.

I work in a engineering consultancy and its the norm for Architects to manage/sign off on house builds as any structural elements that they potentially need clarity on they engage with someone like us for advice.

But I am not sure what you meant by "opt out on building regulations". can you clarify?

Advice is not enough here:maybe its the wrong word.

they way I do it for example, if there is a steel beam incorporated into the design, then this element has to

1. be designed
2. be supervised on site as to correct section/grade. bearing pads/ etc
3. before it gets boxed in with plaster board.

Signing off on stage payments is NOT the same as signing off on structural design/reg compliance

Gumbo

sydneygolfdude wrote: »

As long as the Architect is registered (usually chartered) there is no issue. The banks would not allow the loan if the Architect was not charted so its all good there.

Architects do not become Chartered. They become Registered.

sydneygolfdude wrote: »

I work in a engineering consultancy and its the norm for Architects to manage/sign off on house builds as any structural elements that they potentially need clarity on they engage with someone like us for advice.

In those cases the Engineers are only signing off on Part A of the Building Regulations (Structure). Typically they will give a Cert that states that they have been engaged to design particular elements on a job where an Architect is providing complete supervision.

Form BR SE9101
Form for use where a Consulting Engineer is appointed under the conditions of engagement, agreement SE9101 where an Architect has been appointed by the client.

sydneygolfdude wrote: »

But I am not sure what you meant by "opt out on building regulations". can you clarify?

Most likely Opt Out of the Building Control Regulations. This removes the statutory Certification on Completion that the Local Authority places on the Register. Are you aware of SI9 of 2014?

sea12

kceire wrote: »

Architects do not become Chartered. They become Registered.



In those cases the Engineers are only signing off on Part A of the Building Regulations (Structure). Typically they will give a Cert that states that they have been engaged to design particular elements on a job where an Architect is providing complete supervision.

Form BR SE9101
Form for use where a Consulting Engineer is appointed under the conditions of engagement, agreement SE9101 where an Architect has been appointed by the client.



Most likely Opt Out of the Building Control Regulations. This removes the statutory Certification on Completion that the Local Authority places on the Register. Are you aware of SI9 of 2014?

Thanks for all your detailed reply. Yes you are correct in your interpretation of the opt out question So in your opinion is there any risk with certifying the house after if I just use the architect.

Gumbo

sea12 wrote: »

Thanks for all your detailed reply. Yes you are correct in your interpretation of the opt out question So in your opinion is there any risk with certifying the house after if I just use the architect.

Yes, significant risk because :

You cannot certify what you cannot see.
To get the structure certified at a later stage then you'll have to carry out opening up works to expose the steel beams, bearing, connections etc
Then you'll have to fix all the holes and re plaster, paint etc

They wont be little 50mm spy holes, they'll be 300mm square holes at the very least.

Surely the Engineer now is not gona break the bank, can you not scale back something else or leave off the big TV for a while, or leave off the fancy floors in one room?

sea12

kceire wrote: »

Yes, significant risk because :

You cannot certify what you cannot see.
To get the structure certified at a later stage then you'll have to carry out opening up works to expose the steel beams, bearing, connections etc
Then you'll have to fix all the holes and re plaster, paint etc

They wont be little 50mm spy holes, they'll be 300mm square holes at the very least.

Surely the Engineer now is not gona break the bank, can you not scale back something else or leave off the big TV for a while, or leave off the fancy floors in one room?

Well I am paying the architect extra to do the draw down. I should have just got the engineer on the first place but just listened to the architect. If I have to pay someone I might aswell just get the engineer.
Is there any issue if arch has sent in the commencent notice.

Gumbo

sea12 wrote: »

Well I am paying the architect extra to do the draw down. I should have just got the engineer on the first place but just listened to the architect. If I have to pay someone I might aswell just get the engineer.
Is there any issue if arch has sent in the commencent notice.

Get the engineer as an ancillary. He will just do part A.

Architect may need to be removed from the commencement notice if you change now. Thanks may need to resubmit as the drawings used currently may be copyright of the architect even though it’s your house.