What Is the Role of a Structural Engineer in Montreal?
For the past several years, construction projects have springing up all over Montreal. Such an economic boom requires the combined expertise of several construction sector trades at all levels of any given project, from the planning stage all the way through to delivery. Structural engineering is needed mainly at the preparation stages of a construction project because a structural engineer is in charge of design and planning.
Simply put, structural engineers are specialists in building materials (concrete, metal structures, wood, and so on). Their role is to design the framework of a building or other construction with the goal of ensuring its stability. What, then, are the advantages of calling on the expertise of a structural engineer in Montreal?
A structural engineer ensures the stability of a building
Considering how important building stability is, the work of a structural engineer in Montreal represents an essential function in the success of your construction, renovation, or structural inspection project. Namely, structural engineers use architectural plans to determine the dimensions of the different parts of the building’s structure and the quantity of materials needed.
To do this, a structural engineer in Montreal, as elsewhere, will take into account the following factors:
- the size of the building or other construction
- the nature and quantity of materials used
- climatic conditions
- the nature of the soil
- all standards and codes currently in effect
In order to ensure the stability of a structure, structural engineers in Montreal and throughout Quebec conduct simulations to test resistance, deformation, and elasticity in order to prove their hypotheses and validate their choices. These tests are usually carried out using computer-aided design (CAD) software.
On the basis of these computer calculations, structural engineers also establish the plans for the required formwork and scaffolding. These plans and blueprints indicate the location of all walls and all load-bearing elements of the structure. This structural design and planning work on the part of a structural engineer provides the project management team with the information needed to determine the cost of the project.
The expertise of a structural engineer in Montreal, as everywhere, plays a key role in a wide range of projects such as construction, installation of building systems (including the structure, roofs, and foundations of buildings), facades inspection, as well as structural analysis and structural engineering.
What a structural engineer does during the construction phase
During the construction or renovation phase of your local project, a structural engineer in Montreal will regularly visit the site to monitor progress and to identify possible modifications. For each change to the plans, the structural engineer will determine new dimension requirements or redesign the structure.
Structural engineers work in consultation with building engineers, who are responsible for organizing and coordinating each stage of a construction project, with a view to delivering a safe and long-lasting building that meets the client’s expectations while respecting the standards set out in the Construction Code and the Security Code.
By law, enforced by the Régie du bâtiment du Québec (RBQ), when a construction project in Montreal and throughout Quebec involves a public building or exceeds $100,000, plans and blueprints must be prepared by a structural engineer. For reasons of safety and durability, asking a structural engineer in Montreal, as elsewhere, to draw up the plans for major renovations is generally recommended.
Genispec’s team of structural engineers in Montreal
In order to maintain the highest standards of safety and security for your project in Montreal, our team of structural engineers and building engineers will follow a pre-established sequence of planning, design, and development, according to our project management procedures. At each stage of your project, we will submit accurate and specialized reports.
In this way, Genispec engineers collaborate to ensure that construction work remains up to standard according to the best practices of the construction industry. Together, they make sure that high-quality materials are used to maximize the building’s lifespan. This kind of teamwork will prove to be an asset when choosing a structural engineer in Montreal.
Why trust Genispec structural engineers in Montreal?
In order to meet the different needs of residential, industrial and commercial buildings, our team of engineers specializes in several disciplines within the building sector. For example, Genispec’s structural engineers in Montreal take charge of design and structural specifications and participate in project management and site supervision.
Genispec’s raison d’être is to provide you with superior building engineering services while ensuring public safety, site security and safety, and compliance with applicable legislation. With this in mind, our structural engineers in Montreal and surrounding areas will develop solutions tailored to your expectations and your budget to meet the specific needs of your project.
Please do not hesitate to contact us to discuss your project or to request a free quote.