Owner Requesting Structural Calculations 10

[RangeRock]

Good Afternoon All,

Hopefully a quick question here... is it normal for an owner to request calculations from the structural EOR as part of their CD reviews? We typically only submit calculations to the applicable jurisdiction during the permitting phase and not sure what the owner is intending to do by reviewing our calculations.

My fear in providing this information would be future misuse of the calculations in order to justify modifications/additional loads to the as-built structure without the consolation of the EOR. Any thoughts/experience here?

Thanks as always.

 

[phamENG]

OldDawg - here in the east (specifically mid Atlantic), none of the AHJs have anyone qualified to review calcs. They tried once, and after a rather embarrassing back and forth and 45 minute instructional session during which I explained how IBC chapter 16 works, they relented and I haven't received Structural comments since.

State or federal is different. They require calcs and I provide them.

 

[Tomfh]

In NZ most calc sets are discoverable as part of the building, you can easily see how other people have solved

Could you elaborate on that? How does it work?

 

[rowingengineer]

The building approvals request calcs to show basic understanding of the problems and you can request the building approvals which includes the calcs for any building. Fairly simple but largely unaffected by the above concerns.

 

[MIStructE_IRE]

@le99 - they’re not excuses. I do give them out, albeit relatively infrequently. These aren’t excuses, but simply reasons, based on past experience, I don’t like giving out calcs.

 

[phamENG]

It's also important to understand what legal right you do or do not have to your calcs. In the US, an engineer's work belongs to them, even after it has been produced and payment has been made. The design of every building I've designed (under my company, anyway), is my property. It does not belong to my client. My client has license to use my design once and only once to permit and construct the building. Once that is done their license is invalid and they have to get my permission to use it again. What I do or do not do to arrive at that design is also my property, and I have the right to control its distribution. Other countries may have a different take on things.

Now an AHJ has the authority to withhold permit until calculations or other proof of design adequacy is presented for review and approval. For a discussion on whether or not an EOR can be compelled to comply, see my recent thread on that subject. Best I can tell, it comes down to the contract. And how much work that EOR wants to get in the future. If the AHJ requires it and the EOR refuses, they're likely to end up in a lawsuit and probably won't be able to work in that jurisdiction again.

 

[rafteroftheyear]

Providing calculation to the owner usually is not part of the contract. We normally send this to AHJ not to the owner. However, if they really insist on having a copy, you have the right to charge for additional fee since calculation is your intellectual property.