Releasing Structural Calculations 2

[jike]

We were working on a rather large commercial project. The developer was having trouble obtaining financing and decided to terminate our contract when the design was 50 to 75% complete. The footing design had received State approval but only some excavations were actually completed.

We made an agreement with the Owner to provide him our incomplete drawings. Another Architect is now requesting our structural calculations.

The project was in a state of flux at that the time we were told to stop work. The footings were approved by the State but I have no control over any future changes that the Architect may make. I know of some changes that were talked about but were never completed on the drawings or in the calculations since our contract was terminated. The Architect is stating that they only want them as a starting point.

I think maybe he wants to finish up our job without hiring a structural engineer or at least minimizing his structural fee by using our calcs. If I was starting on this project, I would prefer not to have anyone's calcs and I would start from scratch.

Additionally, I am notifying the State, in writing, that I am no longer the EOR. The foundations should be re-reviewed as a brand new project, since the design was incomplete at the time the foundation permit was issued and is now under the control of a different design team. There will inevitably be architectural/mechanical changes in the design from where we finished up at.

I am leaning hard toward telling him "No", we will not release them.

Any comments or suggestions?

 

[denoid]

Both of the incidences described above are over 10 years old. At the time, I was an employee with a different employer - their call, not mine. In neither case did my signature ever appear on anything.

Today, since I'm now calling the shots, my approach would have been different, similar to what damstructural, Ron, and Focht3 describe...no calcs would ever have been released!

But then, hindsight is alwas 20-20.

 

[CSEllc]

You can count me in on the majority.....DO NOT give out your calculations.

I have herad of some firms that once a project is completed(not exactly the same condition as this one but...), they actually destroy the calculations.

In my opinion calculations are work product....Your firm was paid (hopefully....) to provide draings for the project. That is what is used to construct the building, not your calculations....The contractor does not refer to page 46 for beam 3B21 to find out it is to be a W16x36......He looks at the third floor framing plan....he looks on the drawings.

LPPE, it was not uncommomn to issue a foundation plan based on tributary area calculations and approximate lateral load analysis. The owner assumes the risk if he makes changes during the design phgasde that impact the foundation.....It was also not uncommon to "bump up" footing sizes a bit (you calculate an 8x8....make it a 9x9 just in case) to compensate for the unknown.