For clients, selecting the right Structural Engineer can make or break a project. But with the market flooded by individuals with varying levels of qualifications and experience, how can you tell the difference between an expert and someone unqualified to make critical structural decisions?

  • The hidden costs of errors

The truth is, a lack of expertise may not be evident—until it’s too late. Poorly designed structures can lead to increased construction costs, delays, or even safety risks.

  • Lower fees seem appealing

On paper, less experienced engineers may seem appealing due to lower fees, but the hidden costs of errors, redesigns, or failed inspections can far outweigh any initial savings.

  • Anticipate challenges before they arise

Chartered Structural Engineers bring invaluable benefits to your project; 

  • Years of training
  • accreditation
  • hands-on experience and
  • ensure designs that are not only compliant with building regulations but also optimised for cost-efficiency and long-term durability.

Qualified structural engineers anticipate challenges before they arise, offering innovative solutions that will save you time and money.

What qualifications should you look for?

When appointing a structural engineer, you should look for the following qualifications and attributes to ensure you hire a competent and trustworthy professional:

Formal Education and Accreditation

Professional Certifications

  • Look for Chartered status, such as CEng MIStructE (member of the Institution of Structural Engineers or CEng FIStructE (fellow of the Institution of Structural Engineers)  which demonstrates advanced qualifications and experience way beyond Masters Graduate.

Relevant Experience

  • Experience with similar projects, whether it’s residential, commercial, or industrial structures.
  • Expertise in addressing the specific challenges of your project (e.g., structural assessments, or defect diagnosis.

Knowledge of Building Regulations / Building Safety Act

  • Familiarity with building regulations and compliance requirements to ensure safety and legal adherence.
  • The Building Safety Act requires Clients to appoint competent designers

Communication and Collaboration Skills

  • A good structural engineer should be able to clearly explain technical concepts and work effectively with property owners, architects and contractors

Reputation and References

  • Positive reviews, recommendations, or case studies from previous clients.
  • Examples of completed projects that align with your needs.

Professional Insurance

  • Ensure the engineer carries Professional Indemnity Insurance, which protects you in case of errors or omissions in their work. What level of indemnity is provided? Is the cover adequate for your project?

Working with experienced professionals ensures confidence in your project’s success. Clients can rely on solutions that are both structurally sound and financially sustainable.

Don’t gamble on one of the biggest investments you’ll make; choose a structural engineer who can deliver expertise, precision, and reliability.

Feedback

Have you hired a structural engineer before? What was your experience like? Did you feel you received good value, or did the service leave you disappointed?

We’d love to hear about your experience …

The Building Safety Act is part of the building safety legislation produced in the wake of the 2017 Grenfell Tower disaster.

It’s aim is to;

  • Enhance safety standards
  • Ensure accountability
  • Maintain thorough documentation throughout a building’s lifecycle

The Building Safety Act for Homeowners – Does the Building Safety Act apply to you and your project?

If you are undertaking works that requires Building Regulations approval – Yes absolutely!

There is a misconception that the Building Safety Act only applies to high rise buildings – this is not the case. It applies to ALL construction projects where you have to apply for Building Regulations approval.

The Building Safety Act will change the way buildings are designed, constructed, and managed.

The Act enables the introduction of new regulations covering the competence of all those who undertake building work with new statutory roles for Designers and Contractors on all projects.

Who are duty holders?

  • clients (homeowners, developers, employers)
  • designers
  • principal designers
  • contractors and
  • principal contractors

What does it mean for you as a homeowner?

As a client (dutyholder), you are legally responsible for:

  • Appointing competent professionals to design and build your project.
  • Sharing relevant information related to your project.

What you need to do

When a building regulations application is submitted, you (the client and homeowner) have to declare who is taking on the principal designer duties – you have to be confident they are a competent designer.

Similarly, when you appoint a builder as principal contractor then you need to be confident they are a competent builder.

Both need to deliver your project such that it complies with the Building Regulations..


Typically, your designer will serve as the Principal Designer, and your builder will act as the Principal Contractor.


The changing role of Building Control

Building Control will no longer be able to advise how to comply with Building Regulations – it will be a simple

  • yes it’s compliant or 
  • No it’s not compliant– this applies at plan checking stage and on site

It is up to the competent designer to produce a compliant design and the competent builder to build to the approved design.

Enforcement and Penalties

A breach of duties by any dutyholder is a criminal offence. Failure of a duty holder to carry out their duties will be addressed via fines and a custodial sentence up to 2 years.

Once building work is complete

The dutyholders (Client, Principal Designer and Principal Contractor) are to provide a signed compliance declaration within five days of completion of the work confirming:

  • To the best of your (the client’s) knowledge the work complies with the Building Regulations.
  • The Principal Designer and Contractor both have to sign to say they have fulfilled their duties.

Potential pitfall: When a builder wants to make a change to the approved design

If there are design changes from the information declared as compliant by the Principal Designer (and approved by Building Control in their checking role) a competent designer needs to confirm that the design remains compliant.

You (the client) would be responsible for providing the relevant information or seeking assistance (from the Principal Designer) with the design element. 

Alternatively if you felt your builder was a competent designer you would need to declare a change of dutyholder and assign your builder as the new Principal Designer.

What happens once the build is finished?

Before Building control will carry out a final completion inspection, the client, the Principal designer and Principal contractor have to sign a “declaration of compliance” to say they are happy that they have carried out their duties under the act and the build is compliant with building regulations.

What happens if I can’t do this?

Building Control will not be able to issue a completion certificate, which may be an issue when you come to sell your property.

Want to find out more?

Check out the government guidance by clicking here.

If you are thinking of a project (around the Berkshire area) and need advice, please drop us an email at:- support@mapl.co.uk

Returning from a very busy week on the “Ask an Expert” panel at Grand Designs Live I was going to write a blog post about the seminars that we attended and the insightful debates that emerged. I was planning to talk about the new products that were on show and some of the new construction techniques that are reducing carbon wastage and making construction methods safer and more efficient.

However, I came away with a much more important message to share, as it kept occurring time and time again.

Setting the Scene

Let me set the scene.

Grand Designs NEC 2015 ASk an expert

Over the period of four days we had appointments with over forty individuals. Mainly home owners excited about the prospect of their very own “Grand Design”.  They ranged from removing a single beam in a house to new build “Grand Designs” in France and Tuscany.

People bounced up to our desk, wide eyed and happy as they eagerly showed us their plans. So much time and thought had got them to this point.

As far as they were concerned they just had a few structural issues that they wanted to discuss before work could start on site (in some cases they wanted a second opinion about a structural solution that had already been proposed).

We sat and listened as they told us how they were so pleased that they now had obtained Planning Permission, they were one step closer to their dream home, just some structural issues to sort out.

Listening

We let them talk .. we listened.

Time and time again we saw their faces drop as we calmly explained that

Yes –  the designs were amazing

Yes – the designer had obviously listened very carefully to what they wanted from the design.

But ….. and it was a big “but”.

The designs weren’t buildable ..

Well what we actually said was;

“anything can be built structurally, but it will cost you a lot of money”

To give you just one example. A young couple had appointed an Architect to design them a new build, detached five bedroomed, three storey house. It looked amazing!

Listened to Their Brief

The Architect had clearly listened to their brief and they were very pleased with the design that had gone through Planning and had obtained full Planning Approval without too many problems.

They had booked an appointment to see us to find out what they needed to do to obtain Building Regulations Approval.

When we looked at the drawings, there were no internal load paths. The walls at first floor did not line up with any load bearing walls, a similar situation on the second floor. There were a few lines where beams needed to be “designed to engineers calculations” however, some were missing altogether.

The design was buildable, but at what cost?

Unfortunately, this seemed to be a common reply to a high number of visitors to our sessions.

So What’s The Answer?

We know this doesn’t apply to all designers, but time and time again this is an issue that we are experiencing.

The Structural Engineer comes to the party too late.

Imagine if the engineer was involved at an earlier stage .. to work up the design with the Architect .. possibly even “collaborating” with them …..

I’ve had this discussion with many Architects and I get the same response

“the Client doesn’t want to pay for the full design at the initial stage as they might not obtain Planning permission”

I make the point that the designer should have a fairly good idea whether or not Planning permission would be granted.

We are not suggesting a full detailed design at an early stage, just some conceptual ideas that would make the design buildable at a later stage.

Collaboration and Communication

The designer’s focus is on;

      function and the aesthetic of the project – how it looks, how the users experience it, how it feels to         be in the space.

Engineers are looking for;

      the most cost effective solution that is the most functional.

I believe that Clients ultimately benefit from a well thought through scheme. What’s s the point of getting planning permission for something that is disproportionately expensive to build?

By working together at an early stage, Architects and Engineers can apply their specialist knowledge and experience to deliver a cost effective solution which meets the Clients brief.

Would your Clients benefit from engaging a Structural Engineer at concept stage? When do you typically engage a Structural Engineer? Would be very interested to hear your thoughts …