“The task of appointing any professional can be a daunting one, particularly when dealing with large infrastructure projects. For this reason, it is easy to see how people end up making crucial mistakes that can potentially be dangerous and/ or costly. The number one rule is to remember why you need to appoint them and exactly what they do. That may sound simple, but when the quotes are piling up, many people jump in feet first and plump for the cheapest candidate.
“The main part of a structural engineers role is to provide the design for the project. The other vitally important aspect of the structural engineer’s role is the Professional Indemnity Insurance that they provide, just in case anything does go wrong, so that the client can be compensated for any losses.
“To provide engineering input takes time and we all know that time is money, and this is where the majority of costs are incurred. As with any line of work, some structural engineers are faster than others, but that is generally down to experience, which inevitably will be reflected in the price.
“The other side of the structural engineer’s role is to provide advice on the materials used in the construction. A good engineer will select the most appropriate and cost effective materials for a project. Alternatively, an engineer may select a material that, whilst appropriate for the project, is not cost effective for the client but minimises his input, time spent and his own costs.
“When comparing quotes, the client needs to take into account additional costs which may not be included -for example the cost of site visits and disbursements at unmentioned rates.
“The client also needs to be aware that some practices are more experienced in certain areas than others. In this time of recession, engineers will not turn work away, even if it is not their core area of work. Most engineering practices will have their own web pages, which should identify what they believe to be their key specialist areas. Some of these websites are not as well constructed as others, however it is worth bearing in mind that a flashy website may not necessarily be indicative of the quality of the work produced.
“When selecting your engineer, it may be useful to ask about experience and qualifications. After all, they are effectively applying for a job so you are well within your rights to ask the sort of questions that you may expect to hear in a job interview, even ask for references if you feel it necessary.
“There are two basic grades of engineer; graduate engineers who have a BEng or BSc in civil or structural engineering and the more experienced chartered engineer who has a CEng.
“When you receive your quote, don’t immediately focus on the total cost. Take a few moments to break down the figures. It is worth bearing mind that generally the cost of the engineer will account for between 30 – 50% of the total quote.
“The decision of who to appoint as your consulting engineer should be a carefully considered one and should never be made purely dependant on cost. There is a lot of responsibility and liability accredited to the consulting engineer and so choosing the correct candidate is crucial to any project or report carried out.”
