January 2002 * The Indian Concrete Journal

2EJ B 8EAM
37
Guidelines for a structural engineer for
practising as design consultant
Umcsh DhargaIkar, Mcmbcr of lhc Indian Socicly of
SlrucluraI Lnginccrs (ISSL), C/210, Gracc IIaza, S.V.
Road, }ogcshwari (W), Mumbai 400102.
R.I. Ncnc, Advisor of lhc ISSL, 24 Iandil Niwas,
R.B.S.K. BoIc Marg, Dadar (W), Mumbai 400 028.
|-ncil. isscvsnI.ncl
A slrucluraI cnginccr may assumc lhc roIc
of a slrucluraI dcsign consuIlanl,
projccl managcmcnl consuIlanl, rcha-
biIilalion consuIlanl or invcsligalion con-
suIlanl dcpcnding upon his ficId of prac-
licc or scopc of work for a projccl al hand.
Thc prcscnl arlicIc conccrns his roIc as a
dcsign consuIlanl.
A slrucluraI cnginccr is a pcrson having
rcquisilc quaIificalion and cxpcricncc in lhc
ficId of slrucluraI cnginccring and is duIy
rcgislcrcd wilh a compclcnl slalulory or
IocaI aulhorily and who undcrlakcs lhc
profcssionaI assignmcnls of pIanning,
dcsign and supcrvision (lhrough a fcw
inspcclions) of onIy lhc slrucluraI parl of
lhc conslruclion work. Thc duly of lhc
slrucluraI cnginccr is lo sludy his cIicnl's,
rcquircmcnls and lo providc scrviccs as pcr
lhc scopc of work agrccd bclwccn him and
his cIicnl, wilh duc rcgard lo aspccls of
cconomy, quaIily, limc schcduIc, safcly,
mainlcnancc and cffccls on cnvironmcnl.
Sincc lhc slrucluraI cnginccr is onc
among many agcncics invoIvcd in a
conslruclion projccl, his scopc and
rcsponsibiIilics cannol havc a prccisc
univcrsaIIy-acccplcd boundary. Inlcraclion
among scvcraI discipIincs wilhin slrucluraI
cnginccring ilscIf and aIso inlcraclion wilh
olhcr branchcs of cnginccring, quasi-
cnginccring and non-cnginccring discipIincs
is aIso vcry common.
Scope of work and
methodology of services
Thc comprchcnsivc scopc of work and lhc
scrviccs of lhc slrucluraI cnginccr al vari-
ous slagcs arc discusscd bcIow. Thc rccords
for lhcsc slagcs shaII bc crcalcd using
slandardiscd formals.
Planning and structural design
Thc basic rcquircmcnls of a good and cffi-
cicnl slrucluraI dcsign arc lhal il shouId bc
safc, durabIc, casy lo conslrucl, funclion-
aIIy and acslhclicaIIy good and rcasonabIc
in cosl.
Thc slrucluraI cnginccr musl acquirc
and rccord aII ncccssary informalion prior
lo slarling lhc acluaI dcsign. In casc of a
subscqucnl informalion/addilion/
modificalion, lhc samc shouId bc rccordcd
wilh lhc dalc on which lhc informalion was
furnishcd and lhc slagc or slalus of work
on lhal dalc. Thc slrucluraI cnginccr may
go lhrough lhc foIIowing slcps during lhis
phasc.
- Acquirc and rccord lhc rcquircmcnls of
lhc projccl as a whoIc, prcparc lhc
slrucluraI dcsign dala shccl, gcl lhc
samc confirmcd in wriling and slorc il
as a pcrmancnl rccord.
- Visil lhc conslruclion silc, if ncccssary,
lo gcl acquainlcd wilh lhc IocaI condi-
lions and surroundings.
- Advisc/ inilialc al lhc cIicnl's cxpcnsc
soiI invcsligalion, if considcrcd ncccs-
sary lo dccidc upon lhc lypc of foun-
dalion lo bc adoplcd.
- Lxaminc appIicabIc codcs and sland-
ards for fuIfiIIing his scopc of work.
- Ircparc, if ncccssary, prcIiminary drafl
skclchcs and nolcs on slrucluraI work
for lhc undcrslanding of lhc rcquirc-
mcnls by lhc cIicnl/ archilccl.
UmesI DIargaIkar and R.L. Nene UmesI DIargaIkar and R.L. Nene UmesI DIargaIkar and R.L. Nene UmesI DIargaIkar and R.L. Nene UmesI DIargaIkar and R.L. Nene
1|c Ccnniiicc cj Prcjcssicn cn! Prcciicc cj i|c |n!icn Sccici cj Siruciurcl |nginccrs
(|SS|) is currcnil ucr|ing cn c Mcnucl cj Prcciicc jcr i|c Siruciurcl |nginccrs. 1|c
ccnniiicc is cj i|c cpinicn i|ci c scpcrcic c|cpicr |c c!!c! in i|c Mcnucl !ccling uii|
i|c sccpc cj ucr|, nci|c!clcg cj scr.iccs, rcspcnsi|iliiics cn! lic|iliiics cj c prcciising
siruciurcl cnginccr. 1|c ccnicnis cj i|c c|cpicr crc prcscnic! |crc uii| c .icu ic sclicii
.icus jrcn jcllcu cnginccrs cn i|is .iicl nciicr.
These columns of ICJ offer an opportunity to the
engineering fraternity to express their views on the
current practices in design, construction and
management being followed in the industry.
To share your opinion with our readers, you may send
in your inputs in about 1500 words via E-mail to
editor@icjonline.com
3 8 The Indian Concrete Journal * January 2002
2EJ B 8EAM
- Discuss lhc drafl skclchcs, nolcs and
oulIinc wilh lhc cIicnl/archilccl and
makc modificalions, if ncccssary, wilhin
lhc framcwork of lhc codcs and good
praclicc, lo salisfy lhc rcquircmcnls of
lhc work.
- Ircparc a skclch schcmc and cslimalc
lhc cosl, wilh sufficicnl dclaiIs for lhc
purposc of lcndcr and for procccding
lo lhc slagc of working drawing. Ob-
lain wrillcn approvaI from cIicnls/ar-
chilccls for lhc skclch schcmc and lhc
cslimalion of cosl.
Structural working drawings
Drawings arc a mcans of communicalion
for lransforming lhc dcsign conccpls and
spccificalions inlo acluaI work. Hcncc, lhc
conlcnl, organisalion and prcscnlalion of
slrucluraI drawings shouId prcfcrabIy bc
on lhc foIIowing Iincs.
- Thc scl of slrucluraI drawings shouId
consisl of gcncraI arrangcmcnl (GA)
drawings and olhcr dclaiIcd drawings
dcriving rcfcrcncc from lhc GA draw-
ings wilh kcy pIans.
- Thc drawings shouId bc prcparcd in a
slandardiscd manncr and shouId havc
dislinclIy uniquc numbcrs for rcfcrcncc.
- As far as possibIc, lhc drawings shouId
bc drawn lo scaIc.
- Morc inlricalc dclaiIs shouId bc dc-
piclcd in biggcr scaIcs.
- Thc drawings shouId havc adcqualc
nolcs, scclionaI dclaiIs, bricf malcriaI
spccificalions (concrclc mixcs, clc), Icg-
cnd, rcfcrcnccs lo olhcr rcIcvanl draw-
ings and judicious usc of halching and
shading.
- Whcrcvcr appIicabIc, lhc drawings may
conlain bar bcnding schcduIcs and biII
of quanlilics.
- Whcncvcr rcvisions arc incorporalcd,
lhc drawings shouId cIcarIy indicalc lhc
rcvision numbcr ncar lhc drawing
numbcr. Thc dalc and nalurc of rcvi-
sion shouId bc Iislcd in lhc labIc for
rcvisions and changcs/ aIlcralions
shouId bc prcdominanlIy markcd wilh
lhc rcvision numbcr.
- Whcncvcr drawings arc rcIcascd for a
ccrlain purposc, lhc dalc of rcIcasc and
lhc purposc shouId bc slampcd on lhc
prinls.
Il is advisabIc lo Iisl lhc Iimilalions in
rcspccl of lhc rcsponsibiIily and IiabiIily of
lhc slrucluraI cnginccr on lhc GA drawings.
Quality assurance
Ior quaIily assurancc, lhc slrucluraI cngi-
nccr may undcrlakc lhc foIIowing:
- IniliaIIy formuIalc a conlroI and rcporl-
ing mcchanism for lhc slrucluraI parl
and aIso spccify lhc lypcs of lcsls for
malcriaIs and ilcms (such as concrclc
cubc lcsls) and slipuIalc lhcir frcqucncy.
Insisl on conlinuous supcrinlcndcncc
of work and mainlcnancc of propcr
rccords by lhc conlraclor. Chcck lhc
rcporls pcriodicaIIy.
- HoId an cducalivc workshop al lhc silc
lo cxpIain lo lhc conlraclors and olhcr
agcncics lhc saIicnl fcalurcs of lhc
spccificalions and cxcculion of work,
walch poinls, lhc slrucluraI drawings,
proccdurcs of prcparing mcmos, rccord-
ing lhc progrcss of work, clc.
- Chcck and approvc shop drawings,
schcmcs and formwork submillcd by
conlraclors wilh rcspccl lo spcciaI
walch poinls, for cxampIc, Iargc span
bcams and cambcr, fIoors al hcighls,
clc.
- Visil lhc silc, as and whcn ncccssary, lo
inspccl if lhc slrucluraI work is bcing
cxcculcd in gcncraI accordancc wilh his
drawings and spccificalions. Thc im-
porlanl slagcs for inspcclion may bc:
approvaI of foundalion slrala and
founding IcvcI
lypicaI foolings, foundalions, slub
coIumns bcIow ground IcvcI pIinlh
bcams, Iifl wcII and coIumns in
ground/ sliIls fIoor
chccking of rcinforccmcnl for fIoor
sIabs/ syslcms and such imporlanl
slagcs
inspcclion of Iargc span/ hcaviIy
Ioadcd bcams, laII coIumns,
canliIcvcr slaircascs, clc.
chccking of rcinforccmcnl of walcr
lanks and Iifl machinc room
lypicaI mcmbcrs of slrucluraI slccI
slruclurcs such as slanchion, lruss,
ganlry girdcr, clc.
Conlinuous supcrvision is nol a parl of
lhc scopc undcrlakcn by lhc slrucluraI
cnginccr and his inspcclion aIonc cannol
guaranlcc lhal lhc work is carricd oul
slriclIy in accordancc wilh his drawings and
spccificalions.
Quantity control
Whcncvcr quanlily cslimalion or cosl csli-
malion is incIudcd in lhc scopc of his work,
a slrucluraI cnginccr shouId kccp in mind
lhc foIIowing.
- Thc biII of quanlilics and cosl cslimalcs
of slrucluraI and olhcr rcIalcd ilcms
(such as cxcavalion, pIain concrclc bcd-
ding undcr lhc foolings, clc.) onIy shaII
bc incIudcd in his scopc.
- His commilmcnl shaII bc for lhc quan-
lilics ralhcr lhan lhcir cosls sincc cosl
can vary wilh limc.
- His quanlilics wiII bc for lhc slrucluraI
dcsign bascd on lhc originaI dcsign pa-
ramclcrs and if rcvisions and dcvialions
arc IikcIy lo infIucncc lhc quanlilics sig-
nificanlIy, lhc slrucluraI cnginccr shouId
bring lhis facl lo lhc nolicc of his cIicnl.
- Ccrlain quanlilics arc subjccl lo mar-
ginaI changc during lhc cxcculion duc
lo lhcir obvious unccrlainly al lhc slagc
of dcsign, for cxampIc, cxcavalion, piIc
foundalion, clc.
- Ccrlain archilccluraI rcquircmcnls or
olhcr slipuIalions (such as cIcvalionaI
fcalurcs, rcslricling bcam widlhs lo
malch lhc waII widlhs and bcam dcplh
lo malch lhc IinlcI IcvcI, disaIIowing coI-
umns al ccrlain Iocalions, clc) can havc
vcry significanl infIucncc on lhc slruc-
luraI quanlilics. Thc slrucluraI cnginccr
shouId bring lhis facl lo lhc nolicc of
his cIicnl.
- Thc rcquircmcnls of fIcxibiIily (for cx-
ampIc, combining lwo ncighbouring
aparlmcnls, convcrling loiIcls, clc) or
fulurc cxlcnsions (for cxampIc, addi-
lionaI fIoors) can aIso havc significanl
infIucncc on lhc slrucluraI quanlilics.
Thc slrucluraI cnginccr shouId bring
lhis facl lo lhc nolicc of his cIicnl.
Certification
Dcpcnding upon lhc scopc of work agrccd
bclwccn him and his cIicnl, lhc slrucluraI
cnginccr shouId issuc various documcnls
and ccrlificalcs. Morc spccificaIIy, hc shouId
do lhc foIIowing:
- Ircparc inspcclion rcporl al lhc com-
pIclion of cvcry slagc of lhc conslruc-
lion work aflcr rccciving a ccrlificalc of
salisfaclory compIclion from lhc con-
lraclor and lhc silc supcrvisor or lhc
projccl managcmcnl consuIlanls as lhc
casc may bc (such slagcs shouId bc
dcfincd in advancc).
January 2002 * The Indian Concrete Journal
2EJ B 8EAM
39
- Al lhc cnd of compIclion of lhc cnlirc
civiI works, lhc conlraclor and lhc silc
supcrvisor shaII givc a ccrlificalc of
compIclion lo lhc slrucluraI cnginccr
who, rcIying on lhcir ccrlificalc and aIso
on his own inspcclion rcporls, shaII is-
suc lhc ccrlificalc of "slrucluraI slabiI-
ily". Thc slrucluraI cnginccr may rcfusc
lo issuc in wriling lhc samc giving rca-
sons lhcrcof providcd lhal such rcfusaI
by lhc slrucluraI cnginccr shaII aIso con-
lain lhc dcscriplion of lhc shorl-comings
or dcficicncics and rcasons of lhcir oc-
currcncc during lhc conslruclion. Hc
may aIso suggcsl rcmcdiaI mcasurc, if
any.
- If lhc slrucluraI cnginccr has rcfuscd
lhc ccrlificalc of slrucluraI slabiIily cil-
ing dcficicncics and aIso giving rcmc-
diaI mcasurcs, hc shaII issuc lhc ccrlifi-
calc of slrucluraI slabiIily on rccciving
lhc compIiancc of lhc rcmcdiaI mcas-
urcs from lhc conlraclor and lhc silc
supcrvisor in wriling and aflcr furlhcr
inspcclion, if ncccssary.
Post completion submission
On compIclion of lhc work, lhc slrucluraI
cnginccr shouId hand ovcr lhc foIIowing
documcnls lo his cIicnl:
- Dcsign paramclcrs
- Two scls of as-buiIl (finaI) slrucluraI
drawings
- A Iisl of prccaulionary mcasurcs lo bc
lakcn during rcnovalion or inlcrior dcco-
ralion, clc, somc of which may bc as
bcIow.
Thc modc of usc shaII nol bc changcd
unIcss asccrlaincd by a slrucluraI
cnginccr.
WaIIs shouId nol bc rcmovcd or
shiflcd wilhoul lhc conscnl of a
slrucluraI cnginccr.
ToiIcl posilion shouId nol bc changcd.
No slrucluraI mcmbcr such as a
coIumn, bcam or sIab shaII bc
lampcrcd wilh or rcmovcd wilhoul
consuIling a slrucluraI cnginccr.
Ians shaII nol bc suspcndcd by
hooking lo lhc sIab rcinforccmcnl,
anchor faslcncrs shaII bc uscd for lhc
purposc.
HoIcs shaII nol bc madc in slrucluraI
mcmbcrs by using hammcr wilhoul
consuIling a slrucluraI cnginccr and
if aIIowcd, driII machinc shaII bc uscd
for driIIing hoIcs.
Dccp soiI fiIIing or fIowcrpols fiIIcd
wilh soiI shaII nol bc slackcd on
canopy and chajjas.
Tcrracc gardcn, swimming pooI, clc,
shaII nol bc providcd unIcss originaIIy
dcsigncd for.
IIinlh bcam shaII nol bc lampcrcd
wilh whiIc Iowcring pIinlh. Iowcring
of pIinlh if pcrmillcd shaII nol bc
undcrlakcn wilhoul a slrucluraI
cnginccr's approvaI and supcrvision.
No Iofl or mczzaninc shaII bc
conslruclcd unIcss originaIIy pIanncd
for.
- Any spcciaI inslruclions rcgarding prc-
vcnlivc mainlcnancc of lhc slrucluraI
work and a Iisl of Ioad bcaring ilcms in
a prcdominanlIy rcinforccd concrclc
framcd slruclurc.
Responsibilities and
liabilities
Thc rcsponsibiIily of lhc slrucluraI cnginccr
shaII bc commcnsuralc wilh lhc scopc of
work agrccd bclwccn him and his cIicnl.
Thc slrucluraI cnginccr shaII bc IiabIc if hc
faiIs lo cxcrcisc aII rcasonabIc skiII, carc and
diIigcncc in lhc dischargc of his dulics un-
dcr lhcsc condilions, bul lhc aforcsaid Ii-
abiIily shaII bc Iimilcd as slalcd bcIow.
- Thc IiabiIily of lhc slrucluraI cnginccr
shaII cxpirc al lwo ycars from lhc dalc
of issuc of lhc slabiIily ccrlificalc.
- During cxcculion, his commilmcnl shaII
bc for lhc slrucluraI quanlilics ralhcr
lhan lhcir cosls sincc cosls can vary wilh
limc.
- His IiabiIily wiII bc for lhc dcsign pa-
ramclcrs submillcd aIong wilh lhc ccr-
lificalc of slrucluraI slabiIily. Thc Ii-
abiIily shaII cxpirc in lhc cvcnl of
changcs in lhc paramclcrs lhcrcaflcr.
- Thc slrucluraI cnginccr shaII nol bc rc-
sponsibIc for nol foIIowing codcs of
praclicc and slipuIalions, which wcrc
nol mandalory during lhc slagc of
slrucluraI dcsign. Hc wiII aIso havc no
IiabiIily lowards lhc safcly or slabiIily
of lhc slruclurc for lhc slipuIalions
which may bc mandalory now bul
which wcrc nol in cxislcncc whcn lhc
slruclurc was dcsigncd.
- UnIcss cxpIicilIy Iaid down in his scopc
of work, lhc slrucluraI cnginccr shaII
nol bc rcsponsibIc for lhc safcly or sla-
biIily of lhc scaffoIding/ slaging and
any olhcr lcmporary slruclurcs.
- Hc shaII nol guaranlcc lhc work of any
conlraclor.
- Thc slrucluraI cnginccr shaII havc no
IiabiIily whalsocvcr for any parl of lhc
works nol dcsigncd or supcrviscd by
him or nol undcr his rcsponsibiIily or
which has bccn conslruclcd wilhoul or
conlrary lo his spccificalions.
- Hc shaII havc no IiabiIily whalsocvcr
for any damagc lo Iifc and propcrly
whalsocvcr rcsuIling from any acl of
cIicnl, conlraclors, suppIicrs or olhcr
agcncics during lhc cxcculion of work.
- Thc slrucluraI cnginccr shaII havc no
IiabiIily whalsocvcr for any vioIalion of
IcgaI provisions of righls of lhird par-
lics, govcrnmcnls, clc, unIcss lhcsc pro-
visions or righls havc bccn spccificaIIy
broughl lo lhc nolicc of lhc slrucluraI
cnginccr wcII in advancc by lhc cIicnl in
wriling.
- Hc shaII nol bc IiabIc for any damagc
rcsuIling oul of bad mainlcnancc, ovcr-
Ioading, addilions and aIlcrnalions,
slrucluraI changcs and lhc Iikc by lhc
cIicnl or lhc occupicr.
- Thc slrucluraI cnginccr shaII mainlain
aII imporlanl rccords in his officc for a
pcriod of 7 ycars from lhc dalc of ccr-
lificalc of slabiIily and shaII furnish
copics of lhc rccords on rccciving a for-
maI rcqucsl from lhc occupicr by charg-
ing cosls lhcrcof.
- AII lhc copyrighls of dcsigns shaII vcsl
wilh lhc slrucluraI cnginccr and lhc
slrucluraI drawings and spccificalions
shaII bc lhc propcrly of lhc slrucluraI
cnginccr.
References
1. ______|cpcri cj i|c Ccnniiicc cj Municipcl
cjjcirs (K|cn Ccnniiicc) cppcinic! jcr
siu!ing i|c rcccnncn!ciicns cj .cricus
ccnniiiccs cppcinic! jcr in.csiigciing inic i|c
ccuscs cj ccllcpscs cj |uil!ings, Mumbai 1998.
2. ______Mcnucl cj Prcciicc | P|A1A (Iraclicing
Lnginccrs, Archilccls and Town IIanncrs'
Associalion), Mumbai.
3. ______Ccnsiruciicn A!ninisirciicn. Piijclls
Wc Ccn A.ci!, SlrucluraI Lnginccrs Associalion
of CoIorado, USA, Oclobcr 1998.
4. ______Iroposcd guidcIincs for aulhorilics and
rcsponsibiIilics in concrclc dcsign and
conslruclion from lhc rcsponsibiIily in concrclc
conslruclion commillcc, Ccncrcic |nicrnciicncl,
March 1994, pp. 60-63.
---