Walsh Associates

SEAGRAVE ROAD

Consulting Structural & Civil Engineers

5.2

5.0 Structural Design Criteria

Live loads have been assessed in accordance with BS 6399 Pt1 and are
summarised in Table 3. Live load reduction will be carried out in accordance

This section describes the methods used to design the various structural element

with Bs6399 Pt 1, Table 3, repeated below in Table 4.

systems and types. The following assumptions have been made by Walsh
Associates:

5.1

Live Loads

Table 3 Live Loads

Loading kN/m2
1.5
4.0
2.5

Use
Residential
Retail / Commercial
Car Parking

Dead Loads
Dead loads should generally be kept to a minimum given the number of
floors to be supported. This should be achieved by:

Table 4 Live Load Reduction

Partitions should be drywall construction rather than stud

External cladding should be lightweight, rather than block

Floor finishes should avoid the use of screeds.

No of Floors Supported
1
2
3
4
5-10
Above 10

In general blockwork should be avoided due to both its weight and also
because it is a brittle material with onerous deflection criteria.

Assumed dead loads for a typical floor are shown in Table 2

5.3

% Reduction in Total Imposed Load

0
10
20
30
40
50

Wind Loads
The main stability forces to be resisted are wind loads. Loads have been

Table 2 Superimposed Dead Loads

Component
Floating floor
Finishes & ceiling
Partitions
Total

initially assessed based on BS 6399 Pt 2 1997. Due allowance in the design

Loading
0.3
0.5
1.0
1.8

has been made for shape factors, dynamic augmentation and dominant wind
direction. However a wind tunnel test will be required to establish the wind
regime on the structure, the cladding and surrounding environment.

Cladding assumed to be Glazing plus backing, taken as 1.5kNm-2

5.4

Hydrostatic Loading
The basement structure will be designed for water 1.0m below grade level,
as required by BS 8102 Protection of Structures against Water From the
Ground

Structural Principles Report

Page: 15

Walsh Associates

SEAGRAVE ROAD

Consulting Structural & Civil Engineers

5.5

Fire Resistance

The exposure for elements in contact with the ground will be determined in

The required fire resistance is yet to be established. However the current

accordance with BRE Digest 363 based on the level of sulphates in the

climate of opinion may require up to 4 hours in the basement and 2 hours for

ground as determined by the site investigation

the superstructure. These can be achieved without major impact on the

structure. Fire resistance will be achieved by specifying a minimum cover to
reinforcement. A concrete structure will provide inherent fires resistance and

5.8

Basement Design Criteria

the core will provide a natural save haven.

The basement will be designed to CIRIA guide 139 for the degree of
5.6

watertightness given below in Table 6.

Robustness
The size of structural elements required to support the lateral and vertical

Table 6 Basement Design Criteria

loading will provide inherent resistance to accidental loads. Robustness as

required by BS 8110 Pt 1 Clause 3.1.4 will be achieved in the structural

Use

Grade

design by:

Car Parking

Grade 1; minor seepage acceptable

Plant

Grade 2; Seepage not acceptable

i)

The provision of both lateral and vertical ties via reinforcement.

ii)

Key elements which if removed would cause unacceptable will

be designed in accordance with BS 8110 Pt 2 Clause 2.6

iii)

We note that NHBC now specify grade 2 as a minimum, however this can be

Columns at ground floor will either be protected from vehicle

limited to the roof only if queried.

impact or designed for impact loading.

5.7

5.9

Durability
Concrete mixes and cover will be provided to protect the reinforcement
against corrosion according to the exposure conditions defined in BS8110 Pt
1 Section 6.2, as in Table 5.

Deflection

The structure will be designed to the following criteria. These are derived
from BS 8110, BS8004 and the CIRIA guide to movement in buildings.
These criteria are established to prevent damage to non structural elements
and to prevent deflections from being visible.

Table 5 Durability Requirements

Condition
Residential slabs
Balconies
Car Park
Foundations & structure in contact with ground

Structural Principles Report

Exposure
mild
moderate
Severe
TBC

Page: 16

Walsh Associates

SEAGRAVE ROAD

Consulting Structural & Civil Engineers

5.10

Human Comfort
As well as the criteria above the structure will be designed to the

Table 7 Deflection Criteria

Element

Criteria

Total vertical deflection of concrete

Span/250

following criteria, based on acceptability limits of humans to motion.

floors and beams under service

5.11

loads
Vertical post installation deflection

Design Standards and References

We shall design to all the appropriate British Standards and documents

The lesser of span/350 or 20mm

approved by Building Regulations.

of concrete floors and beams after

installation of finishes
Total vertical deflection of steel

Span/200

beams
Vertical live load deflection of steel

Span/360

beams

6.0 Construction Strategy

The construciton strategy has yet to be developed. It is envisaged that the site
will be developed in Phases above podium.

It is unlikely to be feasible to

construct the podium in more than 2 Phases, for logistical reasons.

Lateral sway under service wind

Height/500

The

fololwing strategy is proposed:

loads
West Zone
The structure will be designed for additional moments induced by
deflection (buckling) as per CIB FIP Model Code 1990.

In domestic structures a maximum foundation settlement of 25mm is

normally used as a deflection criteria, along with a differential settlement
between foundations of 19mm. These limits are not appropriate for high
rise structures given the magnitude of foundation loading. Instead
deflections are minimised and actions taken to mitigate against the
anticipated deflections. These measures will include:

Pre-cambering out deflections

Articulating finishes to accommodate movement

Building out deflections as the structure is built.

Structural Principles Report

Secant pile west zone perimeter

Install sheet piling along East / West zone split

Install bearing piles from ground

Excavate central area, leaving berm

Cast basement slab

Cast podium slab

Remove Berm, cast perimeter

Hand over basement for car parking & Fit out

Commence construction superstructure

Commence construction of East zone and or Sueprstructure

Page: 17

Walsh Associates

SEAGRAVE ROAD

Consulting Structural & Civil Engineers

East Zone

Secant pile east zone perimeter

Excavate central area

Cast basement slab

Cast podium slab

Remove Berm, cast perimeter

Remove sheet piling

Hand over basement for car parking

Commence construction superstructure

This strategy was used at the Greenwich Reach project.

7.0 Sustainability
7.1

General
The engineering design of the project is to be developed in a holistic manner
in conjunction with both the Architectural and Environmental design in order
to minimise the effect the project has on the environment. This will be
achieved by considering both the structural arrangement and the materials
used.

Examples of positive environmental aspects that will be reviewed for

incorporation into our structural schemes include:

Using the inherent thermal mass of the concrete frame as a key

element of the environmental strategy.

Reducing the dead weight of the floor slabs by using a power floated
concrete finish, alleviating the requirement for a non-structural
levelling screed and thus reducing slab reinforcement and foundation
loads.

Using inherently robust, durable, self finished materials requiring little

maintenance.

Choosing a structural system with an eye to initial low cost

and

reasonable embodied energy.

Focusing on design loads as just adequate for proposed

use, i.e.

do not over design the structure computer software enables efficient

design.

Structural Principles Report

Page: 18