Evaluation of Structural Drawings of a Two Storey Residence

Prepared by:

Johnraja-Zaid Ladja, MBA

Civil/Structural Engineer

PRC # 1071567
1. Overview

This project is a two storey concrete and masonry residential building, it will be resting on
isolated foundation. The first floor contains the living room, dining, kitchen, toilets/powder
rooms. The upper floor is the primary living space which will accommodate multiple bedrooms
and bathrooms. Proper loadings as per NSCP 2015 is assumed to have been used in these living
spaces.

2. Sheet S1

This is just the typical front page for general notes. Nothing remarkable or unusual, this is
acceptable
3. Sheet S2

3.1 Foundation Plan

The footing seem to be small, measuring thru CAD the sizes of sum are below 1m. Typically
footings of 2 storey structures are about 1.2 to 1.5 meters because there is no soil test
required by law and thus designers should be more conservative on the part. Plus with the
knowledge that there is backfill of about 1.3 meters, all footings should be placed on the
natural grade level. Furthermore the schedule of the footings are missing, no reinforcement
details and sizing either in table or drawing format only the typical detail is provided which
does not specify any sizes or number of rebars.

Installing the slab on this 1.3 meter is quite tricky, this is not an engineered fill and could
settle significantly in the long run. I would suggest to have the soil tested in the area for its
 strength, density and other properties. Another option is the backfill on the area could be
removed then compacted on a 0.30 meter thickness per layer until the required height is
achieved.

3.2 Slab Detail

Spacing and thickness are acceptable, however 10mm rebars on suspended slab are quite
undersized, 12 mm are more acceptable. But it was discussed that it will be replaced by
steel decking, so for that matter suppliers of these decking have their own specifications on
the what rebar sizes and spacing to use.
4.0 Sheet S3

Beam RG03 (encircled) is undersized to carry the longer RG01, this is a cantilever beam and
should be reinforced well, I suggest to double the reinforcement on top and bottom and
also increase the width by 50mm.

Other details are just standard and are acceptable

5.0 Sheet S4

The girder reinforcement seems to be quite lacking in rebars, I have not seen the structural
analysis but in the designs I encountered 2 rebars at the bottom of girders are not usually
used unless on roof beams just carrying the roof sheets. Also using 8mm as stirrups on
beams are rarely being practiced, usually 10mm are used.

Other details on this sheet are just standards drawings generally used and are acceptable.
6.0 Sheet S5

Examining the second floor framing plan, the stair details on top (with red X) are to be removed, they
are not part of the building, there is no stairs that exist like that in this plans. These details will only
confuse the builders.