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Structural Engineering

Although we are based in Parramatta, in western Sydney, Inhouse Consulting Engineers specialise in providing structural engineering services right across Greater Sydney, Newcastle, Illawarra, Central Coast, Southern Highlands and Blue Mountains.

With over 35 years of experience, our skilled and professional team can precisely check your site for any potential problems and ensure you’re guarded against any issues for the foreseeable future.

We appreciate that engaging a structural engineer might be a daunting prospect for you and something which may only need to do once in your life.

The engineers at Inhouse Consulting Engineers have a range of expertise and are known by many names – structural engineers, residential engineers and civil engineers. Therefore if you need a skilled engineer, get in touch with us.

What is a Structural Engineer?

Structural engineers who specialise in designing, analysing, and ensuring the structural integrity and safety of buildings, bridges, and various other structures and that they meet the Australian Standards and local building codes. Basically a structural engineer’s role is to ensure that constructed buildings and infrastructure can withstand the forces they are subjected to, including, soil reactivity, wind loads, earthquakes, and other environmental factors.

Here are some key aspects of what structural engineers do:

1. Design and Analysis: Structural engineers work on the initial design and analysis of structures to ensure they meet safety and performance standards. They determine the appropriate materials, sizes, and shapes to be used for various components.

2. Load Analysis: They calculate and assess the loads that structures will experience during their lifetime, including dead loads (permanent weight), live loads (temporary loads like people and furniture), wind loads, seismic loads, and others.

3. Material Selection: Structural engineers select the most suitable materials for construction, considering factors like strength, durability, and cost-effectiveness. They may work with materials such as steel, concrete, wood, and more.

4. Construction Oversight: They often work closely with architects, construction teams, and other professionals to ensure that the design is implemented correctly during construction. This may involve site visits and inspections.

5. Safety Standards: Structural engineers must adhere to safety standards and building codes to ensure that structures are safe for occupancy and use. They also consider factors like fire resistance and emergency evacuation.

6. Renovations and Retrofits: In addition to new construction, structural engineers are involved in the renovation and retrofitting of existing structures to improve their safety, functionality, and longevity.

7. Computer Modeling and Software: They use specialised software and computer modeling to simulate how structures will behave under different conditions and to optimise designs for efficiency and cost-effectiveness.

8. Environmental Considerations: Some structural engineers focus on sustainable and environmentally friendly construction methods and materials to minimise the impact of buildings and infrastructure on the environment.

9. Specialisations: Structural engineering can be specialised in various fields, including residential, commercial, industrial, and infrastructure projects. They may also specialise in specific types of structures, such as bridges or high-rise buildings. At Inhouse Consulting Engineers, we are highly experienced in all these areas and more.

Structural engineers play a crucial role in the construction industry, ensuring the safety and durability of structures. They are highly skilled professionals who collaborate with architects, builders, and developers or homeowners to bring construction projects to life in a cost-effect manner while maintaining the highest standards of safety and functionality.

What is a Remedial or Forensic Engineer?

A remedial or forensic engineer is a highly specialised engineering professional who investigates and analyses structural failures and other environmental-related incidents to determine the causes of structural failure. This involves, inspecting a structure, examining evidence, reconstructing events, and providing expert opinions on technical matters in legal, insurance and dispute resolution contexts.

Here are key aspects of what a forensic engineer does:

1. Investigation: Forensic engineers investigate incidents such as structural failures, fires, industrial accidents, product defects, floods and earthquakes and even traffic accidents. They collect data, examine evidence, and visit the incident site to reconstruct events.

2. Analysis: They use their engineering knowledge and analytical skills to identify the root causes of failures or accidents. This often involves assessing structural integrity, materials, mechanical systems, electrical systems, and other technical aspects.

3. Expert Witness: Forensic engineers often serve as expert witnesses in legal proceedings, providing testimony and reports that can be used in court. They offer professional expert opinions on the technical aspects of a case. When called upon, forensic engineers may testify in court to explain their findings and provide expert opinions, helping commissioners and chairpersons mostly in the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal understand complex technical matters and determine how to adjudicate on legal matters involving structural failures.

4. Documentation: They meticulously document their findings, methodologies, and conclusions in detailed reports. These reports are essential for legal and insurance purposes.

5. Risk Assessment: Forensic engineers may be involved in evaluating risk factors and making recommendations to prevent similar incidents in the future. They can contribute to safety improvements and best practices.

6. Diverse Specialisations: Forensic engineering spans multiple disciplines, including civil engineering, structural engineering, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, materials science, and more. The specific specialisation of a forensic engineer depends on the nature of the incident being investigated.

7. Insurance Claims: Forensic engineers also play a crucial role in insurance claims by determining whether the damage or loss was due to an accident or negligence and, if so, who is responsible.

Inhouse Consulting Engineer has a strong reputation as a leading forensic and remedial structural engineering firm and are trusted by three of the largest insurance companies in Australia including:

• NRMA
• IAG
• Allianz

Between these companies, we have completed over 1,000 remedial investigations and reports since 2017 alone. Our experience and expertise in remedial and forensic engineering is equally valuable to the strata industry for whom we have undertaken over 500 engagements.

What is a civil engineer?

If we are utilised in the civil engineering capacity we can help with stormwater designs, water sensitive urban design (WSUD), culverts, concrete slabs for retaining walls and bridges.

We have also worked with planners and provided foundations for viewing platforms and shelter structures in a variety of public locations.

As you can see from the above variations of our skills, without the help of one of our engineers from Inhouse Consulting Engineers Sydney and Blue Mountains homeowners and developers dreams could be short lived before damages reveal unsuitable or inadequate construction methods.

What kind of work can our range of structural/residential/civil engineers perform?

Our structural engineers in Western Sydney have been delivering quality building and structural solutions for over 35 years.

We have been involved at every stage of the build process, and play an important role in the construction and design of a structure.

The role of a structural engineer is not limited to new constructions, as renovations and extensions on existing properties will receive the same level of detail and care. We deliver the quality services of a building structural engineer that Sydney, Newcastle, Wollongong, the Central Coast and the Blue Mountains residents can rely on.

Our structural engineers are just as at home on a commercial and industrial development as they are on a residential property. We understand using a structural engineer may be an unfamiliar experience for some of our clients so our team are here to talk you through the process in terms that are easily understood.

Our range of services are varied and we appreciate each structure is unique, from residential extensions to large commercial new builds, we are here to make the process as easy for you and your building team as possible by providing high-quality drawings with every detail accounted for.

We can create structural engineer reports and drawings for sites in Sydney, Newcastle, Wollongong and the Central Coast that builders and homeowners alike can understand and use confidently to build, repair and strengthen structural elements.