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The Institution of Structural Engineers have written guidance notes on how to appoint a Chartered Structural Engineer, you can download this here.
Perhaps you might think of appointing an Engineer like this... "The work can be done fast, or right, or cheap. But you can only get two out of the three. Pick."
Anyone can call themselves an 'engineer'; in the UK it's a very loosely applied title. If the person you've appointed is an architectural consultant or surveyor they are probably not a qualified Chartered Engineer as well; ie Chartered members of either the Institution of Structural Engineers or Institution of Civil Engineers.
If you are expecting them to justify beam sizes or provide you or the Local Authority with calculations to substantiate the stability of members or a building generally, they may struggle as they probably just try and do a few basic beam calcs on the side as part of their planning and building regulation drawings - worryingly without any formal training or real knowledge of what they're doing. Back street doctor or dentist anyone....?
These people always seem to do their 'calculations' on some computer program and when Clients see the resulting printed pages they regrettably assume that it must be right - just because it's come from a computer; however in checking these calculations, when we're asked to mop up the mess when something has gone wrong, we often find that the cliche "garbage in / garbage out" applies. WARNING: Beware those who only seem to be able to do their 'calculations' on some computer program!!
As unqualified people, you will probably find that these people don't have any form of Professional Indemnity Insurance for structural design to cover them if something goes wrong. You may also find that they don't appreciate the importance of, nor have any idea how to, calculate crucial structural matters like stress concentrations, eccentricities, deflection, stability, sway and spread; all fairly fundamental when you're taking out structural walls or dealing with framed structures don't you think!!
On the brighter side you may have found yourself a really helpful and fully qualified Chartered Structural Engineer, which is great of course. But how available are they??
We know of fully qualified Chartered Engineers who are in full time employment as Structural Engineers at some of the major practices in the area; this is their day job. In the evenings and on a morning or two at the weekend they do a few calcs for local builders, architectural consultants and other friends of friends who are having alterations and extensions. I'm quite sure that you'll get a good set of calcs from these Chartered Engineers, and at least in theory all should be well.
However, they are unlikely to have any form of Professional Indemnity Insurance as a sole trader; and their boss at work won't pick up the tab if anything should go wrong. You'll probably also find that they aren't available during the day, which is when the Architect needs some advice or the builder is on-site and needs some help, or Building Control are calling for further justification. This Engineer won't be available during the day because they'll be busy at work, in their day job; often you'll be lucky to hear back from them for several days...
I'm sure there is a place for both of these types; although the lid is shutting on these fly-by-nights and it will only be a matter of time before all projects involving structural alterations or otherwise will have to be signed off by a Chartered Structural Engineer with valid professional indemnity insurance before the application can be lodged with Building Control.
The sooner it is a criminal offence to offer structural advice without appropriate qualifications and professional indemnity insurance the better!! Would you go to a an uninsured doctor or dentist? If the answer is 'yes', you are not the Client we want to work with!
To better understand the term 'engineer' and the Engineering Council of UK, click here for further information.
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