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Loft Conversion

Structual Calculations show incorrect length of steel beams

Anonymous user 16/03/2024 - 2.35 PM

We have plans and structual calculations completed by an architech which has been approved in planning. The Steel Beams have been purchased based on the structual calculations which show the length of the span. These steels have turned up on site and are to short as the span is 107mm shorter than on the calculations. The architech has said that there were items in the loft and therefore took measurements from the level below rather than asking for items to be moved. The builder says that he always takes the measurements from the plans as he is not a structual engineer and ensures all materials are on site prior to starting a job to ensure no delays with no roof on the clients house. Who is at fault, the architech and structural engineer for incorrect measurements or the builder for not checking the length before purchasing the steel beams? At the moment as the client of both, it looks as though i am going to have to foot the bill.

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6 Answers

ABSTRACT BOUNDARY

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Covent Garden, London
Hi there, I'm sorry to hear that you have encountered such an issue. I am an architect and I can only explain what the best practice suggests and you can make a judgement. The measurements should be ideally provided by the client either measured by themselves or a chartered surveyor to take on the liability. Architects, unless stated otherwise, are not chartered surveyors and their professional indemnity insurance does not cover liability for faulty measurements by default. In your case, architects' design was based on their own measurements. They should have made it very clear to you and the contractor in writing that these measurements are for design purposes only and should not be relied upon for construction. In their drawings it should have clearly mentioned that the contractor should rely upon their own measurements on site. My advice would be to check your contract with the architect and their drawings which are part of contractual documents if there was such disclaimer. Hope this helps.
Answered30 September 2020
5

JBS Development & Construction Ltd

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Pinner
On all architectural drawings it normally says contractor to check all measurements on site.I would never order any materials straight from the architectural drawings always should be checked on site by builder/contractor
Answered1 October 2020
1

Anonymous user

As a former Contracts Manager for a building company I would point the finger at the architects and structural engineers not the builder. However the builder should have also read the drawings correctly and gone to site prior and met with the architect to go through all the details and spec of works this called a pre start meeting. But ultimately it is the architect and structural engineer at fault.
Answered30 September 2020
0

Anonymous user

Hi sorry to hear you have such a big issue. I would definitely go back to the architect and structural engineer, like the previous guy said it should have been clear on the drawings, having said that i myself would always double check the size before any steels are ordered. In a way they are all to blame for this in my opinions.
Answered1 October 2020
0

Anonymous user

all the measurements for steel has to be checked on site as all the drawings has the specification on it to check it on site
Answered12 October 2020
0

Anonymous user

Hi there really the builder should of checked it, that is part of the job to measure everything before ordering as its a very big gamble to trust the drawings and as the old saying goes measure twice cut once
Answered31 December 2020
0