There are a number of common questions or concerns related to forensic and structural engineering. The below FAQs provide a comprehensive summary of some of the most common questions. Feel free to reach out to us for advice if your query is not covered below.
EC Engineers commenced as a local Gold Coast based business in 2017. Due to word of mouth and a formidable reputation, our company and clients have expanded, and we now are a national company providing engineering services Australia wide. We are experienced across residential, commercial and industrial properties. Our Director has almost 20 years of engineering and building experience, which ensures all clients are in good hands.
All inspections using the above equipment are non-destructive. The tools our engineers use are non-destructive in nature and will not cause any damage to your property. In the event our non-destructive tools are not sufficient to complete our inspection, our team will revert back to the Insurer or Repair Builder to discuss next steps.
While a building inspector can provide valuable insights into the overall condition of a property, there are distinct advantages to using a structural engineer for a structural inspection. Structural engineers have specialised training and expertise in analysing and assessing the structural integrity of buildings and other structures. They possess a deeper understanding of structural principles and can identify potential issues that a general building inspector might overlook.
Structural engineers can conduct more detailed and thorough assessments, including analysis of load-bearing components, foundation stability, and potential structural weaknesses. Their expertise allows them to provide specific recommendations for addressing any identified issues.
If you are planning renovations or structural modifications, a structural engineer can provide valuable insights and guidance to ensure that changes are structurally sound and compliant with building codes and regulations.
Our team of Engineers are all degree qualified which provides assurance that the inspection is being conducted by a competent and qualified individual.
Forensic structural engineering is a multi-disciplinary field that involves the investigation of various structures and analysing how they are designed, how they are constructed, and how they fail.
Forensic structural engineering is a part of professional engineering practice that intersects all disciplines of engineering and develops highly valuable skills in investigation, critical and logical thinking, and report writing.
Forensic structural engineers are trained to logically investigate and analyse evidence of structural failures after natural disasters, accidents, and long-term deterioration, and present an unbiased assessment of what the underlying cause failure may have been.
For most of us, our house is our biggest asset and one of the most important things in our life. Unfortunately, not everything lasts forever, and houses are one of them. Small things such as a crack in a wall or ceiling can be a tell-tale sign that your house is under stress. If left unattended, foundation movement can be a major and costly exercise to repair.
However, if we as Structural Engineers were to design a house to be totally resistant to foundation movement the construction cost would be so expensive it would be well outside most people’s budget. Therefore, we design houses anticipating limited movement and within specific tolerances. There is a fine line between a ‘normal’ wall crack and a crack which is trying to tell us something serious about the house.
A Structural Engineer can assess whether a crack is acceptable or something more serious to worry about. However, as a homeowner there are some basic checks that you can do before contacting a structural engineer.
What are the signs of a foundation structural issue?
Our team of Engineers will analyse the below to determine any structural foundation issues:
If you have noticed any of the above points in your house then you may have an issue which needs specialist inspection by a Structural Engineer.
Cracking can be caused by a number of reasons for which some may even covered under your home insurance policy. A Structural Engineer can complete an extensive investigation which may involve inspection and assessment of any major cracks, conducting a floor level survey, assessing exterior conditions, conducting soil tests, reviewing the construction of the house and reviewing the land topography. The above will determine the cause of the cracking then provide recommendations and designs or advice for repair.
Quite often at the preliminary stage of investigation EC Engineers can often provide simple cost-effective improvements for you to carry out to limit or prevent further cracking to your house whilst minimising costs.
The movement of a house foundation is often the subject of seasonal weather activity. As seasons change from one to the other there are things you can do to your house to reduce potential foundation movement.
To protect your house as seasons change, we recommend the below:
Our team are experienced in assessing a wide array of natural disasters, including floods, cyclones, earthquakes, fires, and hailstorms.
Our team are experienced in all event work and have recently been engaged to inspect and report on the Gold Coast Tornado on Christmas night 2023, Melbourne Earthquakes in September 2021 and May/October 2023. Furthermore, we have been engaged to assist with the Rockhampton hailstorm in 2020, Brisbane flooding in 2022 and Cyclone Debbie in 2017 just to name a few.
After the inspection our team provide detailed reports tailored to the needs of insurance companies, repair builders, loss adjusters, and claims management companies. These reports serve as invaluable tools in navigating the complex landscape of insurance claims, offering clarity and precision in determining the scope of coverage and necessary remediation efforts.
Structural engineering services is a branch of civil engineering concerned with the design and analysis of structures that support or resist loads. These structures can range from buildings and bridges to dams and towers.
Structural engineers use principles of physics and mathematics to ensure that structures are safe, stable, and able to withstand various forces, such as gravity, wind, earthquakes, and temperature fluctuations. They consider factors like materials used, geometry, and environmental conditions to develop designs that meet safety standards and fulfill the functional requirements of the structure.
Key tasks of structural engineers include:
Overall, structural engineering services play a crucial role in the construction and maintenance of infrastructure around the world, ensuring that buildings and other structures are safe, durable, and able to withstand the forces they may encounter.
Whilst our team is equipped with the skills and knowledge to design new house builds this is not a service we currently offer. Our team of engineers can assist in design of smaller projects such as tie down upgrades, wall removals, retaining walls, culverts, bridges and signposts just to name a few.
If you are after a design for a new house build we recommend you contact a specialist engineering design company.
Form 12
A Form 12 (previously Form 16) is an Aspect Inspection Certificate which must be completed by an appointed competent person (for example is a Registered Engineer). A Building Certifier will require a Form 12 from an appointed competent person to satisfy themselves that an aspect of work has been completed and complies with the building development approval.
EC Engineers have issued thousands of Form 12’s to our clients for a variety of reasons including roof replacement, pontoon replacement and bracing just to name a few.
Form 15
A Form 15 is a compliance certificate for a building design or specification. A Form 15 is used in accordance with section 10 of the Building Act 1975 and sections 73 and 77 of the Building Regulation 2021 (Design-specification certificate) stating that an aspect of building work or specification will, if installed or carried out as stated in this form, comply with the building assessment provisions.
A building certifier can accept a Form 15 (design-specification) from a competent person stating that the competent person has assessed the building design or specification for the aspect of building work, and it will, if installed or carried out under the certificate, comply with the building assessment provisions, including any relevant standards and codes.
EC Engineers are well experienced in Form 15’s and again have issued thousands of Form 15’s to our clients for a number of projects including private owners, repair builders, fabricators, roofers and many more.
If you have had insurance works done for footing and slab installation, retaining wall, structural framing, you will need a Certificate of Structural Adequacy.
Our qualified Structural Engineers can provide this Certificate of Structural Adequacy. Our team will inspect the site, and if the works are done correctly, issue a certificate that details the cause and extent of structural damage. We will also list the repairs conducted and, most importantly, a statement confirming that the affected part of the property is structurally sound.
While a building inspector can provide valuable insights into the overall condition of a property, there are distinct advantages to using a structural engineer for a structural inspection. Structural engineers have specialised training and expertise in analysing and assessing the structural integrity of buildings and other structures. They possess a deeper understanding of structural principles and can identify potential issues that a general building inspector might overlook.
Structural engineers can conduct more detailed and thorough assessments, including analysis of load-bearing components, foundation stability, and potential structural weaknesses. Their expertise allows them to provide specific recommendations for addressing any identified issues.
If you are planning renovations or structural modifications, a structural engineer can provide valuable insights and guidance to ensure that changes are structurally sound and compliant with building codes and regulations
Our team of Engineers are all degree qualified which provides assurance that the inspection is being conducted by a competent and qualified individual.
If there are any particular concerns noted in a building and pest inspection our engineer can drill down on those concerns to determine the severity and extent of any damage. Our team will be guided by you in terms of what your concerns are, or what areas you would like us to focus on.
Generally, a pre-purchase structural inspection report will take approximately 10 business days from the date of inspection. If you are under any tight timeframes due to settlement deadlines, please communicate these with our administration team and we will do our best to assist where possible.
A dilapidation survey/report provides a comprehensive video recording and report of the existing structures condition before construction works begin. Post construction surveys can also be conducted to make comparisons and provide accurate extents of any construction related damages.
A dilapidation report is generally needed by parties involved in construction or renovation projects. Some parties that may need a dilapidation report include:
A dilapidation report provides a comprehensive building condition survey of a structure before any construction work commences. The report includes detailed photo evidence of a buildings pre-existing condition both internally and externally. The dilapidation report is coupled with audio video footage of all the areas, commenting on findings throughout the inspection.
Our administration team will reach out to you via SMS or phone call within 1 day of a work order being received to advise we have been appointed as the engineer for your property.
Our administration team will assess our availability and send you a booking request for an engineer to attend your property. You will be given a time window for the inspection and asked to confirm is this date and time is suitable.
Our engineer will attend your property and complete an inspection of the areas requested by your insurance company or repair builder. This inspection will take between 45 minutes to 1 hour.
After the inspection our engineer will then utilise all information gathered (statements from the owner or tenant, photos and specialist equipment readings) and prepare a specialist report addressing the matters requested by the insurance company or repair builder. This report will then be sent directly to the insurance company or repair builder. Please note, due to the detailed nature of these reports it may take up to ten (10) business days after the inspection date to finalise the report.
If you would like a copy of the inspection report, please contact your insurance company/repair builder to make this request (unfortunately, we are not at liberty to release any reports directly to homeowners).
If you have any questions or comments regarding your report, please reach out to your insurance company or repair builder – they will then forward these requests or comments to our engineer for their review and feedback. Our team will then review these queries and provide a response directly to the insurance company or repair builder.
EC Engineers is a national company providing engineering services Australia wide. Having completed over 7,000 inspections since commencement across Australia our team is well equipped to assist you anywhere in Australia.
Our team are able to service any regional or remote location in Australia. Our team have travelled far and wide to service remote locations. Some of the more remote regions we have visited include Kalgoorie, Mount Gamier, Broken Hill, Goondiwindi, Gundagai, Port Lincoln and Georges Creek and Bourke just to name a few.
Inspection timeframes can vary depending on location and current weather events. Please contact our administration team to find out inspection lead times for your area.
Please contact us directly to discuss engineering fees for your specific location.
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