Can architectural technologist do structural calculations?

[gizmothecat]

I wonder if anyone here can help me with this. Basically, we are trying to knock down a weight bearing wall and a chimney breast in our house. We have met this guy who claims to be architectural technologist. He said that he can do the structural calculations and submit to the council for building control approval.

However, he is not a structural engineer. So my question is can someone other than structural or civil engineer do the calculations? It may not be a very difficult thing for someone in the architectural profession but we wouldn’t want to take unnecessary risk. Also, if the calculations are not accurate, will the council building control notice and turndown the application? If the building control approves it, does this mean the calculations are accurate and we are good to carry out the work?

Thanks advance for your advice!

Dh is a building control inspector and he says he’d ask for calcs from a structural engineer.

You could get a structural engineer to check the technologist’s calcs (for a fee obviously).

I suppose it’s a bit like asking your GPs nurse for a detailed diagnosis instead of seeing a hospital consultant. Beams are fairly straightforward if they understand loadings and how beams are used but chimney breasts can be more complex. I would say a Structural Engineer is best. Civil engineers tend to work on bigger infrastructure projects but some have dual qualifications.

No I would say a structural engineer is needed to do the calculations. I don't know what the council would do but I would think it would delay your decision.

Thanks all for your reply. Looks like we definitely need a structural engineer.

Btw, do you know how long it takes for the council to approve such kind of application?

Thanks

DH was a tech back in the day and he often did drawings on the side. He had a mate who was a Structural Engineer so he'd get beam calcs and the like through him.

Working in that field - get a structural engineer, training and experience counts for a lot when its a weight bearing wall.

Timescales differ between councils but they sometimes. Some are 8 weeks some are longer!