Read how to define the assignment, collect data, use results and track changes.
Step 1: describe the existing and desired situation
Start with a project description in plain language. State which rooms or parts will change, why you want this and what the future use will be. Add a simple highlighted map if that helps. Also consider related wishes such as an extra bathroom, another staircase or solar panels. Report unknown data as unknown. This gives the structural engineer a clear question without provisional assumptions being presented as established facts.
Step 2: Collect the available file
Request archived architectural and structural drawings and add recent photos. Sort documents by floor or section and retain their dates and sources. A sales floor plan can help explain your plans, but it is not a structural drawing. Note differences from the current situation. The structural engineer will discuss which records are useful and whether a site survey, soil data or further investigation is needed for the agreed work.
Step 3: make the order and delivery concrete
Have it recorded which construction parts are assessed, which drawings are supplied and how the connection to existing buildings is handled. Discuss the roles of architect, draftsman, contractor and suppliers. Include price, VAT treatment, planning and handling of changes. Also ask who will provide temporary support and production or assembly details. A clearly defined assignment makes visible what you receive and which parts are developed by another party.
Step 4: Agree on the design principles
The calculation must correspond to the correct design version. The position of openings, floor heights, materials and user loads must therefore be sufficiently clear. If this information changes, please notify us in a timely manner. The structural engineer can indicate what consequences the change has for previously developed parts. Record open points and agree who will solve them. In this way, each party works towards the same situation.
Step 5: read calculation and drawing together
Check project details, document status and revision. See which parts are named in the report and how they appear in the drawing. Have unclear connections explained. A profile name is not a complete assembly instruction; the executor may require additional elaboration. Ensure that the supplier and contractor receive the documents that are relevant to their assignment. Prevent individual screenshots of old details from becoming the basis for ordering or execution.
Step 6: prepare the construction phase and purchasing
Agree with the executor which temporary facilities, work sequence and information are required. Connect production data to current design documents. Discuss who the actual sizing checks and who assesses changes. Orders only become sufficiently concrete when relevant open points have been resolved. Take information, coordination and delivery into account in the planning, so that a desired start date is not based on unconfirmed assumptions.
Step 7: process deviations and complete the file
An existing situation may turn out to be different than expected during work. Report the deviation with photos and dimensions and have a new solution coordinated before structural parts are implemented differently. Update revisions in a recognizable way and share them with involved parties. Upon completion, collect the final documents and relevant implementation information. This way you can find out which situation has been designed, what has been changed and which documents describe the realized construction.
Your preparation in four steps
- Overview of all constructive interventions
- Available drawings and known deviations
- Agreed delivery and division of tasks
- Planning with information and decision moments
Frequently asked questions on this topic
Is one assignment useful for multiple constructive interventions?
A coherent assignment helps to assess shared carrying routes and connections. Make an overview of all interventions and record which parts are being developed. The exact division of tasks remains important when different suppliers provide their own calculations.
How do I keep track of changes from different parties?
Work with one document list and appoint a contact person for coordination. Record which drawings, parts and suppliers are affected for each change. Share decisions in a timely manner with everyone who produces or implements based on that data.
View the associated structural calculation, create your preparation list or take the guides and checklists along to the consultation.