Calculations
Structural calculations prepared by qualified and experienced professionals are essential for the structural integrity and safety of your project as well as for successful planning and construction.
Structural Calculations Prepared by Experts
At Calculations Direct all our calculations are prepared by experienced Chartered Engineers registered with the Engineering Council and with membership of the Institution of Structural Engineers (MIStructE) and/or the Institution of Civil Engineers (MICE).
At Calculations Direct we prepare structural calculations in all major structural materials – steel, timber, masonry and reinforced concrete. Structural analysis and the structural calculations for sizing of elements is undertaken using contemporary computer software packages which produce calculation sheets in a format suitable for submission for Building Regulation approval.
Using these specialist systems our Engineers will prepare the structural calculations for your project so that it is Building Regulation compliant, safely constructable and, above all, safe for occupation.
We undertake steelwork calculations for all types of projects.
Calculations Direct provides structural calculations for residential projects whether it is a new build, an extension or a renovation. One of the most frequent requests is for renovation and extension projects which include installation of steel beams. You will probably need to install a steel beam if you are planning to do any of the following:
• remove an internal loadbearing wall to create an open plan kitchen or a through lounge
• extend through an external wall
• install bi-fold doors
Frequently the existing masonry is found to be inadequate to support the localised bearing force from the steel beam and installation of concrete padstones is required. In these cases Calculations Direct will include a complementary calculation and specification for the concrete padstones within the fee for the steel beam.
When making structural modifications it is essential to assess the impact on the structure as a whole. So, included with the calculation for the steel beam, Calculations Direct will undertake the following assessments:
• effect of the redistribution of load through the new load path to the foundations;
• impact of the new opening on the lateral stability of the structure.
Calculations Direct provides structural calculations for load bearing walls and masonry piers in new build projects, extensions and renovations. Our designs include the specification of brick, block and mortar strength as well as the type and distribution of wall ties.
When new openings are made in a load bearing wall and steel beams are installed the remaining sections of masonry supporting the new beam have to be checked to ensure that they are not overstressed and are adequate to redistribute the load from the beam to the foundation. In addition, the removal of large sections of wall can compromise the buttressing effect the wall provides to walls perpendicular to it. If our Engineers consider that the structural integrity of the building is compromised by a proposed opening we will advise the client of the possible solutions. In these circumstances additional masonry or steel calculations may be required to maintain the stability of the structure.
The use of exposed structural timber elements may be called for to meet aesthetic objectives and, of course, in many residential projects timber is the material of choice for floor systems and roof structures. Also, for some projects cost savings can be made by using structural timber beams rather than structural steelwork.
Whether your project needs a single timber floor beam, a new floor joist system, roof modifications or exposed engineered timber elements Calculations Direct can prepare the required structural calculations.
Calculations Direct prepares calculations for timber beams, floor joists, posts, purlins, rafters, and shear walls. We design timber solutions using a variety of options including multi-ply solid timber, structural composite lumber (e.g. LVL and PSL), thin web beams (e.g. TJI and JJI) and glulam.
If you are planning a commercial or industrial project with reinforced concrete and/or multiple structural steelwork elements then Calculations Direct can provide calculations for all these elements.
| Reinforced Concrete | Structural Steelwork |
| Slabs | Frames |
| Beams | Beams |
| Columns | Columns |
| Walls | Connections |
| Foundations |
In order to perform the structural design of the separate elements (i.e. determine the element size and concrete reinforcement requirement) it is necessary to first understand how the element functions in the complete structure. Therefore, before designing the elements an analysis of the complete structure, or part of it, is performed in order to obtain the forces in the elements to be used for structural design. At Calculations Direct we use specialist computer systems to perform the analysis of the structure and produce the calculations for the element sizing and reinforcement arrangement. For these projects the calculations will be more complex and the time required to perform the calculations will be more extensive. However, for an initial enquiry you can still use the simple enquiry form on the Contact page; or if you would like to discuss your project with one of our Engineers please call us on: 0790 893 7549. Please note that Calculations Direct can only perform foundation calculations if the client is able to provide a Soils Report from a geotechnical engineer. Also, as our service is entirely internet based we do not undertake site visits or inspections.
Compliance with Building Regulations
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Innovative and bespoke solutions
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Prompt Building Control approval
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Competitive fee pricing that adds real value
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