Civil & Structural

Our approach to civil and structural engineering is driven by a commitment to quality and value, supported by a determination to deliver sustainability, innovation, buildability, durability and aesthetic quality, all within the context of working to project deadlines.

Civil Engineering

The civil engineering works enable people to access the site - whilst endeavouring to ensure the environment is not damaged - by providing roads and other hardstanding areas, as well as drains and service supplies to the development. At Faber Maunsell we pride ourselves in a proactive approach in dealing with these important aspects whilst ensuring wherever possible the environment is protected. Sustainability is an important factor and therefore maintaining an appropriate amount of training for engineers is important in keeping abreast of modern day developments in drainage and road solutions.

Faber Maunsell have a reputation in dealing with both the public and various statutory bodies to achieve the best solution for a particular development. Consultations occur to speed the process of the scheme and these will typically involve the public, local council's highways and planning departments as well as the water authorities and Environment Agencies.

Faber Maunsell can provide consultancy services at all stages in development schemes for roads and drainage solutions. Projects will include new business parks, residential estates, shopping centres, hospitals, schools as well as university campuses.

Faber Maunsell use up-to-date software to assist with the design and detailing of the works and have programs such as PDS, MOSS, WinDes, AutoTrack, AutoSign and KeyLines at their disposal.

This service, as with all Faber Maunsell services, is available across the United Kingdom from various offices.

Structural Engineering

Building structural engineering encompasses all building structural aspects of projects from the design of deep basements and complicated sub structure works to the superstructure and roof elements. All form of materials are considered, including the more common materials such as concrete, steel, masonry and timber to the more unused materials such as glass, aluminium and glass reinforced plastics.

The structural engineers often manage the co-ordination of many other disciplines available within the Faber Maunsell Group such as the roads and drainage, electrical and mechanical elements and transportation and environmental aspects. Often the structural engineers are consulted at an early stage to provide feasibility and planning advice on the form of structure, particularly the foundation and superstructure alternatives. The early advice on foundation requirements involves close co-ordination of the geotechnical and contamination of the ground to determine the sub structure needs.

During the feasibility and planning stages, desk studies and site investigations are undertaken. The advice given from the in-house expertise of the geo-environmental team assist the building engineers in considering alternative forms of sub-structure, from simple bases to rafts and piled options. Again, in-house expertise enables value-engineered solutions to the project. Remediation requirements in the form of contamination and soil improvements are other issues that bring benefits to projects which enable schemes to be developed cost effectively.

Sustainability is an important factor in assessing the most appropriate form of construction, and close working with the other design team members help to provide a cost effective solution in considering the build cost and longer term running and maintenance costs of the development. Issues such as re-use of foundations and retaining walls is a typical example of this. Again, sustainability is considered when reviewing the future use of buildings as well as the potential of selling the scheme onto future funders and end users. Typically, the conversion of commercial schemes to residential can give clients and funders additional value for money in the development.

Faber Maunsell structural engineers work in all sectors of the construction industry from residential, commercial, education and health to MoD, retail, sports and leisure, laboratories and pharmaceutical and rail. The experience of Faber Maunsell structural engineers is therefore very wide and can bring additional ideas from these different sectors to any project Faber Maunsell are commissioned on. This will include the many various forms of procurement, from traditional to design and build, and will consider hybrid techniques as well. This hybrid form may be such as two stage design with build and early contractor involvement.

Structural engineers within Faber Maunsell are also keen to consider innovative forms of dealing with structural aspects and keen to involve specialist manufacturers, sub consultants and sub contractors at the earliest possibility. The culture within Faber Maunsell and particularly within the structural engineering group encourages a partnering approach and many commissions are via framework contracts with strong supply chains. Continual improvement within these forms of contracts is important to Faber Maunsell and the structural project team encourage high level communication to achieve the best possible end result for all organisations involved in the project. Again, this will include the immediate client, funder and end user of the development. Much of the work undertaken is for repeat clients or by recommendation.

Up-to-date computer software is used for both the analysis and drawing of the structural aspects. The will include finite element analysis as well as three dimensional drawing. Typical software for analysis will be Fastrack, Superstress, Robot Staad and Tedds, whereas for drawing work both Autocad and Microstation are used. Three dimensional modelling is either via 3D Plus or Autocad 3D.

Faber Maunsell structural engineering staff are proactive in considering alternative forms of construction such as post tensioning floor slabs, pre-cast and other prefabrication, as well as modular construction either as elements, such as bathroom and toilet pods and plant rooms, or as complete buildings such as fast food restaurants, detention centre cells and student accommodation. This will included many forms of different materials such as timber, glass fibre reinforced plastics, steel and concrete.

Other more specialist areas where structural engineers are involved include façade engineering, tunnelling and bridges as well as water retaining structures and health and safety.

For more information on our experience and capabilities please contact Peter Ayres.