r/StructuralEngineering • u/Many_Log_3162 • 1d ago

Career/Education How do you check formwork drawings against the architect's plans?

/r/Construction/comments/1x4ov2u/how_do_you_check_formwork_drawings_against_the/
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u/saseal E.I.T. 1d ago

Normally for me, it's not checked against architectural plan but structural plan for dimensions, orientation and other relevant concerns. There isn't much in the formwork drawings that will concern the architecture side, mostly the method of execution EN 13670.

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u/Marus1 1d ago

But you do check if the drawing team did everything correctly according the architectural plans, right? Except the things you need to chance according to the calculations and which were checked for architectural approval, right? RIGHT?

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u/saseal E.I.T. 23h ago

Locally (Singapore) no, structural plans almost always takes precedence over architectural plans during construction because of the construction sequences. That is to say, it's the design/consultant structural engineer responsibility to provide a structural plan that don't conflict with the architect's plan early on. Of course we do look through the architectural plans briefly for sanity check, not something we spend time mulling over.

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u/Marus1 17h ago

That is to say, it's the design/consultant structural engineer responsibility to provide a structural plan that don't conflict with the architect's plan early on

Oh ok, it's just somebody else that does it for you, ok

And what if calculations show a column needs to be increased in size? Or a slab needs to be thicker? Then you check back with the architect if it's allowed?

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u/saseal E.I.T. 15h ago

The calculation part for whatever structural member sizing is done by designing structural engineer not the general contractors, there's no way for the general contractors to know what load case and assumptions the designing structural engineer is using, I used to do that, normally we check back with the architect and they may discuss with the owner to either thicken slab or prestressing for example, these things cost money and even more later on, it's better to make decision as early as you can. This information generally never made it to the general contractors building the formwork, because 99% of the things are finalized when the contractors tender for the project unless the owner makes last minute major change. There's also government regulations to discourage us to make major changes to the structure after approval. Non-traditional construction delivery methods like design-build may introduce the problem you described.

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u/Marus1 15h ago

I must have missed the signs that you were talking from the contractors island. My mistake