CONTRACTOR ENGINEERING SUPPORT
Engineering support for construction requirements.
RAM works with contractors and subcontractors on building structures, civil and site work, cold-formed steel, structural steel and clearly defined specialty engineering scopes.
CONTRACTOR PATHWAYS
Find the engineering support you need.
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Residential Projects
RAM can support contractors on residential projects involving new homes and cottages, additions, renovations and project-specific structural requirements.
Depending on the project, RAM may provide a broader residential design and engineering package or complete a defined engineering scope within drawings or designs prepared by a contractor, homeowner, designer or other project participant.
Building Structures
RAM may provide structural engineering for new commercial and industrial buildings, additions and expansions, renovations and alterations, and other clearly defined building-structure requirements. The role can vary from broader building engineering to a focused structural scope within a larger project team.
For contractors, useful coordination often centres on how the structural design will be built: framing systems, foundations, openings, connections, material transitions and interfaces with architectural, mechanical or other work. Existing-building projects may also require confirmation of field conditions before an engineering response can be finalized.
Information that helps define the scope
- Available drawings, specifications and design criteria
- Proposed structural system, materials and construction approach
- Known site or existing-building conditions
- The engineering responsibility RAM is being asked to undertake
Civil & Site Engineering
RAM may provide engineering for site servicing, grading, drainage, stormwater and other building-related civil or site requirements. This work is coordinated around the building, property and construction scope rather than treated as a separate technical exercise.
Contractor involvement can help clarify existing services, proposed materials, elevations, access, sequencing and how site work will be constructed. Where field conditions differ from available information, the effect on RAM’s civil design can be reviewed within the agreed scope.
Useful project information may include
- Site plan, survey and available servicing information
- Proposed building and finished-grade elevations
- Known drainage, stormwater or access constraints
- Contractor questions about materials, sequencing or field conditions
Steel Stud & Cold-Formed Steel
RAM’s work may include complete engineering for load-bearing cold-formed steel framing systems within an agreed project scope, as well as engineering for steel stud components, specialty conditions and shop-drawing support. The specific role depends on the project documents, framing supplier or contractor responsibilities and the design interfaces involved.
Engineering may address wall and floor framing, concentrated loads, large openings, connections, load transfer and coordination with the primary structure. Constructability is particularly important where framing tolerances, installation sequence, access and connections to other materials affect how the system will be assembled.
Helpful information for review
- Architectural and structural drawings relevant to the framing scope
- Stud system, material and supplier information
- Openings, supported loads and interfaces with the primary structure
- Required calculations, drawings and shop-drawing deliverables
Structural Steel & Connections
RAM may provide engineering for structural steel components, steel connections and other project-specific structural steel requirements. This can include delegated or specialty steel engineering where the responsibility, design criteria and interfaces are clearly established.
The engineering may need to coordinate member forces, connection geometry, available space, erection access, tolerances and the relationship to concrete, masonry, wood or other framing. Questions or proposed changes during fabrication and construction can be reviewed where they fall within RAM’s agreed scope.
Information commonly needed
- Relevant drawings, specifications and design forces
- Connection preferences, fabrication constraints and available geometry
- Interfaces with the primary structure and work by others
- The required engineering and drawing deliverables
Specialty & Delegated Design
Some projects include delegated-design items or specialty components that require a clearly defined engineering scope. RAM may assist with project-specific engineering involving materials and systems such as structural steel, cold-formed steel, aluminum, glass-supported components and other specialty construction where adequate design information is available.
The work may include specialty components, equipment or component supports, reinforcing or modifying existing structural members for new loads, and other project-specific engineering requirements. Examples may include items such as railings, supports, framing modifications and equipment-related structural work, depending on the project.
Before work begins, the project team should establish what RAM is being asked to design, the criteria and loads that apply, the interfaces with work by others and the deliverables required. RAM’s specialty role does not automatically transfer Engineer-of-Record responsibility for another consultant’s design.
A clearly defined request should identify
- The item, component or temporary condition to be engineered
- Applicable loads, design criteria and supporting information
- Connections and interfaces with the permanent structure or work by others
- Required calculations, drawings, review or other deliverables
ENGINEERING INFORMED BY CONSTRUCTION
Engineering that considers how the work gets built.
RAM considers constructability, materials, connections, access and sequencing within the engineering scope. Where practical alternatives are available, RAM also considers their construction and economic impact while maintaining the project’s engineering requirements.
Where practical alternatives are available, RAM can discuss them with the project team so that constructability, cost and engineering requirements can be considered together.
Have a construction project in mind?
Send RAM the project information and engineering requirements you have so far, and we can help identify an appropriate next step.