7 criteria for choosing a good structural engineering office

A structural engineering office (BET) is a firm that brings together building professionals. They carry out technical studies for new buildings and renovations. Choosing a good BET guarantees excellent technical planning of your construction projects. Besides the structural calculations and architectural plans a BET can produce, it should also be able to oversee the project through to the delivery of the building. A good BET is the guarantor of the safety of the project and of what is delivered. Its advice and recommendations extend all the way to the quality of the materials.

If you want to find an engineering office that meets your expectations, here are seven criteria to consider before making your decision.

– The firm's level of expertise

A BET may be specialised or multidisciplinary. Before choosing one, make sure its field of expertise matches your needs. It is important to look at the experience of the professionals involved, because it determines their ability to take on any project and to master its every aspect.

– Ten-year liability cover

A good BET must hold ten-year liability insurance. It protects the client against any damage that could affect the building during the 10 years following completion of the works. Although the engineering office's role is not hands-on, it is very important for the compliance of the works. That is why ten-year cover is necessary and mandatory. However, not all engineering offices take out this insurance. Some use fake insurance certificates because of the high cost of this type of cover. To make sure your chosen BET is properly covered, contact the insurer, who will tell you whether or not the firm is on its list of policyholders.

– Command of the project

The person in charge of following your project must have a full grasp of it. To be sure the project manager is qualified, a meeting is recommended. They should be able to explain to you themselves, on the project site, what types of work will be needed. The estimate for your study should be based on the technical specifics of your project.

– A comparison of quotes

The client should carry out this comparison personally. It means consulting several BETs in order to choose the one that best matches your expectations. It is above all a matter of comparing the study quotes offered. For work such as opening or demolishing load-bearing walls, for example, 3 to 4 different quotes will give you an idea of the scope of the study and its approximate cost.

– A detailed explanation of the quote

A good structural engineering office must be able to give you a precise explanation of the quote and its amount. When you compare quotes, the amounts may well differ widely. Each office should give you convincing information justifying the cost of the study. The lowest price is not always the best offer. The quote that includes the most complete support is the one that should interest you.

– The delivery date of the study

A reliable BET should be able to determine the duration of the study for every project it handles. Time is very important in building work, and delays inevitably mean extra costs. To make sure deadlines will not cause you any trouble, have a clause on late-delivery penalties included. A good BET should complete its study in three weeks.

– Reading former clients' reviews

Negative or positive reviews are an excellent way to gauge a BET's effectiveness. Reviews published on a company's own website are generally always positive, so opt instead for a site specialising in verified recommendations. Give priority to reviews relating to the type of work you want done. Then choose the engineering office with mostly positive reviews. When you contact it, make sure it meets most of the criteria listed above.

BET Structuris is OMPT's main partner and is in charge of preparing the calculations and technical studies before structural works are carried out.