Delays and cost overruns on structural steelwork projects might not appear until late in the programme. But the truth is they were probably baked-in from the start.
Imagine that: the project that you currently think is progressing well might have unseen problems and hit the buffers once somebody tries to assemble the structural steelwork. Usually this happens because of poor design.
To take a more positive view, good design is how you minimise costs and ensure projects stay on track. So what do we mean by ‘good’?
The basis of good design is practicality: structures that are quick and easy to assemble onsite. Which means they’re designed for the specific site and take full account of any access issues and potential obstructions. It also considers material availability, delivery sequencing and storage.
Good design is also about precision: every bolt pattern perfectly aligned and every load assumption completely accurate.
Good design is also about realising opportunities as well as avoiding problems. For example, detailing that increases the durability of the structure and makes it easier to construct and maintain.
This is more than a compliance issue. A poor design might meet the requirements of a design standard. As the customer you might have a design and check certificate confirming it’s been designed to the appropriate standards, but
Where Designs Go Wrong
Many projects fall at the first hurdle. Often, people undertaking the site surveys or reconnaissance lack the appropriate experience. Without experienced engineers present on the initial surveys, many design and buildability issues are missed.
It’s also difficult to translate site notes from others without seeing the structure personally – important details can be lost in translation. We always ensure the designer has had direct contact with the structure or site.
Hidden Costs of Poor Structural Steel Design
Poor design impacts all aspects of cost, quality, and time. But the increased costs of poor design might not be immediately visible. Poor design costs tend to accumulate over a project. These include the following:
- Design choices that result in procurement issues and increased costs.
- A choice of connection geometry that means the installation takes longer as the appropriate tooling cannot fit.
- Connection details resulting in welds that are more time-consuming to fabricate.
The impact of poor design on quality may even become evident after completion. This is often revealed by how the structure weathers over time, or by details failing prematurely as they are more susceptible to fatigue.
Having design, fabrication, and construction teams in house means we avoid these pitfalls through a fully integrated process we call intelligent integration. An approach proven to avoid project cost variations by as much as 45%.
Where the Time Goes
The effects of poor design are often most visible in terms of time: unexpected delays when reality catches up and late designs or reworks are needed.
And time is closely related to cost – visible through multiple design queries at construction stage resulting in delays to the programme. Or it may be delays in material procurement, protracted construction sequencing or completely unbuildable structures that require an element of redesign.
So ultimately, good design is about time, cost and confidence.
Find out more about how FTE consistently delivers good design and on-time, on-budget delivery through intelligent integration. Access our free information hub below.
