Category Archives: Structural design

MORE COURSES AVAILABLE IN 2018

Through Surepath Training, we run a wide programme of courses for the construction industry. Full details of all courses running up to the end of 2018 can be seen in our latest calendar.  Selected highlights in the next few months include:

  • Pile Foundations – Principles and Practice on 20 September  LAST CALL
  • Introduction to Health and Safety Law – 9 October
  • Mentoring for Engineering Geologists on Geotechnical Engineering on 11 October
  • Slope Stability – Principles and Practice on 18 October
  • Earthworks – Principles and Practice on 25 October

We also have a programme of courses designed to help candidates prepare for their ICE professional review, which includes the following for the Spring 2019 session:

  • The ICE Professional Review – Preparing for the Written Exercise on 22 November
  • The ICE Professional Review – Overview and Preparation on 4 December
  • Mock interview courses in early 2019 (dates TBC) 

All courses are running in Chesterfield unless stated otherwise on the calendar.  Discounts are available for group bookings or delegates attending more than one course. Please call or email us to reserve your place on a course.

Remember too that all courses can be run bespoke for your company if there are sufficient numbers – just call us to see what we could do for you.

MORE CPD IDEAS

We have a regular section on CPD in the newsletters from Surepath Training, with links to follow-up information.  They are useful for anyone but are especially useful for graduates pursuing professional registration with the ICE.   In the latest newsletter (to be issued shortly) two CPD ideas are provided:

NEC4 – The NEC form of contract was born out of the Latham and Egan reports.  It went on to become the form of contract recommended by the ICE, replacing the ICE 7th Conditions of Contract.  It emphasised a collaborative approach and provided a range of forms for different risk sharing approaches.  NEC3 has now been replaced by NEC4 and graduates sitting their review ought to be aware now of the main changes.  A good starting point may be found here.

Sustainable Development – Some time ago, in 2008, Constructing Excellence “recognised the need for a ‘Plain English Guide to Sustainable Construction’ after a large number of comments from their membership about the lack of clear, concise information on the subject.”  They have produced a useful guide that we recommend graduates read as a starter.  There have been developments since of course, as covered in previous newsletters.

If you want to see other CPD ideas, you can look back at previous newsletters by following this link.

 

ISTRUCTE WELL RECEIVED

About 50 people turned out to hear our Dr Andy Goodwin speak about EC7 at the IStructE Regional Group meeting at University of Sheffield on 16 May 2018.  Entitled “EC7 is Just for Geotechnical Engineers – Isn’t It?”, the talk gave an overview of the drivers behind the ‘new’ code and the principal practical changes from a structural engineering perspective.  The talk seemed too go down well, and it attracted a lengthy Q&A session.   

ISTRUCTE TALK ON EC7

Just in case you haven’t seen the advertising put out by IStructE, you may wish to know that our Dr Andy Goodwin is giving a presentation to the Regional Group on 16 May 2018.  Entitled “EC7 is Just for Geotechnical Engineers – Isn’t It?”, the talk is aimed at de-mystifying EC7 to help structural engineers recognise its implications for them and aid its wider adoption going forward. 

It is being held from 6pm in Lecture Theatre 3, The Diamond, 32 Leavygreave Road, Sheffield S3 7RD.  Further details can be found here.

UPDATED SOIL NAILING STANDARD

Just in case you missed it, BSI recently announced that the UK’s soil nailing design standard has been reviewed and updated.  In their release, BSI stated:

BS 8006-2 Code of practice for strengthened/reinforced soils ‒ Part 2: Soil nail design gives recommendations and guidance for stabilizing soil slopes and faces using soil nails. As there is no corresponding EN or ISO standard, BS 8006-2 is the national de facto soil nailing design standard in the UK and Ireland.

Principal technical changes include:

  • Improved compliance with BS EN 1990 on partial factors
  • Clarification of potentially ambiguous notation
  • Updated advice on atmospheric corrosivity
  • Inclusion of site investigation BS 5930

Note that the European standard in this area, BS EN 1997-1, specifically excludes soil nailing. BS 8006-2 is harmonized for use alongside that standard, as well as with BS 8006-1:2010+A1:2016 which covers other stabilization approaches using reinforced soil methods which covers the design of reinforced soil structures.