ENGINEERING FEASIBILITY

Engineering Feasibility

Feasibility consultation provided by MP Consulting Engineers covers multiple disciplines and ranges from basic review and commentary through to modeling of different structure solutions, which can be used to build up cost plan information to forecast the
Project price.

Structural Engineering

Structure Design Review

Taking an Architectural concept to a feasibility status structural frame design can be quickly accomplished utilizing the Tekla building designer suite, with drawing production completed by BIM file exchange into Revit.

Structure feasibility design allows principles such as structure column locations, building grids, element sizes and estimated frame weight to be developed at an early stage of the project.

Option review at the preliminary stages of a project with the benefit of developed structure parameters provides the Client with the ability to take design decisions as to what best suits the project brief, end-use and costs parameters.

MP have extensive experience in the design of structural steel frames for both client, contractor and steel fabricators, preparing progressives level of detail through the project phases.

Structural Engineering

Geotechnical Site Investigations

Breaking ground to obtain data relating to the composition, strength and integrity of the sub soil carries inherent risk of interaction with buried surfaces, under ground structures and affects on adjoining buildings.

Prior to any site works being undertaken, a detailed assessment of archive information is completed, in conjunction with procurements of record plans of below-ground services and site-based trace of below-ground services.

Ground investigation scope is bespoke to the site under review, with detailed proposals for various forms of intrusive exploratory techniques available to suit the specific requirements of the proposed development and likely composition present below ground.

For larger projects, the procurement of site investigations may require a competitive tender process, which MP can assist the Client construction team in procuring and assessing returns.

Structural Engineering

Site Remediation & Foundation Strategy

Remediation may also be required on greenfield sites, where sub-surface soils contain materials that are not suitable for development eg peat layers, high water tables, soft alluvial materials, etc.

Remediation of contaminated materials requires detailed investigations and laboratory testing to classify the ground composition and setting, allowing decisions to be made on the most suitable course of action for the impacted soil relative to the proposed use of the completed development. MP works with a number of specialists who provide assessment and design of remediation of soils and water in accordance with Environmental Legislation.

Geotechnical remediation and selection of appropriate foundation solutions are completed in conjunction with the results of the ground investigation works and proposed structure requirements. MP has completed projects with numerous forms of substructure which are selected to reflect the degree if any of improvement works required.

Of particular note is the remediation of areas where extraction of materials has occurred in the past by either open cut or tunneled mining. More extensive works are required to complete sub-structure designs for sites where coal extraction has occurred, starting with Coal Mining Risk Assessment CMRA prior to intrusive investigations under license from Coals Authority which allows the design of interventions such as grouting of workings and rafted substructures which control movement from the subsurface settlement.

Foundation solutions from simple pad and strip, spread foundations on treated soils to fully suspended foundations and floor on piles are reviewed in-house to provide informed advice for the choice of appropriate substructure at the early project stage.

Structural Engineering

Drainage Strategy

An integral section of the planning process relates to the determination of the disposal of foul and surface water drainage from the site.

MP are able to provide drainage design strategy alongside Flood Risk Assessment FRA reporting from consultant hydrologists for inclusion in the planning application.

Whilst drainage design is defined by the national framework, local considerations must be included within the feasibility assessment for drainage design, taking due note of the Flood zone status of the site, local frameworks, and interactions with bodies such as Sewerage Authorities, Environment agencies, and Local Authority.

The inclusion of SUDs is a key requirement of the current drainage approval policy – the design of compliant drainage requires the inclusion of such features.

Levels Strategy

Access gradients must meet the minimum requirements defined by building regulations, together with stipulations of the operator for use of parking areas.

Modelling of proposed levels based on topographical survey allows comparison to be made between original and proposed ground levels, which defines the amount of material that will be surplus or deficit to achieve the design intent. The relationship of Cut / Fill can be optimized by adjustment of the proposed level strategy, thereby attempting to ‘balance’ the amount of materials moved on site.