Fitting a beem (RSJ)

arundle

im thinking of removing a wall in my house to open up a kitchen up more into the extension. Ive had a Structural engineer come out and do some measuring and hes suggested putting in 2 x 4 metre s275 steel beems.

I want to find a builder to install these so im going to post it on my builder so im just wondering what do I need to ensure the builder has to have regulation/insurance wise to make them qualified to carry out the work?

MX5huggy

There are no qualifications to be a builder.

RDG

Ask any builder you get quotes from for details of his PI insurance if he has any.

As stated above there are no qualification to become a builder and I would suggest that finding someone with a lot of experience installing steel beams is preferable.

That description of the beam is extremely vague I assume it was more detailed than that. Following on from another thread was the sturctural engineer a member of the Institute of Structural Engineers? And does he have any PI insurance.

mojowaky

Make sure you get building control involved in this. They will check everything for you including thr engineers calculation and the builders fitting.
And of course you will get a certificate from the council if all is o.k.
If you really worried about the builder, use one from the fmb associaton as they are vetted.

27col

It's a steel beam not a steel beem.

iamcornholio

arundle wrote: »

Ive had a Structural engineer come out and do some measuring and hes suggested putting in 2 x 4 metre s275 steel beems.

s275 is not a specification for a beam.

Also, I'm not sure whether it's just your wording or not, but an engineer does not suggest using any type of beam, rather he calculates and designs a suitable beam

I really don't think mybuilder is a place for getting builders experienced in this type of work - its full of chancers and cowboys

You need to apply for building regulation approval too

mysk_girl

S275 is a partial specification, it's the strength grade - equivalent to the old grade 43, with S355 being the higher grade (old grade 50) - but you do need the actual size as well!

Did he give you calculations to present to building control? 2 beams required sounds like a thick wall to me, is it an external wall that you are removing? Please get Building Control involved...

Edit : opening up into an extension will be an original external wall, sorry didn't pick that up on first read through...

iamcornholio

mysk_girl wrote: »

S275 is a partial specification,

No one specifies a beam by the steel grade

The steel grade is taken as standard for normal loads, and the design specification is always the section size and weight per m

mysk_girl

Every specification I have ever written for a steel beam includes the strength grade. I agree you need the dimensions and serial size as well, but the strength grade is important, hence my use of the word 'partial'. For example, I have used S355 steel where there is limited headroom and the higher grade has allowed a shallower beam to be specified.