The fact that a structure has stood for the past 20 years without a problem is not an indication that the engineer was being overly cautious, nor is it an indication of a compliant design. It just means that in the past 20 years, the holes in the cheese didn’t line up.

Many of the reasons we experience supply chain delays are common, and this commonality makes them predictable. So what can we do to ensure that equipment arrives when we need it?

The fact that a structure has stood for the past 20 years without a problem is not an indication that the engineer was being overly cautious, nor is it an indication of a compliant design. It just means that in the past 20 years, the holes in the cheese didn’t line up.

Why would you spend $1,000+ on a light meter when there are ones available for less than $50?

Here’s our thoughts, from the perspective of an engineer and not a salesman.

When every organisation has their own templates and each person has their own style, tender documents skew the definition of ‘contract’. If tender documents are designed to clarify scope, prevent conflict and reduce risk, why are they often so poorly written?

Due to the erratic nature of renewable energy generation and the lack of electric vehicles available in Australia, the strides we have taken to replace fossil fuel-based energy have been small. As a consumer, it can feel like where we get our energy from is out of our control, particularly with the cost associated with electric vehicles, solar panels, and solar stationary battery systems.

Fortunately, our options are opening up.

Moving to the tropics can be a shock – often you’re left sweaty and frustrated as your body slowly climatises to the increased humidity and almost constant, year-round heat. It can be overwhelming.

Designing in this new environment after spending your career designing for temperate climates may give you a similar feeling. However, just as your body adjusts and begins to flourish in the lack-of-winter, so will you.

The underlying function of ‘smart’ electrical and electronic technologies is to enhance autonomy, efficiency, and safety. However when designing for remote and regional locations, it’s often better to keep it simple, stupid.

While it appears that the Federal Government is not committing to Net Zero Emissions by 2050, most of the private sector are doing their part to reach this goal. This is because, in many cases, it’s essential for their business, but also because it’s actually not that difficult to achieve.

So, what role does HVAC play in a Zero Emission Economy?

Project Managers are consistently trying to reduce the time and cost of projects in order to achieve targets. Whether the pressure is coming from the sponsors or an impending event, the sands keep falling. When looking for time to cut, it is common to look at the design timeframe.

Often, that is a mistake.

To reduce our impact on the planet, there are changes we all must make in our everyday lives. When it comes to the temperature we set our air conditioning at, these changes may actually work out in our favour.

When structures are designed as non-habitable, it is often assumed that they do not present a hazard to life in case of failure. There are other factors however that need to be considered when determining the appropriate Importance Level.

Engineers are increasingly facing more pressure to deliver solutions faster, cheaper and better than before. It can be tempting to accept third-party recommendations as they appear as credible designs. However, without performing your due diligence as an engineer to scrutinise these proposed designs, you are dismissing the importance of your role in a project.

While balustrades probably aren't on your mind while hosting a party (or perhaps, ever), you'll be glad they show up.

The spread of COVID-19 within hotel quarantine facilities has gained considerable public attention lately. The general consensus is that these hotels were never designed for disease containment. However, are the air-conditioning and ventilation systems in any hotel designed to prevent the spread of disease?

So you’ve calculated your design actions, sized your steel members, and detailed your connections. All done right? Not quite.

Unlike the air conditioning industry which has seen significant improvements in energy efficiency standards through multiple iterations of the NCC, cold rooms have had almost no advancements in terms of technology or energy efficiency.

Engineers have a multitude of tools at hand to assist with their jobs. These serve to greatly reduce calculation effort, improve accuracy, shorten the time required for rework and generally allow for more refined designs. An inability or unwillingness to sanity check the outputs obtained using such tools is a risk to the suitability and efficacy of the produced designs.

Over the past 20 years there has been a significant decline in the number of design drafters in engineering offices. Where there used to be 3 or 4 drafters to an engineer, there are now up to 20 engineers to 1 drafter. The need for drawing is not decreasing, so who is drafting?

After decades of remote housing programs, one of the greatest challenges continues to be durability of the housing stock. Based on inspection of over 200 remote dwellings, it is clear there are engineering changes that can be made which will greatly improve durability.