IN THE FIELD
By Tom Getschman
Reducing Unknowns in the Field Four reasons to seek an engineered erection plan
Many facets of a complex project can benefit from an engineered erection plan.
T
he new project requires an engineered erection plan. Your steel erection company has many years of experience hanging iron and erecting structures, so why should you work with a construction engineer to develop an engineered erection plan? According to an old ironworker friend of mine, “It’s not what I know that scares me, it’s what I don’t know that does.” An engineered erection plan will give the project the proper scrutiny beforehand the project starts so that the erector can reduce the unknowns in the field. There are four criteria that contribute to the need for engineered erection plan. Two of Tom Getschman is Principal at CSD Structural Engineers. He has more than 20 years of experience in structural steel erection engineering, and is a published author and lecturer. CSD Structural Engineers is a national structural engineering firm headquartered in Milwaukee, Wis. Contact Tom at tgetschman@csd-eng.com or visit www.csd-eng. com to learn more.
these can be found within the steel industry reference standards, Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) and the American Institute of Steel Construction’s Code of Standard Practice for Steel Buildings and Bridges (COSP). The other two reasons for developing an engineered erection plan are specific to the project—either mandated by the design or contract documents or by subjective determination between you and your engineer.
Reason 1: OSHA OSHA 1926.752(e) states: “Where employers elect, due to conditions specific to the site, to develop alternate means and methods that provide employee protections in accordance with § 1926.753(c)(5), § 1926.757(a)(4) or § 1926.757(e)(4), a site-specific erection plan shall be developed by a qualified person and be available at the work site.” OSHA specifically calls for a “qualified person” to develop the site-specific erection plan, but does not dictate that a licensed structural
22 | THE STEEL ERECTORS ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA
engineer is required. However, many of the components of a site-specific erection plan as stated in OSHA 1926 Subpart R Appendix A(c) (3)(i-iii) require the knowledge, expertise, and experience of a licensed structural engineer. At the very least, the erector should have their construction engineer collaborate in the development of the company’s standard means and methods practices and any site-specific erection plan criteria that is required for the project. Your construction engineer will be able to assist in determining if your existing erection plan submittal meets current building and design codes.
Reason 2: Industry Standards In the steel construction industry, the benchmark to which structural steel buildings are designed, fabricated, and erected can be found within AISC’s Code of Standard Practice. Section 7.10.3 states: “the erector shall determine, furnish and install all temporary supports, such as temporary guys, beams, falsework, cribbing or other elements