Home / Structural Engineers UK / Dundee

Structural engineers in Dundee

Structural calculations, surveys and design for tenements, mill conversions and commercial buildings across Dundee, prepared for building warrant submission.

Tenements and sandstone

Dundee's residential core is substantially sandstone tenement construction, with shared closes, timber floors spanning between solid masonry walls, and structural arrangements that were rarely recorded. Alterations in a tenement affect neighbours as well as the owner, because the walls and floors are frequently shared or interdependent.

Sandstone weathers, and locally it can be soft. Bearing details that would be adequate in harder stone need checking, and previous repointing or repair sometimes conceals more significant deterioration behind it.

Mill and industrial conversions

The jute industry left Dundee with a substantial stock of mill buildings, many now converted or awaiting conversion. These have heavy timber or cast iron framing, wide floor spans, and loading capacities designed for machinery rather than residential occupation.

Converting one means assessing what the existing frame will carry under the new use, which is usually a different and lighter loading than the original, though partitions, screeds and services can add more than expected. Cast iron in particular needs assessing on its own terms rather than as if it were steel.

Building warrants

A building warrant must be granted before work starts in Scotland. We prepare the calculations and drawings for submission to Dundee City Council and deal with verifier queries directly.

On tenement work the warrant is often only part of the picture, since common repairs and shared structure bring in the other owners as well.

Dundee

Local considerations.

What tends to govern a structural job in this area.

Sandstone tenements with shared and interdependent structure
Locally soft sandstone requiring careful bearing design
Jute mill buildings with timber and cast iron framing
Scottish building warrant required before work starts

Services

The full structural remit in Dundee.

Every service is available here. Choose one to read more, or tell us your project and location.

Selected work

Real structures, surveyed and engineered.

All work →

Sport and recreationCharlton Athletic FC, The ValleyTwo steel monopitch stand roofs rising to 27 metres were assessed for a proposed solar PV installation. Both were cleared to carry the arrays as they stand, and the fragile roofs were surveyed entirely by drone with nobody working at height.

Read →

Manufacturing and industrialWienerberger, Tamworth

EducationCarlisle College

Film and mediaDragon Studios, Pencoed

Questions

Common questions

Do you work on tenement properties?

Yes. Tenement alterations affect shared and interdependent structure, so establishing what is actually carrying load, and what is common, comes before design.

Can you assess a mill conversion?

Yes. Mill buildings have timber or cast iron framing designed for machinery loading. Assessing what the existing frame carries under the proposed use is the starting point, and cast iron needs assessing on its own terms.

Do you submit building warrants in Dundee?

Yes, to Dundee City Council. The warrant must be granted before work starts.

Do you cover Angus and the surrounding area?

Yes. We work across Dundee and the surrounding area, and nationwide.

Elsewhere in the UK