Apartments & Basement Structures

Engineering for Apartments

There are several reasons why it is important to engage a quality engineer for apartment complexes. This is where eCOAST Engineering shines:

To ensure compliance with building codes and regulations: Quality engineers can help ensure that the design and construction of the apartment complex meets all relevant codes and regulations, which can prevent costly delays and rework.
To improve efficiency and cost-effectiveness: Quality engineers can help identify and eliminate inefficiencies in the design and construction process, which can save time and money.
To enhance the overall quality of the complex: Quality engineers can help ensure that the apartment complex is built to high standards and meets the expectations of the residents. This can help improve customer satisfaction and reduce the likelihood of problems or defects arising after construction is complete.
To identify and address potential safety concerns: Quality engineers can help identify potential safety hazards and recommend solutions to address them, which can help protect the safety of residents and visitors.
To provide expertise and support during the design and construction process: Quality engineers can provide valuable expertise and support during the design and construction process, helping to ensure that the project is completed on time and within budget.

Basements & Carparks

Structural engineers are trained to understand the forces at work on a structure and to design buildings that can safely support those forces. This includes designing the foundation of a building, which is often a basement.

Because of their training and expertise, structural engineers are well-equipped to design basements that can safely support the weight of a building and any other loads that may be placed on it. Design specifications for drainage and waterproofing is also best documented on the civil and structural drawings to ensure the Principal Contractors include what's necessary during construction.

Not every building comes with a basement. This is often because additional design elements, construction time and monetary costs are involved. At eCOAST Engineering, we boast years of experience with basement design solutions for improved performance or maintenance for your new or existing property. Whether you want a single basement for a boutique building use or basements to maximum apartment building utility, we can design and draft sustainable and cost-effective proposals and reports to turn ideas into reality.

Concrete or Blockwork Basements

There are several processes involved in residential and commercial basement construction, with either blockwork or concrete, all of which are covered by our services including:

Engineering Proposals for Basement Designs – We partner with clients to draft up a design and engineering proposal for your basement, whether apartment carpark or other use. After a preliminary design has been approved, we can prepare the structural engineering drawings with design criteria and more.
Basement Design, Engineering & Construction – Following the detailed structural basement engineering and drafting processes, we can liaise with builders during construction to inspect structural basement and apartment works, prepare inspection reports and issue inspection certificates to building certifiers.

Carpark Turnpaths & Access Requirements

To ensure that transport needs, including car parking and service vehicle requirements, associated with the development of land is met by:

supply of car and bicycle parking facilities;
provision of loading and service facilities; and
integration of public transport with private and public development in the City.

Key objectives also include:

a) the availability of car park opportunities that are easy to locate and manoeuvre/use, with on-site provisions for occupants, public car parks available for visitors, and on-street provision.

b) the effective use of all car park infrastructure provided in the planning scheme; and

c) streets that are pedestrian and cyclist friendly, and these days EV friendly for charging.

Vehicle turn path templates plot vehicle wheelpaths and traced paths by relevant points on the vehicle or load. They show the swept path envelope resulting from various angles of turn at a particular radius that need to be considered with any basement, commercial or apartment carpark layout.

Multi-Storey Basements Must be Kept Dry

For new construction there are several considerations to ensure water ingress does not occur in basements.

In particular:

Water stops for either concrete panels or block work during basement construction in the floor / wall zones.
Crystalline admixture compound in the concrete pour of basement walls or as a fill-in for block work.
Once basement walls are constructed, quality waterproofing and ‘tanking’ should be applied with suitable drainage considerations.
The below ground waterproofing system is expected to last the lifetime of the building, including a low pressure wet pump if unable to gravity drain.
Effective water management should be provided with free flow drainage.
Sufficient ventilation and natural lighting should be considered for basements.

Retractable flood Gates are becoming more popular to coastal areas also.

Waterproof Systems

Damp proof membranes can help keep ground moisture out, which may enter via gaps, penetrations, cracks, joints in sheeting and holes. But not liquid water under pressure such as during major storm events.

Whereas, waterproofing keeps out both liquid water under head AND moisture. A quality waterproofing system is an important part of the structural design in order to stop water moisture and prevent water vapor from entering overland or below ground structures.

This is important as detailed waterproofing systems and good groundwater and stormwater management is vital, with risks best managed as early as possible during design. Upfront cost for waterproofing is significantly less during design and construction, compared to retrofitting waterproof systems from inside basements later with less effective and more expensive negative waterproofing systems.

eCOAST Engineering in Sunshine Coast, Queensland is an excellent choice for professional basement design and apartment construction services. Contact us today for more details by calling 0431 654 005 or submitting an enquiry online.

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