Party Wall Survey - structural engineer best for this?

Neighbour's having a loft built and RSJs put into the party wall.

I've been issued with a notice, getting a PW award seems sensible.

I was wondering whether the purpose of a survey prior to the award should/could involve an assessment of whether the proposed design will put the existing party wall at risk?

I ask because I can't work out whether I should get an engineer to do the survey or someone without engineer qualifications (who would be cheaper). I've been told I should get an engineer to do it so they can work out whether its a safe design.

Thanks to anyone who responds.

As I understand it....

You want to get a chartered surveyor that is listed on this site https://fpws.org.uk/

The cost is irrelevant as the owner commissioning the building works picks up all the cost (directly). The owner/builder needs to get the details past building control, and so this is where the loading aspects will be reviewed.

Thanks Geoff.

You need to appoint someone experienced in party wall matters as they will become the Party Wall surveyor. You can't just appoint an engineer and get him to do a survey, and expect to recover costs.

It's up to the Party Wall surveyor(s) to decide whether a survey is necessary or not.

GeoffJ said:

The cost is irrelevant as the owner commissioning the building works picks up all the cost (directly

Click to expand...

The cost is totaly relevant as only those costs incurred directly pursuant to the Act, and agreed by the surveyors or joint surveyor are payable by the building owner.

doorman2012 said:

could involve an assessment of whether the proposed design will put the existing party wall at risk?

Click to expand...

Oh and BTW, no it won't.

Sometimes I read it mentioned that a surveyor gets a 'checking engineer' involved - what's that about if its not about reviewing whether the existing structure could cope with the proposed design?

^woody^ said:

You need to appoint someone experienced in party wall matters as they will become the Party Wall surveyor. You can't just appoint an engineer and get him to do a survey, and expect to recover costs.

It's up to the Party Wall surveyor(s) to decide whether a survey is necessary or not.

Click to expand...

Up to the surveyor to decide whether a survey is necessary?

Don't surveyors just do surveys, i.e. they act on instruction but don't determine whether one should be done.

Unless you mean an engineer's survey, then I can see what you mean, but how does a surveyor without an engineer's experience necessarily know that an engineer is needed to look further at an issue?

+ if the guy doing the survey is an engineer anyway, wouldn't they ordinarily have a look at the structural issues as a matter of course?

If this is the PW Act, then the person appointed becomes a "PW Surveyor" and has specific duties and powers under the Act.

"PW Surveyor" is a title, and if you like you can get Bob the corner shop owner to be your PW Surveyor, and the neighbour can appoint Mr Surveyor from Surveyor and Co. But once in place the PW Surveyor(s) (and not you or anyone else) will decide what is required under the Act.

BTW a survey of a wall is still a survey. Obviously not a house survey checking for damp and leaking roofs, but a wall survey checking for other things. Some surveyors do have engineering qualifications.

doorman2012 said:

Sometimes I read it mentioned that a surveyor gets a 'checking engineer' involved - what's that about if its not about reviewing whether the existing structure could cope with the proposed design?

Click to expand...

You would only appoint an engineer to check the suitability of the existing structure and the proposed design calculations for a very complex project such as a large multi level basement conversion, not a couple of beams for a loft conversion.

Provided the structural calculations for the beams have been prepared by a qualified engineer and the work is going to be checked by Building Control there shouldn't be a problem. For instance I have got one at the moment where the party wall in the loft is only 4 inches thick, that has been picked up at design stage and the design allows for new supports on the side of the loft conversion.

If a party wall surveyor is appointed their main concern will be things like the ends of the beams do not penetrate more than half way into the party wall, if a dormer cheek is built off the party wall how it is supported and made weatherproof and any damage on the other side of the party wall is made good etc.

Who has served the party wall notice? Is it the neighbour or have they already appointed their own party wall surveyor? Have they got a competent architectural designer who has drawn their plans or is it a sketch on the back of a fag packet? Have the structural calculations been prepared by a local qualified engineer? For a simple loft conversion that has been properly designed you would probably be fine sharing a local experienced agreed party wall surveyor.