Foundations in the City of London

This North Thames Branch issue of The Structural Engineer profiles the structural engineer today. We felt a need to show the wide range of work which structural engineers carry out and to reflect the daily activities of our profession. K.P. Osborne

The role of Incorporated Engineers within our Institution appears, on the face, to be quite varied. The job status of an Incorporated Engineer varies tremendously, from draughtsman to company director: consequently, the scope of progression and expertise is completely down to the individual. The Institution’s own definition of the key roles of an Incorporated Engineer reads as follows: Project brief. The general philosophy of the brief; the assembly of relevant information, conditions and technical literature. D.M. Goodey

The paper describes typical structural problems associated with work to party walls in the City of London. It is divided into two parts. The first covers general aspects of stability, lateral restraint, flues, fire escapes and foundations in relation to party walls; the second part gives n case history of the works to the boundaries and party walls in connection with the redevelopment of 55 Gracechurch Street during 1990-1992. The paper demonstrates the importance of carrying out a comprehensive programme of survey and exploratory works in advance in order to minimise problems during construction. A.J. Seymour