Facility Engineering Services

Building Systems & Structural Engineering

At Facility Engineering Services, we are specialists in the design many traditional and specialty building and structure types. We take a different approach to building design in that we treat the building as a system and integrate it with the process. We look at how the building works as a whole.

Key elements of the building systems design that the engineers at Facility Engineering Services review and integrate with the process design are:

Structural Systems

The building systems and structural engineer select the type of construction—The selection of the structural system depends on the function and dimensions of the building and the thermal needs of the structure. This is strongly influenced by the process needs of the facility. This is also limited by the building code and any zoning restrictions. Key elements of this overall system selection include:

•  Column and bearing wall location
•  Bracing or shear wall locations
•  Floor and roof penetrations
•  Floor-to-floor heights

Building Enclosure

As the process layout and supporting utilities are developed, adequate space must be provided for these elements. These design aspects may influence major aspects of the building systems including floor system spans and type that is selected.
Another major element in the building systems design is the exterior elements of the structure. Because most agri-industrial facilities require thermal control, design and detailing of the exterior enclosure are important aspects of the facility design. Thus the exterior building envelope must not only be able to resist wind and other exterior loads but also must be thermally efficient.

Building and Safety Codes

Facility Engineering Services is able to help with building code and occupancy requirements for specialized agri-industrial, food, and bioprocess facilities. This includes the determination of construction types, and the influence of the code with the process layout.

Process Integration

Process Equipment and Utility arrangement can have a significant effect on the overall layout of the processing facility. Large process and utility equipment and suspended utilities require adequate support. Space must be adequately allocated