All Architectural Drafting Service, Inc. professional engineer calculations are backed by errors and omissions insurance.  They are prepared or approved by a professional engineer licensed by governing state authorities.

When the specifications indicate that professional engineering is required a few questions need to be asked...

1. Is a formal calculation package required or will a letter of compliance be acceptable?
2. Will the shop drawings require a professional engineers stamp?
   1. Will every sheet require a stamp?
   2. Can just the cover sheet be stamped?
3. Does the professional engineer have to be licensed in the state that the project is located in?

Code requirements are the next item to consider when providing professional engineering services.

Building code requirements may be found in the specifications, in the architectural drawings general notes, or in the structural drawings.  If any code requirements are inconsistent with other parts of the construction or design documents, then clarification or direction must be provided by the architect or structural engineer of record.

 The following are items required when developing design criteria.

1. Will the project need to meet a state, nationa, or IBC code?
2. Are there any local codes that take precedence over other codes?
3. Sometimes the project's structural engineer will provide a building envelope diagram indicating wind load requirements at different parts of the building.  Any drawings indicating wind load requirements will be required when preparing shop drawings or professional engineering calculations.

Preliminary engineering will be performed at the beginning of the shop drawing process to evaluate the chosen systems for structural integrity, splice locations (if required), and mullion reinforcing requirements.

Building condition considerations

During the preparation of the shop drawings, building conditions reflected in the details will be examined for fastener and anchor connections.  Masonry unit or concrete edge distances will be reviewed to prevent "bust out".  Wood blocking thicknesses and edge distances will be reviewed to prevent wood splitting due to fasteners close to an edge.

Material descriptions are a necessary part of the calculation process.  Any material that will receive a fastener or weld such as metal studs, concrete, wood, and structural or miscellaneous steel needs to be identified and described with detailed additional information.  The gauge of material for metal studs will need to be listed in the details.  The strength of concrete is required in the details as well. Wood species needs to be identified.  Concrete blocks that are cement filled or solid needs to be noted as such.  If the draftsman can not determine necessary building condition elements from the architectural or structural drawings then they must be provided by the architect, general contractor, or glazing contractor.  Any questions or concerns that are boxed or clouded will require a response or answer.  Any items left unaddressed will result in an incomplete set of calculations or extend the time it takes to complete the calculations.

Submittals, recommendations, and field measurements

When professional engineer calculations are required the shop drawings will be prepared for a first submittal.  Ordering materials while waiting for the review and comment drawings to be returned from the architect is not recommended.  The architect or structural engineer can change many variables during review and comment that may have an affect on mullion anchoring, mullion spacing, mullion length, and mullion reinforcing.

If possible, field measuring should take place and field measurements should be forwarded along with the reviewed and commented drawings.  When the drawings return from the review and comment process they will be revised and sent to engineering where the calculations will be prepared. It is still not advisable to order materials, because the professional engineer will be responsible for the final design and may need to be conservative with areas of meaningful concern.