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Structural Engineering CPEng Level

Body of Knowledge and Skills
1 Introduction
This document defines the core knowledge and skills that a Chartered Professional
Engineer (Structural) is expected to have in order to competently investigate,
design and supervise the construction of structural works in New Zealand. This
Body of Knowledge and Skills (BOKS) is intended to complement and inform the
Chartered Professional Engineer assessment process.

The purpose of the BOKS is to:

 define the prerequisite skills and knowledge that are required of a
Chartered Professional Engineer (Structural)
 provide a framework for Continuing Professional Development (CPD) and
postgraduate training
 assist in ensuring and assuring the public of the ability of a Chartered
Professional Engineer (Structural) to undertake safety critical structural
engineering tasks competently and safely
The BOKS is not intended to be a competence assessment framework. However, it
is expected that the BOKS will inform the competence assessment process used by
the Registration Authority to assess a Chartered Professional Engineer
(Structural).

The title ‘Chartered Professional Engineer (Structural)’ is not proposed by SESOC

or the Registration Authority. It is simply used as a convenient descriptor in this
document.

2 Background
The Chartered Professional Engineers Registration Authority expects all Chartered
Professional Engineers to:
 either have a Washington Accord-accredited qualification (a four-year
Bachelor of Engineering, Honours degree) or be able to demonstrate
equivalent knowledge
 demonstrate that they can work from first principles
 demonstrate that they can solve complex engineering problems that require
the application of engineering knowledge

The Registration Authority gives these expectations in a competence standard(1),

which requires every Chartered Professional Engineer to demonstrate competence
in their Practice Area. The Practice Area in which an engineer is assessed is aligned

1 https://www.registrationauthority.org.nz/registration/competence-standard

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with one or two broad fields of engineering practice, which are published on the
Register to assist the public when looking to engage an engineer. One of those
Practice Fields is ‘Structural’.

While an engineer’s Practice Area might be quite narrowly defined, engineers

wishing to align their practice with the specialist field of structural engineering,
and be recognised as a Chartered Professional Engineer (Structural), are expected
to demonstrate a breadth of structural knowledge and skills (refer Section 3),
which they are able to apply in a range of situations (refer Section 4).

The CPEng competence standard comprises four groups of elements.

1. Engineering knowledge
2. Professional acumen
3. Engineering management
4. Technical competence

Elements 1 and 4 can be considered the knowledge and skills that distinguish a
Chartered Professional Engineer (Structural) from those of other Chartered
Professional Engineers.

Complex engineering activities means engineering activities or projects that

have some or all of the following characteristics:
 involve the use of diverse resources (resources includes people, money,
equipment, materials, and technologies)
 require resolution of significant problems arising from interactions
between wide-ranging or conflicting technical, engineering, and other
issues
 have significant consequences in a range of contexts
 involve the use of new materials, techniques, or processes or the use of
existing materials, techniques, or processes in innovative ways

Complex engineering problems means engineering problems that have some or

all of the following characteristics:
 involve wide-ranging or conflicting technical, engineering, and other issues
 have no obvious solution and require originality in analysis
 involve infrequently encountered issues
 are outside problems encompassed by standards and codes of practice for
professional engineering
 involve diverse groups of stakeholders with widely varying needs
 have significant consequences in a range of contexts
 cannot be resolved without in-depth engineering knowledge

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3. Knowledge and Skills

In looking to establish a finite set of knowledge and skills for a Chartered
Professional Engineer (Structural), SESOC has defined the knowledge and skills
required in order to deliver engineering outcomes for the different phases of a
typical structural engineering project. Some knowledge and skills are specific to
civil structures or building structures but most are required by all Chartered
Professional Engineer (Structural), and all are underpinned by knowledge of
health and safety. A broad mapping back to the two ‘technical’ elements of the
CPEng competence standard is then provided.

The knowledge and skills of a Chartered Professional Engineer (Structural) are

applied to the typical phases for investigation, design and construction of a project,
namely:
 project brief and initial investigation
 concept and preliminary design - options and alternatives identification and
evaluation
 developed and detailed design, and construction documentation
 supervising the construction of projects
 structural performance assessment
 awareness and use of key technical documentation, guidance and standards
 understanding of building and health and safety regulations

Competency is to be demonstrated in the engineering of structural systems with

the following elements:
 beams
 columns
 slabs and floors
 moment-resisting and portal frames
 walls
 trusses
 braced frames
 diaphragms
 retaining walls and/or culverts
 proprietary systems, e.g. metal deck floor slabs

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KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS

Element of
A Professional Engineer (Structural) should be able CPEng
Project phase
to: competence
standard
a) Project brief i. Understand and describe the need for the project 4
and initial ii. Identify project objectives and constraints, and
investigation potential significant structural issues
iii. Undertake an initial site survey and demonstrate
a good understanding site conditions and how
these need to be considered in the design process
iv. Perform technical literature searches
v. Gather relevant information to undertake the
project including developing briefs for obtaining
missing information
vi. Understand design processes, coordination and
information required at each design phase
vii. Understand peer review and building consent
procedures and the level of information required
for a building consent
viii. Understand the general principles and
terminology associated with structural
engineering and the following as they relate to
building structures or civil structures:
a. architecture,
b. sustainability,
c. environmental protection,
d. safety in design,
e. value engineering,
f. construction methods,
g. fire engineering,
h. geotechnical engineering,
i. hydraulics
j. road design, and
k. mechanical and electrical engineering
ix. Understand how each of these influence the
design of a structure and are accommodated or
mitigated by its structural systems, elements and
components
b) Concept and i. Identify the physical conditions the Building Code 1, 4
preliminary requires the proposed structure to be designed
design - options for
and alternatives ii. Identify physical conditions that are outside the
identification scope of loading standards in the Building Code
and evaluation and develop scopes of work for gaining design
load information from external consultants
iii. Identify and evaluate potential solutions

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considering their relative feasibility, benefits,

limitations and environmental impacts
iv. Identify the appropriateness of proposed
materials for structures including durability
performance
v. Calculate design actions and combinations of
actions using standards that meet the
requirements of Clause B1 of the Building Code
vi. Identify load paths through structural systems
vii. Use indeterminate analysis methods to
redistribute internal design actions
viii. Use hand methods to estimate design actions for
structural elements of braced and sway systems
ix. Perform and interpret the results of computer
analyses and use hand calculations to check
computer results
x. Identify the limitations of structural analysis
methods
xi. Understand soil-structure interaction,
geotechnical design objectives and reports, and
select foundation system in consultation with a
geotechnical engineer
xii. Evaluate and recommend structural systems for
both gravity and lateral design actions
xiii. Identify collapse mechanisms and check global
stability for each of the design action
combinations, including structural stability under
fire
xiv. Select components or the dimensions of
structural elements required to resist the design
actions for each element
xv. Identify potential effects of the structure on the
surrounding environment and assess potential
mitigation measures
xvi. Collaborate with other project stakeholders to
integrate structural systems and elements into
the design of the whole construction
xvii. Communicate design issues and options with
clients and other stakeholders
xviii. Document the development of a design and write
a design features report that communicates the
structural systems used in the structure and
identifies project risk
c) Developed i. Understand the manufacture, principal 1, 4
and detailed engineering properties, durability, cost,
design and availability and potential applications of the
construction three key construction materials: steel, concrete
documentation and timber

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ii. Prepare engineering and quality specifications of

materials including concrete and steel
iii. Commission laboratory tests on the strength and
other engineering properties of materials and
evaluate test reports.
iv. Understand quality control processes,
certification and traceability of supply
v. Accommodate or mitigate the effects of any
shrinkage, creep, thermal effects, corrosion or
deterioration
vi. Calculate design actions for structural elements
within a structural system, including foundations
vii. Check the local stability of the element
components
viii. Identify the response of the structure and
associated failure modes and use capacity design
to suppress undesirable failure modes
ix. Determine the ductile capacity and demand for
structural elements and relate this to the ductile
capacity and demand of the whole structural
system
x. Design elements to avoid undesirable or
unacceptable deflection or vibration
xi. Design connections for two or more types of
materials
xii. Detail penetrations and significant changes to the
cross-section within a component
xiii. Detail connections to accommodate seismic
movement
xiv. Calculate seismic design accelerations for non-
structural building elements and equipment, and
design support systems for these elements and
equipment
xv. Provide design brief for compatibility of non-
structural elements with the structural system
xvi. Prepare or supervise the preparation of
structural drawings
xvii. Prepare material and workmanship
specifications for the structural systems
xviii. Provide technical and quality control
specifications of materials
xix. Demonstrate an understanding of safety in
design including health and safety during
construction, operation, maintenance, and
demolition of the structure
d) Construction i. Sequence construction, preventing overload and 4
monitoring of ensuring stability throughout construction
projects ii. Understand different construction monitoring
levels

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iii. Understand Building Code compliance processes

and documentation
iv. Monitor and review construction processes to
manage errors, delays and cost overruns.
v. Understand construction contracts in accordance
with relevant standards
vi. Monitor and review construction for compliance
with drawings and specifications
vii. Design and issue any variations to the design as
required
viii. Keep records of all observations, contract
variations and site instructions
ix. Understand temporary support systems such as
propping for concrete floor systems
x. Be familiar with the construction plant and
machinery
xi. Be familiar with health and safety requirements
and processes
xii. Know when to commission laboratory tests on
the strength and other engineering properties of
materials, and evaluate test reports
xiii. Understand and implement quality control
processes, certification and traceability of supply
xiv. Accommodate or mitigate where required the
effects of shrinkage, creep, thermal effects,
corrosion or deterioration
xv. Prepare maintenance schedules for the life of the
structure
e) Structural i. Identify and understand critical structural 1, 4
performance weaknesses and structural mechanisms from
assessment desktop studies and site investigations.
ii. Demonstrate an understanding of the principles
and process for assessment of existing structures,
particularly for seismic actions.
iii. Design retrofit systems and understand
constructability limitations in existing buildings
f) Awareness Demonstrate general knowledge of the Building Act, the 1
and use of key New Zealand Building Code, its core cited design actions
technical and materials standards and other important guidelines
documentation, and standards such as:
guidance and i. AS/NZS1170 Structural Design Actions
standards ii. NZS3101 Concrete Structures
iii. NZS3404 Steel Structures
iv. NZS3603 Timber Structures
v. NZS3604 Timber Framed Buildings
vi. NZS4230 Masonry Structures
vii. MBIE guidance documents and practice
advisories

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viii. Engineering New Zealand Practice Notes and

Guidelines
ix. NZS3910 Conditions of contract for building and
civil engineering construction
x. NZSEE “Red Book” The Seismic Assessment of
Existing Buildings
xi. Construction Industry Council – Design
Documentation Guidelines
xii. Design Features Report templates
xiii. SESOC Interim Design Guidance
xiv. SESOC Design Guides
xv. HERA & SCNZ Design Guidance
Cement & Concrete Association Design Guidance
(including Red Book Examples and Concrete
Floor and Pavement Design)
xvi. NZTA Bridge Manual
g) Demonstrate a good understanding of: 1
Understanding i. Building Act, regulations and Building Code
of building and ii. Demonstrate a good understanding of the Health
health and and Safety at Work Act (2015)
safety iii. Demonstrate a good understanding of the
regulations Chartered Professional Engineers of New Zealand
Act (2002)

4. Examples of complex structural engineering problems and activities

The CPEng competence standard requires an engineer to demonstrate an ability to
analyse and develop solutions to complex engineering problems. The engineer
uses his/her knowledge and skills to do these tasks. SESOC has identified a
number of complex structural engineering problems and activities for a Chartered
Professional Engineer (Structural).

Engineers seeking specialist recognition as a Chartered Professional Engineer

(Structural) need to demonstrate that they have a good working knowledge of
designing in concrete, steel and timber, and their combinations, and be able to
demonstrate knowledge of the following:
 principles of capacity design
 displacement compatibility
 Strut and Tie Method
 limitations of elastic analysis
 basis of equivalent static and response spectrum methods of analysis

In addition the candidate is to provide evidence that they are capable of carrying
out all of the following tasks, or similar types of tasks with similar or greater levels
of complexity:

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A. preparing preliminary designs for the following types of structure, using

concrete, masonry, steel or timber structural elements:
a. an irregular two-storey building with bracing elements, beams,
lintels and supports that require specific design
b. a pedestrian bridge over a two lane road
c. a three metre high retaining wall
d. a light industrial building
B. preparing detailed designs for at least two of the types of structure listed in
A
C. preparing or supervising the preparation of structural drawings for at least
two of the types of structure listed in A
D. carrying out construction monitoring of any of the types of structure listed
in A
E. carrying out a structural assessment of a two-storey building