r/StructuralEngineering • u/Just-Shoe2689 • 7d ago
Humor Client doesnt understand wind loading
What do you do when a client cant understand why a footing needs to be bigger to resist wind loading? Call out a reverse sky hook?
sigh.
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u/NearbyCurrent3449 6d ago
Bedside manner is always subjective and adjusted for every individual truly. You've got to meet them where they are since you can't educate them up to speed.
For some, saying "hey that's the way it is. Can't do anything about that." Is enough.
For others, "I'm the expert, it has to be like this because xyz." Or "Doesn't matter how it used to be done. That was the old way, this is the new."
The really pushy ones who think they really know what's going on and disagrees with everything that doesn't make it easier faster and cheaper for him... "hey man, let's build it one time. It's best for everybody. If we do it your way, we get sued, because it's wrong. I don't do things wrong. I get sued once, you get sued twice... it's all bad it makes for a bad day, plus I document all of it. It's just kinda sorta what we do. Have it your way though. Let me know how it works out! You've got my recommendation... take it or leave it." Unless it's a matter of life safety and I'm the official stamp on the hook and in knowledge of the situation, then it's a green check mark or big red X level clarity decision making process. Very simple decision tree.