The Structural Plan of Work 2020: Overview and Guidance IStructE

The Structural Plan of Work 2020: Overview and Guidance published by IStructE info and associated documents link

The Structural Plan of Work 2020: Overview and Guidance published by The Institution of Structural Engineers (IStructE) is a framework on structural engineering roles and deliverables. Helping to clearly define the roles of structural engineers on building projects, while delivering efficiencies and clarity for clients, it is co-ordinated with the RIBA Plan of Work 2020. The framework provides clarity over structural engineering roles and deliverables, improving collaboration with other design and construction disciplines. Adopting a properly managed process for developing projects secures successful project outcomes.

Divided into eight primary Stages it represents the full lifecycle of a building project. These stages progress from Strategic Definition (Stage 0), which establishes the need for a project, through the design and delivery phases, and conclude with the In Use stage (Stage 7), where the project is completed and operational. While the overall stage structure mirrors the RIBA Plan of Work 2020, the tasks, deliverables, and requirements within each stage have been specifically developed to reflect the needs of structural design and the typical scope of services provided by the Structural Engineer.

In addition, a dedicated sub-stage (Stage 4.5) is included within the Structural Plan of Work to clearly distinguish the production of construction information, such as specialist subcontractor design, from both the design development activities undertaken during Stage 4 and the manufacturing and construction processes that occur during Stage 5.

The project stages are summarised by IStructE as being:

• Stage 0: Strategic Definition. This stage compromises the strategic decision making to determine that a project is the desired way of achieving the client’s aims.
• Stage 1: Preparation and Brief. This stage is where the client team develops and records the detailed requirements for the project brief including the scope definition and agreed areas of responsibility of the Structural Engineer.
• Stage 2: Concept Design. This is the start of the design process and the development of the design to align with the Initial Project Brief.
• Stage 3: Spatial Coordination. This stage represents the development of the structural design to integrate with the other design disciplines so as to align into a single spatially co-ordinated solution aligned with the Project Brief.
• Stage 4: Technical Design. This stage is the final design stage whereby all the design information is finally coordinated and completed to enable the manufacture and construction of the project to be progressed, including the relevant regulatory compliance requirements.
• Sub-stage 4.5: Production Design. This sub-stage prepares the engineering information, including specialist sub-contractors’ technical information, to enable the manufacture, assembly and construction works to proceed, including the relevant regulatory compliance requirements.
• Stage 5: Manufacturing and Construction. This stage starts with the Contractor taking possession of the site, or the instruction to proceed with production in the case of off-site manufacture, and concludes with the achievement of Practical Completion (or alternative contractual term), including the relevant regulatory compliance requirements.
• Stage 6: Handover. This stage occurs from Practical Completion until the end of the defects period, including the relevant regulatory compliance requirements.
• Stage 7: Use. This stage starts concurrently with Stage 6 but continues throughout the operation and maintenance of the project over its lifetime.

Across the work stages, eight bars are provided to describe the various activities to be undertaken at each stage as described below:

• Overview. This bar provides an overview of each stage of the Structural Plan of Work.
• Contingency Assessment. This bar provides an indication of the level of contingency within the structural design which is likely at each of the design stages. It is provided to both highlight the increasing level of definition as the design develops, but also to provide an indication of the level of uncertainty and risk which should be allowed for within the Cost Plan.
• Core Tasks. This bar is split into 5 sections (Design, Interface, Construction, Management and Sustainability) to provide a description of the core tasks to be undertaken at each of the work stages.
• Statutory Requirements. This bar highlights the general statutory requirements within the UK to be considered at each of the project stages. For other jurisdictions, including specific requirements for UK countries, the relevant statutory requirements should be substituted.
• Stage Outputs. This bar provides a summary of the outputs to be provided at each of the stages.
• Information Exchanges. This bar highlights the information exchanges and BIM related tasks across the work stages.
• Collaboration Requirements. This bar summarises the collaboration requirements to facilitate the integration of the structural design with the other design disciplines.
• Design Assurance. This bar provides a summary of the typical activities and reviews to be undertaken to provide assurance that the structural design is adequate.

Throughout the Guidance document, Information Boxes are provided. These are to provide some additional background and supporting information but are not part of the Structural Plan of Work itself.

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