Parkin Engineering, Inc.
14014 NE Salmon Creek Ave.
Vancouver, WA 98686
Phone: 360-694-8378
FAX: 360-694-3376
Email:
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Welcome to Parkin Engineering We are structural engineers. We determine the layout and sizing of the framing which supports buildings, bridges, and other structures. We work with owners, developers, architects, designers, and contractors. For all structures it is advisable to have a structural engineer involved in the design. Structural engineering is usually mandated by the permitting agency for structures other than residential. Some residences, by virtue of irregular plans, size, extensive glazing, or unusual details will need engineering. We perform calculations based on industry standard requirements for self-weight, live (human), snow, wind, and seismic loads. We also proportion retaining wall systems for soil load recommendations provided by geotechnical engineers. Industry standard minimum loadings and material strengths are statistically based to keep risks to owners and the public at acceptable levels relative to the cost of construction. They are documented in the IBC Code for buildings, and the AASHTO Specifications for bridges. Risks can usually be reduced further but with increased construction cost if clients wish to exceed code standards. |
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Structural Engineering in Residential Construction |
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Some houses are simple boxes; others can be very complex with varying wall heights, angled walls, great rooms, tall window walls, stepped walls, etc. Complexity creates a need for structural engineering.
The building codes allow building officials to issue permits without engineering if structures meet certain prescriptive rules. In general, a house has to be relatively small and regular for this to happen. Increasingly, building officials are requesting structural engineering for residences because few houses are simple any more.
Also, structures that are "unconventional" have to be engineered. These include
- Concrete masonry
- ICF (concrete walls cast between foam forms)
- AAC (lightweight autoclaved concrete)
- Steel (load-bearing steel studs, steel moment frames)
- Retaining walls.
Experienced designers of high-end houses work with structural engineers throughout the design process. Owners who buy stock plans and many of those who have their plans drawn by architects or designers first take the plans into the building permit department. The plans examiner then determines if engineering is required. We recommend, of course, that to protect yourself and your investment you should always have your house structurally engineered. If you bring your plans to us for engineering, we like to see one full set of drawings, and a truss layout plan from the truss supplier. |
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We Moved on January 23, 2006 |
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As you may know, Parkin Engineering has become part of the Smith-Root family of companies. Smith-Root specializes in fisheries products, including electrofishing equipment, boats and electronic fish barriers. They have been a client of John Parkin for over 15 years. Because of the increasing interest in fish control, their business has been growing, and they needed to expand their engineering capabilities. Parkin Engineering, Inc., with John Parkin at the helm, is continuing to serve its engineering clients with structural design and consulting services from its new office location.  We offer full-service engineering for commercial, residential, industrial and institutional buildings, and also bridges, culverts, and post-tensioning applications. We have three cast-in-place segmental concrete form traveler projects running: in Galveston, TX, Eel River, CA, and Folsom, CA. We aim to assist Smith-Root further with their physical and behavioral fish control structures.
You will find our new location easy to get to, and there is (at last) plenty of parking (see map). We hope you will visit us. Our offices are located at: 14014 NE Salmon Creek Ave.
Vancouver, WA 98686
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