Structural | Engineering | Excellence
Our goal is to build trusted and enduring relationships by delivering economical structural designs underpinned by exceptional quality and safety
ABOUT
Petch Consulting Engineers provide personable and responsive structural engineering services from concept design through to detailed design and construction monitoring.
Our approach involves seamless collaboration with clients, architects, and design consultants to understand project requirements to deliver economical structural designs.
Our services extend to Auckland, Waikato and the wider Coromandel area.
Our Expertise
People
James Petch, has broad engineering experience with strong technical acumen in the analysis, design, coordination, management, and execution of a variety of projects with build values circa $60m including mid-rise buildings up to 20-stories, industrial warehouses >10,000m2, and high-end architectural homes across Auckland and Sydney.
Contact Us
If you would like to learn more about our services or would like to make an enquiry, fill out the enquiry form and we will be in touch.
FAQ
What do structural engineers do?
Consulting structural engineers design the structural framework of a building, ensuring it is safe and stable to withstand lateral forces such as wind and earthquakes.
Can you help with earthquake strengthening or seismic assessments?
Yes, our consulting services include Initial Seismic Assessments (ISA) for both council and insurance requirements. For buildings with low earthquake ratings, we also provide Detailed Seismic Assessments (DSA) and strengthening solutions to ensure existing buildings comply with the latest New Zealand standards.
Do I need a structural engineer for my new timber framed house or extension?
Residential houses that fall within the scope of New Zealand Standard NZS3604: Timber-framed buildings can be designed by a licensed Architect or draftsman without the involvement of a Structural Engineer.
I am building a retaining wall. Do I require a building consent?
Retaining walls under 1.5m high with no surcharge (for example, the load from a backslope or vehicles on the road) do not require a building consent. Walls exceeding these limits, a building consent is required, and the design must be completed by a Chartered Structural Engineer.
What does an NBS earthquake rating mean?
NBS stands for New Building Standard. It’s a measure of how well a building would perform in an earthquake compared to a brand-new building built to today’s standards. For example, if your building is rated at 50% NBS, it’s considered to meet half the strength of a new building. In New Zealand, anything under 34% NBS is flagged as earthquake-prone and needing strengthening.
My commercial building is rated below 67% NBS – what are my options for strengthening it?
To accurately determine a buildings earthquake performance, a quantitative Detailed Seismic Assessment (DSA) is required. This process identifies potential structural weaknesses and provides the information needed to develop strengthening options.