US Structural Engineering Framework
Structural engineering in the United States is governed by a hierarchy of codes: ASCE 7-22 for loads, AISC 360-22 for structural steel, ACI 318-19 for concrete, and the International Building Code (IBC) 2021 as the framework that integrates these standards and provides occupancy classification, fire protection, and building code requirements. Most US states have adopted IBC, often with state-specific amendments — the most notable being the Florida Building Code, which supplements IBC with Florida-specific hurricane wind provisions including High-Velocity Hurricane Zone (HVHZ) requirements for coastal areas.
Our US Projects
Project P-2023-072 — the Florida waterslide steel supports — is our primary US commission. This project demonstrated our ability to navigate the Florida Building Code's hurricane wind requirements, including the elevated wind speeds and HVHZ exposure provisions that make Florida structural design among the most demanding in the US. The supports were designed for combined gravity loading from water weight, rider live loads, and hurricane wind pressures — with AISC 360-22 member design and FBC/IBC load combinations applied throughout.
Florida Building Code
The Florida Building Code 2023 (FBC) applies throughout Florida and incorporates the IBC with state-specific amendments addressing Florida's hurricane risk. The FBC wind speed maps show higher design wind speeds than the base ASCE 7-22 maps in many Florida locations, reflecting updated hurricane return period data from the Florida Division of Emergency Management. The HVHZ provisions of the FBC — applied in Miami-Dade and Broward counties — require additional testing and product approval for cladding, glazing, and structural connections exposed to hurricane-force winds, in addition to the standard ASCE 7 wind design requirements.
Engaging Us for US Projects
We provide structural design, connection design, and documentation services for US projects to ASCE 7-22, AISC 360-22, ACI 318-19, and IBC 2021, with state-specific code amendments applied where required. Our deliverables are formatted for submission to the relevant US building department or third-party review engineer. Contact us with your project scope, state, and applicable code edition.