Structural Engineering

Footings & Foundations

A safe structure begins with a strong foundation. Our engineering approach for footings and foundations accounts for reinforcement detailing, concrete strength specifications, and drainage provisions to ensure long-term durability. By properly sizing footings and considering soil bearing capacity, hydrostatic pressures, and frost depth, we design foundations that exceed code requirements and provide reliable support for any building type, whether utilizing ICF wall systems, shear walls design, steel framing systems, or timber framing design.

Steel Framing Systems

Steel structures require careful attention to joint behavior, fatigue, and buckling resistance. We design steel framing systems that not only optimize load transfer and durability but also integrate with footings and foundations for enhanced stability. Our approach ensures that we meet seismic and wind load requirements while incorporating elements like ICF wall systems and shear walls design. By adhering to CSA S16 standards, BCBC 2024, and EGBC guidelines, we guarantee compliance and deliver structural systems that perform safely throughout their entire service life, including considerations for timber framing design.

ICF Wall Systems

Insulated Concrete Form (ICF) wall systems provide both energy efficiency and superior structural capacity, making them an excellent choice for modern construction. Our experienced team specializes in designing ICF systems, reviewing site installations, and performing field inspections to ensure compliance with engineering requirements. We integrate reinforcement design, including shear walls design, concrete placement methods, and checks on footings and foundations to deliver ICF walls that are safe, efficient, and code-compliant. Additionally, we have expertise in steel framing systems and timber framing design to enhance the overall structural integrity of building projects.

Tall Walls & Buckling Resistance

Tall walls made from concrete, steel, or timber require advanced analysis to resist buckling, lateral drift, and combined axial-bending stresses. We specialize in designing complete systems, including footings and foundations, that safely manage vertical and horizontal loads. This ensures that tall wall structures, such as those utilizing ICF wall systems or shear walls design, remain stable under seismic, wind, and service conditions. Our expertise in steel framing systems and timber framing design allows us to engineer practical solutions for both residential and commercial applications.

Shear Walls Design (Lateral Resistance)

Shear walls are critical structural elements that provide in-plane lateral resistance to seismic and wind-induced forces, and are often integrated with footings and foundations for enhanced stability. Our shear walls design process incorporates a full dynamic analysis of lateral load paths, including diaphragm-to-shear wall interaction, boundary element confinement, and coupling beam design where applicable. We evaluate overturning moments, shear flow distribution, and chord force development, ensuring that both strength and stiffness criteria are satisfied in accordance with BCBC 2024, CSA A23.3, and NBCC seismic provisions. Additionally, our expertise extends to ICF wall systems, steel framing systems, and timber framing design, allowing us to engineer comprehensive solutions. By integrating capacity-based design principles and verifying compliance with interstorey drift limitations, we create shear wall systems that prevent brittle failure modes and ensure ductile performance under ultimate limit state conditions.

Trusted Structural Engineering Across BC

At BC Foundations, we apply rigorous engineering principles to every project, ensuring the proper consideration of vertical, lateral, cyclic, and environmental loads. Our expertise spans from footings and foundations to advanced timber framing design, with our designs meeting and exceeding all governing codes and standards. We also specialize in shear walls design and ICF wall systems, ensuring robust structural integrity. 

We proudly serve clients in Vancouver, Surrey, Burnaby, Richmond, Abbotsford, Kelowna, Vernon, Penticton, Kamloops, Merritt, Salmon Arm, Victoria, Nanaimo, and Prince George, as well as surrounding communities across the province. Wherever your project is located in BC, our team is ready to provide professional design, compliance, and field review services, including the implementation of steel framing systems, that you can trust.