OUR SERVICES
STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING
The Bolen Engineering team has extensive experience in the construction industry, and this impacts our design process as structural engineers. We not only design buildings, but we also understand the intimate details of the construction process allowing us to design efficiently, utilizing sustainable materials where possible and delivering a final product which is aesthetically pleasing and structurally stable while being economically and sustainability conscious.
In short, we design buildings that will stand the test of time without sacrificing the resources of the present.
We provide Structural Engineering for a wide variety of projects and materials, including the following:
-
Residential and Multi-Family Buildings
-
High End Residential Home Design
-
Commercial Buildings
-
Industrial Buildings
-
Low and Mid-Rise Buildings
-
Pre-engineered Buildings
-
Helical Pile Supported Structures
-
Heavy Timber Design
-
Mass Timber Design
-
Reinforced Concrete Design
-
Structural Steel Design
-
Seismic Restraint Review
BC BUILDING CODE - BRACED WALL DESIGN
Ensuring Stability and Safety in Your BC Home - Efficiently and Affordably
British Columbia's unique environment requires careful consideration of both seismic and wind loads when designing a building. As of March 10, 2025, Part 9 of the BC Building Code mandates specific requirements for braced wall bands in all new residential buildings to ensure their structural integrity. With specialized expertise in Part 9 braced wall band design, Bolen Engineering delivers efficient and cost-effective solutions that prioritize safety and streamline the building process.
What are Braced Wall Bands?
Braced wall bands are continuous vertical and horizontal bands within a building where braced wall panels are installed. These panels are sections of walls specifically designed to resist lateral forces caused by earthquakes and wind. They are typically constructed with wood-frame walls and sheathed with structural panels like plywood, oriented strand board (OSB), or drywall.
Key Considerations for Part 9 Braced Wall Band Design:
-
Location and Spacing: Braced wall bands must be strategically located throughout the building to provide adequate resistance to both seismic and wind forces. The spacing and configuration will depend on the specific loads and building geometry.
-
Panel Design and Placement: Braced wall panels within the bands must meet minimum length and height requirements and be properly positioned to ensure effective force transfer and stability. They must be continuous and properly interconnected at corners and intersections to maintain the building's structural integrity.
-
Construction and Materials: The code specifies requirements for the construction and materials used in braced wall panels, including the type and thickness of sheathing, nailing patterns, and connection details to withstand combined loads.
Why Choose Bolen Engineering for your Braced Wall Band Design?
-
Minimized Permitting Review Time: As professional structural engineers, we seal all of our braced wall panel design drawings, indicating conformance with Part 9 requirements. This minimizes permitting review time for your local building official, getting construction underway more quickly.
-
Efficiency and Speed: Our streamlined processes and efficient workflows ensure quick delivery of design solutions. We work closely with local building officials and possess in-depth knowledge of local building codes to ensure designs comply with all regulations and facilitate a smooth permitting process, getting drawings in your hands within days, not months, and keeping your project on schedule.
-
Cost-Effective Designs: We optimize designs to minimize material usage and construction complexity, resulting in lower overall project costs. Specifically, we utilize Part 9 construction requirements, where possible, instead of Part 4, allowing for reduced material usage and lighter, less expensive construction.
STRUCTURAL CONDITION ASSESSMENTS & FORENSIC ENGINEERING
Bolen Engineering has completed hundreds of structural condition assessments and completed forensic engineering on dozens of projects for multiple clients including insurance adjusters, municipalities, and private owners.
The first step in any renovation project is to know the current capacity of the building and know the potential options available. This is where Bolen Engineering comes in. An initial structural assessment of a property provides valuable insight into a proposed construction project addressing design and budgeting concerns.
Forensic engineering is the structural review of damage after an event. At Bolen Engineering we have reviewed numerous different types of damage events including wind, fire, flood, soil subsidence, seismic, vehicle impact, and explosion. We work closely with stakeholders, including insurance adjusters, restoration contractors, and owners to ensure the causation, damage extents, repair options, and safety concerns are determined and addressed as quickly as possible.
STRUCTURAL RESTORATION & HERITAGE CONSERVATION
We understand that existing heritage buildings are a window to the past and mean so much more than the materials they are constructed from. As well, we know that maintaining, conserving, and restoring these buildings is an important undertaking to preserve history and allow future generations the ability to see a part of the past.
Building conservation is a challenging and exciting endeavour, no matter the building size or complexity. Changes in building codes and climatic shifts impact the restoration process and can impose significant structural upgrade requirements upon existing buildings. At Bolen Engineering, we understand these challenges and work with our clients to realize the potential speed bumps in the projects and direct our clients away from problematic areas. With our expertise and guidance, we ensure that our clients restoration projects are completed as smoothly as possible.
FORESTRY BRIDGE DESIGN & REVIEW
The forest industry in British Columbia is an integral part of our economy. The bridges which connect Forest Service Roads are fraught with environmental challenges and design obstacles. Bolen Engineering staff have been designing, analyzing, and reviewing forestry bridges for over 25 years. We have the experience to overcome or work around any environmental hazard we come across.
