Evaluation of Building Structural Strength: Insights from Licensed Civil Engineers

This study examined the factors affecting the structural strength of buildings and the challenges encountered by licensed civil engineers in evaluating structural integrity on Siargao Island, Surigao del Norte. Specifically, it investigated foundation design and soil conditions, quality of construction materials, structural design and load-bearing capacity, workmanship, and compliance with building codes and safety standards. A descriptive-comparative design was used involving forty (40) licensed civil engineers in DPWH Siargao Island. Data were gathered using a researcher-made questionnaire and analyzed using weighted mean, standard deviation, t-test, and ANOVA to determine levels of influence and group differences across profile variables.
Findings showed that all factors had a very high influence on structural strength, with soil conditions ranked highest (M = 3.81, SD = 0.48), followed by materials (M = 3.78, SD = 0.42), load-bearing capacity (M = 3.78, SD = 0.42), workmanship (M = 3.77, SD = 0.43), and building codes (M = 3.69, SD = 0.50). Key challenges included material degradation, hidden defects, and incomplete documentation. Inferential results indicated significant differences in selected variables, particularly load-bearing capacity when grouped according to sex (F = 5.153, p = .028) and years of experience (F = 4.825, p = .012), while no significant differences were observed in most other comparisons. Overall, load-bearing capacity consistently showed statistically significant variation across key professional profiles, underscoring its central role in structural safety assessment and engineering decision-making. The study underscores the need for comprehensive engineering assessment, strict adherence to standards, and improved documentation practices, leading to the development of policy guidelines aimed at enhancing structural performance and sustainability in the locality.

Structural strength, licensed civil engineers, construction materials, building codes

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