PSE provides a full range of construction phase observation services for large, custom single-family residences, multi-family apartment/condominium complexes, low-rise commercial facilities, warehouses, and ancillary structures (retaining walls, screen walls, and swimming pools) in order to verify compliance of field work with design plans and specifications.  PSE’s construction phase observation services include, but are not limited to, observations of foundations prior to and during concrete placement, concrete sampling/testing, post-tensioned strand stress verification, original construction elevation surveying, superstructure framing, and final grading.  PSE also works closely with geotechnical engineering firms and can assist with coordination of lot preparation and/or soil remediation activities such as stratum excavation verification, controlled fill placement (compaction/moisture-density), and post-injection soil sampling/testing.  Further, PSE provides third-party construction phase observation services for quality-assurance/quality-control (QA/QC) of structures designed by others.  PSE’s staff includes engineering technicians who collectively hold the following certifications: Residential Building Inspector (International Code Council, ICC), Concrete Field Testing Technician – Grade 1 (American Concrete Institute, ACI), Level 1 Unbonded PT – Field Installation and Level 2 Unbonded PT – Inspector (Post-Tensioning Institute, PTI), Certified Concrete Construction Special Inspector (American Concrete Institute, ACI).

It is a known fact that even properly designed and constructed foundations built on expansive soil conditions are still at risk for undesirable performance due to potential unforeseen (anomalous) subsurface conditions that are not typically encountered in standard geotechnical soil borings.  As a result, PSE provides a unique pre-construction site assessment service, which exceeds the standard of care for typical site development, combining site observations, geographical information systems (GIS) technology, civil grading plans, site-specific geotechnical information, and construction materials testing (CMT) documentation to identify potential site anomalies that may pose additional risk for adverse soil-structure interactions.  PSE utilizes our structural design experience, in conjunction with our forensic investigation experience, to provide recommendations for remediation/mitigation of unique lot conditions (i.e. mature trees, retaining walls, etc.) and existing site anomalies.  PSE also coordinates and/or reviews services performed by civil, geotechnical, and CMT professionals to ensure that no discrepancies are apparent in data provided by each party for a specific site.  PSE’s S3A® services have been beneficial in aiding owners/builders with lot selection and/or identifying additional site-specific remediation/design considerations for budgetary purposes and risk mitigation.

PSE is available to provide desk reviews, investigations, and/or expert witness testimony for use in mediation, arbitration, and litigation concerning soil-structure interactions, design/performance of structural systems, building envelope evaluations, remedial solutions, and determination of cause, origin, and extent of peril damage.  PSE’s unique position as a structural engineering design firm and a forensic investigation firm lends significant credibility to its testimony, since PSE’s experience as structural engineering design firm provide beneficial insight into its forensic investigations of existing structures.

PSE provides a full range of engineering consultation services to developers, architects, builders, and owners for all project phases – from preliminary studies to post-construction evaluations – for most aspects of residential and low-rise commercial construction.  PSE understands that a successful project amalgamates design and construction requirements.  By soliciting the input of an experienced engineering professional during the earliest stages of the planning process, the client can be conscious of engineering solutions affecting cost, construction, and performance to satisfy the project design needs while avoiding costly surprises and changes.  PSE approaches every consulting project by being highly responsive to client needs and dedicated to providing safe and durable engineered solutions needed to make the project a success while considering the most efficient use of the client’s invested money.  PSE’s consulting expertise includes permitting requirements, site evaluations, review of geotechnical information, review of architectural plans, selection of appropriate foundation systems, contractor education/references, peer review of designs by other firms for quality assurance/quality control (QA/QC), and value engineering of designs by other firms.