Hello,
I'm looking for advice.  I'm trying to owner-build a small home in Florida using Structall steel SIPs.  I contracted with a design group to produce all of the plans required to submit the building permit application.  I paid Structall to produce production/cut drawings since the panels will be cut in the factory. 

Apparently there was a miscommunication between Structall and the design group as to who is responsible for the structural engineering of the shell and the design group won't provide that now.  Structall says they can contract an outside engineer to finish the plans but the quote is more than I already paid the design group for a full set of plans.  I contacted several other engineers and none are willing to work on it. 

I am trying to get the design group to honor their contract of providing complete plans but that isn't going well.  Any advice before I bite the bullet and pay for the Structall recommended engineer?

Thanks!

I'm in the same boat as you..It's imperative you get some coordination between the builder (you) and a designated no sheisse experienced SIP engineer who understands how to strip architects of their knack of overbuilding..using metal SIPS for their real strengths of monocoque construction...no skeleton beams,trusses etc. In your case most engineering work will trump the architect..and may be all you need. $$$ well spent. My experience with metal SIPS is although the superior building system, it still has "silos" of capabilities. ie, excellent SIP suppliers, but the transition to residential from commercial applications spotty. Builders with experience and drive don't seem to exist, and we already have one generation of skilled people retiring. Think Fiberglass cars in the 50's. When you do find people possessing SIP skills, procedurally, they're all over the planet ...loaded with technique. Only way they would become the norm is someone like Toll Brothers building an entire community. Maybe that's happened already? Try Christian Voelkel for experienced SIP engineering at 850 439 0877. Based in Pensacola possessing a florida ticket. Structall to me is a group in transition. All the guys with any drive are retiring,on coast out and looking for leadership. A very pretty girl with dirty underpants although possessing utility.

Thanks for the input.  Christian is actually the engineer Structall got the quote from.  I was concerned after seeing "EI" (engineer intern) as his title in an email signature and it seemed this would be his first time working with Structall.  But if he has the experience it may be worth the money to not fight with the design group to produce something their engineer isn't capable of.

cybernetic, A permit ready set of plans should include the engineer signing and sealing hopefully your design group has all the correct connection details. I have at least 3 other engineers that can review - sign and seal as long as the plans are correct. If you want to PM or email me I can help

An EI is an Engineering Intern, not a fully licensed engineer. You need to find out who will actually be signing and sealing your plans. An EI can take the test to become a PE with 4 years under the supervision of a licensed engineer (3 years if he has a Masters degree). I would not entrust a structural design to that lack of experience. If someone has the experience and has not successfully completed their PE test that brings up a whole different set of concerns.

Christian works for a group that's going to stamp them. He's done plenty of SIP projects that I'll be witnessing this week on a visit to Pensacola.

I used to work as a licensed airframe and powerplant mechanic in heavy depot. I was the only one with a ticket, my status was really an inspector over 10 mechanics. BTW..this is now the new normal in aviation, except it's done in china or mexico, but I digress.

Just completed spine surgery. saw the Dr once for 5 minutes the day before, the day of and once post operative. Entire ensemble was run by physician assistants.

Point being the entire USA is out sourced, even in highly regulated scary safety issues like aviation maintenance and medicine. I just need a stamp to make the city happy. If it's outsourced mathematics, it's binary and I'm OK with it.

I'll be meeting the 'man", if I'm not impressed, or otherwise, I'll report back to you.

Christian works for a group that's going to stamp them. He's done plenty of SIP projects that I'll be witnessing this week on a visit to Pensacola.

I used to work as a licensed airframe and powerplant mechanic in heavy depot. I was the only one with a ticket, my status was really an inspector over 10 mechanics. BTW..this is now the new normal in aviation, except it's done in china or mexico, but I digress.

Just completed spine surgery. saw the Dr once for 5 minutes the day before, the day of and once post operative. Entire ensemble was run by physician assistants.

Point being the entire USA is out sourced, even in highly regulated scary safety issues like aviation maintenance and medicine. I just need a stamp to make the city happy. If it's outsourced mathematics, it's binary and I'm OK with it.

I'll be meeting the 'man", if I'm not impressed, or otherwise, I'll report back to you.

Thanks Karen, I appreciate it.  I'm also talking with Chris Kavala offline.  He has some good recommendations.