Setting Out Engineer Deliverables
| Deliverable | Description | | --- | --- | | Gridlines | On-site marking | | Levels | Bench marks established | | As-built check | Final verification |
2025 Setting Out Costs (ex VAT)
| Project | Cost | | --- | --- | | Residential extension | £300–£600 | | New build house | £500–£1,200 | | Small commercial | £800–£1,500 |
Structural Engineer Survey Support: Monitoring Setting Out and Measured Surveys
icelabz provides surveying services for structural engineers across the UK, with particular coverage in London and the South East. Our services support structural engineers at every stage of a project — from initial assessment through to construction and monitoring.
How icelabz Supports Structural Engineers
Structural engineers work with accurate spatial data at every stage of a project. The accuracy of that data — and the reliability of the surveying company providing it — has a direct impact on the quality of the structural design and the success of the construction process.
icelabz provides the surveying services that structural engineers need:
Measured building surveys: Accurate existing drawings for structural assessment, modification design, and demolition planning. Our measured building surveys capture the as-built geometry of existing structures in sufficient detail for structural analysis and design.
Topographical surveys: Accurate site levels and boundary positions for foundation design, drainage design, and construction planning. Our topographical surveys are referenced to Ordnance Survey datum and include the level data needed for engineering design.
Setting out surveys: Precise positional surveys that transfer the structural design onto the site — foundation positions, column centres, gridlines, and level benchmarks. Our setting out surveys are conducted to the tolerances required for the specific construction type.
Monitoring surveys: Ongoing positional surveys that track the movement of structures over time — for buildings affected by adjacent construction, for structures under load testing, or for long-term structural monitoring programmes.
Measured Building Surveys for Structural Engineers
When a structural engineer needs to assess an existing structure — for a loft conversion, an extension, a change of use, or a structural modification — they need accurate existing drawings. A measured building survey from icelabz provides the dimensions, levels, and structural information needed for the structural assessment.
Our measured building surveys capture:
- Floor plans with all structural elements identified
- Section drawings showing ceiling heights, floor levels, and structural depths
- The positions of beams, columns, and load-bearing walls
- As-built dimensions for key structural elements
The survey data is delivered in DWG format, which the structural engineer can use directly in their analysis software, and in PDF format for inclusion in the structural report.
Topographical Surveys for Foundation Design
For new build and extension projects, a topographical survey provides the level data needed for foundation design. The survey captures ground levels across the site, allowing the structural engineer to design foundations that respond to the actual ground conditions rather than approximate or outdated mapping.
Our topographical surveys include:
- Spot levels at regular intervals across the site
- Contour lines at 0.5m or 1m intervals
- The positions of existing structures, boundary features, and services
- Level data referenced to Ordnance Survey datum
Setting Out Surveys for Construction
Structural engineers specifying works on site need setting out surveys that transfer the structural design onto the ground accurately. Our setting out surveys mark the positions of foundations, structural walls, columns, and beams, with the precision required for construction.
Our setting out surveys include:
- Foundation positions marked on site with pegs or nails
- Column centres and gridlines
- Level benchmarks for each floor level
- A signed setting out plan showing the positions of all marks for the construction record
Monitoring Surveys for Adjacent Development
When construction works are taking place adjacent to an existing structure, structural engineers often specify a monitoring survey to track any movement of the structure. icelabz provides monitoring surveys for adjacent development projects, establishing a baseline before works begin and conducting follow-up surveys at defined intervals throughout the construction programme.
Our monitoring surveys include:
- Establishment of monitoring targets on the structure
- Baseline survey of all targets before works begin
- Follow-up surveys at agreed intervals (typically weekly or fortnightly during critical works)
- A monitoring report comparing results to trigger levels and the baseline
We use a combination of total station surveys and, where appropriate, automated monitoring systems for continuous monitoring of critical structures.
Getting Started
To commission a surveying service for a structural engineering project, contact icelabz with details of the project — the site address, the type of survey required, and the programme. We will confirm the scope, agree the specification, and provide a fixed-fee quote.
For ongoing monitoring programmes, we can agree a monitoring schedule in advance, with surveys at agreed intervals throughout the construction programme. This gives the structural engineer and the client confidence that any movement will be detected and reported promptly.
Typical Costs for Structural Engineering Survey Support
Survey costs for structural engineering projects depend on the survey type, the property size, and the deliverables required. For a typical residential measured building survey for structural assessment, expect to pay from around £600 to £1,200. For a topographical survey for foundation design, costs typically range from £500 to £1,500. For setting out surveys, costs depend on the number of setting out stages and the complexity of the structure.
Monitoring survey programmes are typically priced per visit, with costs depending on the number of monitoring targets and the frequency of surveys. A standard monitoring programme typically costs from around £300 to £600 per visit. For projects requiring long-term monitoring, we offer package pricing for quarterly or annual monitoring programmes. icelabz works with structural engineers across the UK, with particular coverage in London and the South East.