Standard design or engineered design

Not every sidewalk shed needs a new engineered design. The Board of Standards and Appeals maintains an approved standard design for sheds that can be referenced on submitted drawings, which changes what has to be sealed and by whom.

What the standard design is

The approved standard design of scaffold, BSA calendar number 362-44.SM, is a pre-approved design that a contractor may reference on the submitted drawings in place of a registered design professional's seal and stamp. It exists because a large share of sheds are conventional in form and repeat the same geometry.

Referencing it does not remove the drawing obligation. The set still has to be site specific and show the actual obstructions, dimensions and configuration.

When you need an engineered design

• Site geometry outside the standard, such as unusual frontage, heavy obstruction density, or curved facades
• Loads beyond the standard, including storage on the deck
• Supported scaffold bearing on the shed, which needs a loads imposed letter regardless
• Cantilevered or non-post-supported overhead protection
• Any configuration where the standard design simply does not describe what is going up

Cost and time difference

Standard design filings are faster and cheaper because there is no engineering fee attached to the seal. Engineered filings take longer and cost more, but there are jobs where the standard design will not carry the condition and attempting it just produces objections.

Key facts

Standard design

BSA 362-44.SM

Effect

May be referenced in lieu of RDP seal

Still required

Site-specific drawings

Scaffold on shed

Engineered route plus loads letter