JAM Structural Design

JAM Structural Design J.A.M Structures are a Sheffield based structural design consultancy. Set up in 2018 to collaborate

The unassuming site for one of our latest projects – a new socialising space with an outdoor kitchen, covered dining are...
19/11/2025

The unassuming site for one of our latest projects – a new socialising space with an outdoor kitchen, covered dining area, and a golf simulator 🏌️‍♂️, tucked away in the back garden of our client’s home.

Early coordination is key on this one due to the site constraints and design ambitions.

The client wants extensive glazing, including frameless corner windows, and a roof structure as shallow as possible.

Poor ground conditions and a nearby public drain present additional challenges for the foundations.

We’re developing structural options that allow the design intent to be realised while minimising ground loads and avoiding any impact on the drain. Looking forward to seeing this one progress.

Designing out cold bridges!When a steel beam is supported directly by masonry, the load can be too concentrated, often l...
25/06/2025

Designing out cold bridges!

When a steel beam is supported directly by masonry, the load can be too concentrated, often leading to cracks. That’s why we design in a bearing solution: placing the beam on a concrete padstone to help spread the load safely into the wall.

But it’s not just about strength. It’s also about thermal performance.

A cold bridge is a route through which heat from the inside of the building can make its way outside without meeting any insulation to stop it.

In this case, the external walls of the existing house are masonry with a very small uninsulated cavity.

We are proposing to insulate around the beam with either rigid insulation or a Farrat thermal break plate. This can then sit on the concrete padstone. To prevent heat from crossing the cavity we are suggesting 10-15mm of Aerogel insulation, which offers a lower thermal conductivity than PIR for the same thickness.

We’ll be working closely with the architect to develop the detail and make sure it works both structurally and thermally

What happens when a building doesn’t follow the plan?We’re currently working with Rise Contractors and Architects on a...
16/06/2025

What happens when a building doesn’t follow the plan?

We’re currently working with Rise Contractors and Architects on a deep retrofit of a bungalow in Huddersfield.

The original plan was to retain the existing pitched roof and its supporting purlin, then install new flat roof joists underneath.

But once the structure was uncovered on site, the existing purlin was sagging.

If we followed the original plan, we’d have had to lower the flat roof to avoid contact with the purlin, which would have reduced head height inside the space.

Instead of compromising the layout, we worked together to find a solution.

The proposed solution was to notch the new joists around the existing purlin, which would allow us to retain the original head height.

We assessed the impact of the reduced joist depth and ran calculations to confirm that strapping the joists to the purlin above would create a new point of support.

This shortened the spans and maintained the strength of the structure while keeping the internal ceiling height just as we’d intended.

This is exactly why we stay involved during construction.

If you're looking to for help on your next project, book a call to explore how we could help!

https://calendly.com/jamstructures-info/30min?month=2025-06

Why would I need a structural engineer during construction?It’s a question we hear all the time.The design's been coordi...
12/06/2025

Why would I need a structural engineer during construction?

It’s a question we hear all the time.

The design's been coordinated, calculations and drawings have been approved by Building Control. My builder can take it from here right?

A good set of drawings and a robust calculation package are essential. They get you on site with as much knowledge and direction as possible, but as the military saying goes "no plan survives first contact with the enemy."

The same can be said of construction projects. Buildings, especially existing ones, don’t always behave as expected. Challenges are often uncovered as construction begins.

If no one’s there to respond quickly, the whole project slows down, or worse, grinds to a halt.

That's where we can help!

We work closely with builders and architects to make sure surprises don’t become setbacks. We solve problems on site and ensure the structure is built as designed or adapted safely when needed.

We’ll share a real example of how this played out on a recent retrofit project in our next post.

We're hiring!⁠⁠JAM are looking for a Senior Engineer to join our fantastic team.⁠⁠Whether you're a Project Engineer read...
03/06/2025

We're hiring!⁠
⁠
JAM are looking for a Senior Engineer to join our fantastic team.⁠
⁠
Whether you're a Project Engineer ready for your next career step, or an experienced Senior Engineer who wants to help shape the future of our practice, we’d love to hear from you.⁠
⁠
Apply now using the link below:

https://www.bluetownonline.com/jobs/senior-structural-engineer-112109/ -form-112109

We're hiring!JAM are looking for a Senior Engineer to join our fantastic team.Whether you're a Project Engineer ready fo...
12/05/2025

We're hiring!

JAM are looking for a Senior Engineer to join our fantastic team.

Whether you're a Project Engineer ready for your next career step, or an experienced Senior Engineer who wants to help shape the future of our practice, we’d love to hear from you.

Apply now using the link below:

https://www.bluetownonline.com/jobs/senior-structural-engineer-112109/ -form-112109

Early engagement with a structural engineer gives you the opportunity to explore design options that meet every aspect o...
28/04/2025

Early engagement with a structural engineer gives you the opportunity to explore design options that meet every aspect of the client’s brief, helping to avoid costly surprises later on.⁠
⁠
Securing planning approval for a project, only to later discover the design is prohibitively expensive or impractical to build, can cause major setbacks. By involving us from the outset, we can work closely with the design team to develop solutions that are both buildable and cost-effective, avoiding unnecessary delays and costly redesigns.⁠
⁠
If you're in the early stages of a project and would like greater certainty around the design, book a call to see how we can help. ⁠
⁠
https://calendly.com/jamstructures-info/30min?month=2025-05
⁠

Do you want your project to fly through the Building Control process? Rightly so, the building control plans check proce...
13/02/2025

Do you want your project to fly through the Building Control process?

Rightly so, the building control plans check process has got much more stringent in the last few years.

But this quote from Building Control team shows that you're in safe hands with us.

Get in touch with us today to find out how we can help you avoid unnecessary hold ups on your project with a thorough and well checked set of structural calculations.

When is a building like a capsizing boat? When lateral stability [a building’s ability to resist horizontal forces such ...
09/02/2025

When is a building like a capsizing boat?

When lateral stability [a building’s ability to resist horizontal forces such as wind pressures, or even accidental impact] hasn't been considered.

Modern architecture prioritise spaciousness, natural light, and seamless indoor-outdoor living.

But the removal of existing walls and the addition of large openings inherent in these designs introduce unique engineering challenges in terms of lateral stability.

When it comes to integrating large openings, collaboration between clients, architects and structural engineers is crucial to avoid significant steelwork and lots of additional cost.

If you're looking to keep costs down on your next project, let’s have a chat to explore how we could help!

Small Decisions, Big Savings....Did you know a 10cm difference in your opening size could mean skipping an expensive ste...
05/02/2025

Small Decisions, Big Savings....

Did you know a 10cm difference in your opening size could mean skipping an expensive steel wind frame?

Potentially saving your £000s.

Smart engineering isn’t about cutting corners—it’s about making the right choices from the start.

Do you want to keep your project going on schedule, under budget, and according to plan?

Then we're the engineers for you

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2nd Floor Parkhead House, Carver Street
Sheffield
S14FS

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Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

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