About This Offering

This 5-session short course provides a comprehensive overview of structural engineering principles and materials of construction tailored for mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) engineers and designers.

Registration form

Portrait of Alex Griffin.

Alex Griffin, PE, SE

Is a structural engineer at Burns & McDonnell in St. Louis, MO with over 11 years of experience. His responsibilities include serving as lead structural engineer primarily in the municipal and industrial water and wastewater markets, but also has experience in the energy, federal, commercial, oil and gas, and electric utility industries. He has experience with both design-bid build and design build delivery models. He is a voting member on the 2028 cycle of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) Minimum Design Loads and Associated Criteria for Buildings and Other Structures (ASCE 7) for the Main Committee and Wind Loads Subcommittee.
  • Registration: Open until March 20, 2026
  • Course Dates: 3/30, 4/6, 4/13, 4/20 and 4/27 [2026] (6 - 8pm)
  • PDH: 10
  • Price: $1,249
  • Location: 2127 Innerbelt Business Center Drive, St. Louis, MO 63114

This five-session short-course provides a comprehensive overview of structural engineering principles and materials of construction tailored for mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) engineers and designers. The successful integration of MEP systems within a building's structure is critical for project success, safety, and code compliance. This training is designed to bridge the knowledge gap for MEP engineers to better integrate their designs with the structural building system, reducing design headaches and preventing costly change orders during construction.

1.    Structural Loading Requirements and Associated Criteria
        a.    IBC
            i.    Risk Categories
            ii.    Special Inspections
        b.    IEBC
        c.    ASCE 7 loading considerations
            i.    Ice/snow
            ii.    Wind
            iii.    Tornado
            iv.    Seismic
                1.    ASCE 7 Chapter 13 – nonstructural components
                2.    St. Louis County requirements
2.    Structural Considerations
        a.    Suspended
            i.    MSS SP-58
            ii.    Cable tray (NEMA)
        b.    Rooftop (ballasted vs mechanically attached)
        c.    Ground-mounted
        d.    Thermal
        e.    Seismic considerations
            i.    Component dynamic behavior
            ii.    Sway bracing
            iii.    SMACNA
            iv.    Equipment anchorage
            v.    Seismically approved materials
            vi.    Expansion loops/joints
        f.    Support materials (galvanic corrosion)
3.    Navigating Structural Trades and Construction Phasing (New and Existing Construction)
        a.    Below grade
        b.    Foundations (shallow vs deep)
        c.    Slab/Roof Penetrations
        d.    Wall penetrations
            i.    Masonry
            ii.    Concrete (Precast)
        e.    Bridge Cranes/Monorails
4.    Anchorage
        a.    Anchors/fasteners
            i.    Types
            ii.    Seismic prequalification
            iii.    Inspections
        b.    Walls
            i.    Masonry
            ii.    Concrete (cast in place, prestressed, hollowcore, DTs)
            iii.    PEMBs (Pre-engineered metal buildings)
            iv.    Stud walls
        c.    Roofs and Ceilings
            i.    Concrete (cast in place, prestressed/posttensioned)
            ii.    Composite concrete decks
            iii.    Metal roof deck
            iv.    Steel framed (joists, beams)
            v.    PEMBs
5.    Delegated design considerations
        a.    Drawings vs Specs
        b.    Support Design
        c.    Anchorage
        d.    Ancillary Vaults