ᐅ Understanding the Quote for Structural Engineering and Energy Consultation for KfW 55 Standard

We are working with a structural engineer who is coordinating various trades and services and will ultimately oversee the construction. We have now received a quote from a structural engineer that raises a few questions for me. Let’s review the services offered (costs excluding 19% VAT):

1. Project Planner fee lump sum €300.00
- Taking over the role of project planner
- Reviewing the building permit application documents and supporting their preparation
- Signing the building permit application copies
- Distributing correspondence to all involved parties
(Incoming letters, demand letters, approval notices, etc.)

2. Preparation of a verifiable structural calculation lump sum €2,600.00
- Creation of the structural calculation
- Preparation of detailed layout plans at scale 1:100
- Compilation of the structural calculation package

3. Preparation of execution planning – structural lump sum €1,500.00
- Preparation of formwork and reinforcement plans including steel, cutting, and bending schedules at scales 1:50 / 1:10
For all concrete components:
· Foundation (footings and slab)
· Ring beam including lintels
- Compilation of the execution planning documents

4. Preparation of an energy performance certificate according to the Energy Saving Ordinance 2016

4.1 Verification lump sum €1,250.00
For the new single-family house to be built, the KfW funding program 153 (KfW Efficiency House 55) is desired. Technical minimum requirements (appendix to the leaflet Program Energy-Efficient Construction 153) are used for the offer preparation. The following services are listed separately:
- Creation of a thermal insulation verification according to the requirements of the Energy Saving Ordinance 2016 Section 2, §3, considering the KfW requirements of funding program 153 (KfW Efficiency House 55)
- Creation of a summer thermal insulation verification according to the requirements of the Energy Saving Ordinance 2016 Section 2, §3, paragraph 4, considering the KfW requirements
- Checking the necessity of ventilation measures according to the requirements of the Energy Saving Ordinance 2016 Section 2, §6 as well as considering KfW requirements and the DIN 1946-6 standard
The results will be communicated to the client. Implementation of any ventilation measures is the client’s responsibility.
- Confirmation of KfW Program 153: The planned energy standard will be confirmed by the KfW form “Confirmation of Application (BZA)”

4.2 Project monitoring lump sum €1,000.00
- In accordance with KfW requirements, three site inspections will be scheduled before plastering or applying subsequent cladding to check and verify the execution of energy-relevant components, especially those that will later be inaccessible; as well as to verify the implementation of the thermal bridge concept, airtightness concept, and system components
- Checking installed materials, products, and components of the building envelope and the energy-related systems for compliance with the planned measures according to the energy efficiency calculation
Note:
The responsible trades must provide the energy planner, upon request, with evidence such as delivery notes, photos, and invoices relating to the installed materials, products, and mechanical systems.
- Keeping documentation of the project monitoring

4.3 Confirmation of program-compliant implementation lump sum €100.00
- Confirmation of completion of the funded project using the KfW form “Confirmation after Completion”
- Issuance and handover of the energy performance certificate for the completed building based on the energy demand according to the Energy Saving Ordinance 2016 Section 5, §§16 and 18, considering KfW requirements
- Compilation of documents

Total costs: €6,750 + €1,282.50 (19%) VAT = €8,032.50

Now to my questions:

1. Reviewing the documents and assisting with their preparation sounds like relatively limited work. By signing the documents, does he then also assume liability?

2. This seems to be the same as the structural engineering service provided by an architect, right? Is around €3,100 an appropriate amount for this? (House cost approx. €250,000)

3. About €1,800 for the execution planning of the concrete components seems quite high to me at first. Do the foundation slab, lintels, and ring beam make up a significant part of the execution planning?

4.1 I understood that the thermal insulation certificate is mandatory for a KfW 55 standard. Is that correct? We plan to install a controlled residential ventilation system with heat recovery. Since this is fixed, is the verification of ventilation-related measures still required?

4.2 Is this energy-related construction supervision recommended (to ensure that the promised energy standard is ultimately achieved) or mandatory?

Is item 4 fully covered under the KfW funding for energy consulting (50% up to €4,000)?

There are many construction companies that have established partners (architect/structural engineer) for service phases like building permit / planning permission and execution planning, etc. In our case, the builder we will be contacting shortly would have to exclude items 1-3 from their quotation, right? Then, theoretically, the offer should be lower than a full quotation from another builder, correct?

Hello,

DragonyxXL schrieb:

By signing the documents, does he also assume liability?

Yes.

DragonyxXL schrieb:

2. This is the same as the structural engineering portion done by an architect, right?

No.

DragonyxXL schrieb:

3. Approximately €1,800 for the execution planning of the concrete components seems quite high to me at first. Do the foundation slab, lintels, and ring beam make up a significant part of the execution planning?

Would you want to live in a house without a structural engineer ensuring that it will _not_ collapse? Is €1,800 for your safety too much?

DragonyxXL schrieb:

4.1 I understood that a thermal insulation certificate is mandatory for a KfW55 standard. Is that correct? We will install a controlled residential ventilation system with heat recovery. Since this is certain, do we still need to have the air technology measures checked?

Only if the manufacturer of the controlled residential ventilation system _does not_ provide a ventilation concept, or if you want additional assurance.

DragonyxXL schrieb:

4.2 Is this energy-related construction supervision recommended (to ensure the promised energy level is actually achieved) or is it mandatory?

Without it, KfW will withdraw their funding; so it is mandatory.

DragonyxXL schrieb:

Is item 4. fully covered under the KfW subsidy for energy consulting (50% up to €4,000)?

Yes.

DragonyxXL schrieb:

Many construction companies already have fixed partners (architect/structural engineer) for planning phases such as building permit/planning permission and execution planning, etc. In our case, the construction company we will soon contact would have to deduct items 1-3 from their calculations, right? Then, theoretically, their offer should be cheaper than the full-package offer of another company, correct?

It depends....

If you approach a full-service provider, these services are included in their price; a timber-frame house builder will still need these details, while a solid construction company (e.g., masonry or concrete) might not accept execution planning from a third party. If you want a smaller builder to build your house, they will have to purchase architecture/structural engineering services externally.

You should also let go of the idea that the amounts in the offer you have will be fully credited when contracting with a general contractor. As you rightly noticed, there are partnerships involved, leading to different price/performance ratios.

I find the structural engineer’s offer reasonable.

Best regards, Bauexperte

Thank you for your review

Bauexperte schrieb:

No.

What are the differences compared to structural engineering?

Bauexperte schrieb:

Do you want to live in a house without a structural engineer ensuring that it _will not_ collapse? Is €1,800.00 too much for your safety?

No. Your comment about accepting the “external” execution planning from the solid construction contractor is very interesting. That means I should only assign this task to the structural engineer (which is basically just an engineering office) if I know that the future builder can actually make use of it, right?

Bauexperte schrieb:

Only if the manufacturer of the controlled residential ventilation system to be installed does _not_ provide a ventilation concept, or as additional assurance for you.

Do they usually do that? Is such a concept very detailed or does it only provide a general description of how the respective ventilation technology works?

Bauexperte schrieb:

You should also stop assuming that the figures in the offer you have will be fully credited if you sign a contract with a general contractor. As you correctly noted, there are partnerships involved, and therefore a different price/performance ratio.

So, I first need to consider which approach I want to take and only then commission the relevant services. Furthermore, it can be worthwhile or more practical to delegate some of the shown services to the final construction company.

Any other aspects I should consider?