AlphaCon Solutions

Structural Technician Self Assessment

AlphaCon Solutions

Structural Engineering Technician Capability Snapshot (V1)

Self-assessment (ratings + recent-use ticks). This is not a timed test.

Rating scale (1–10)
  • 1-2 — No exposure / minimal
  • 3-4 — Some exposure, learning
  • 5-6 — Competent practitioner
  • 7-8 — Advanced / can review others
  • 9-10 — Expert / lead practitioner

NZ Delivery Reality (How projects run)

Skill / areaRatingUsed in last 12 months
Design documentation lifecycle (concept → developed → detailed → IFC → as-built)
Revision control & transmittals (superseded sets, drawing registers)
RFI / SI / NCR workflows (raise, respond, track, close out)
Site observations (what to check, what to record, escalation triggers)
Constructability thinking (staging, access, tolerances, buildability feedback)
As-built capture discipline (redlines → record drawings / asset handover)

Consenting, Compliance & Producer Statements (NZ)

Skill / areaRatingUsed in last 12 months
Producer Statements PS1–PS4 (roles, boundaries, evidence, interfaces)
Interpreting consent conditions and translating into design actions
Working with council / authority standards (incl. departures / deviations)
Compliance evidence packs (photos, test results, inspection records, sign-off trail)
Understanding construction monitoring expectations for sign-off / acceptance

H&S, Risk & Quality

Skill / areaRatingUsed in last 12 months
HSWA awareness and safe working behaviours (inductions, permits, reporting)
Safety in Design (hazard identification, risk controls, residual risk communication)
Risk identification early (technical, programme, consent, construction, operational)
Managing uncertainty (data quality, missing info, assumptions, sensitivity checks)
Design checks / peer review participation (giving and receiving)
ITPs / hold points understanding and verification evidence

Coordination & Information Management

Skill / areaRatingUsed in last 12 months
Multidisciplinary coordination (interfaces, clashes, sequencing, constraints)
Issue tracking discipline (actions, owners, due dates, close-out)
Document control platforms (ACC/BIM 360, SharePoint, Aconex/Procore-style workflows)
Asset/data handover thinking (as-builts, metadata, GIS attributes, O&M inputs)

Consulting Delivery & Commercial Awareness

Skill / areaRatingUsed in last 12 months
Option assessment and recommendation writing (clear trade-offs and risks)
Professional communication (calls, minutes, action lists, follow-up discipline)
Technical report writing (structure, clarity, defensible statements)
Scope management (spotting scope creep and managing variations / change control)
Timeboxing and prioritisation (deadlines, critical path awareness)

Common Software & Tools

Skill / areaRatingUsed in last 12 months
MS Excel (engineering calcs, QA checks, pivots/lookups)
MS Word (templates, styles, track changes)
MS PowerPoint (client-facing decks)
MS Outlook / Teams (professional comms and coordination)
Bluebeam Revu (mark-up, measurement, QA workflows)
Adobe Acrobat Pro (PDF workflows)
Autodesk Construction Cloud / BIM 360 (Docs basics)
SharePoint / OneDrive (versioning, permissions, libraries)
QGIS / ArcGIS Pro (view/query/export spatial data)

Structural Drafting & Detailing (NZ)

Skill / areaRatingUsed in last 12 months
Concrete detailing (reinforcement layouts, laps, cover, congestion awareness)
Rebar schedules / bar bending schedules support
Steel connection detailing support (bolts/welds intent vs fabrication boundaries)
Timber detailing (connections, hold-downs, bracing details awareness)
Seismic restraint / non-structural coordination support (bracing, fixings interface)
Shop drawing workflow support (receive, mark-up, track, return)
Temporary works / sequencing drawings support (propping, pours, access)
QA/QC drawing checks (dimensions, notes, consistency, constructability flags)
As-built / redline incorporation (traceability, revision discipline)

Docs, Site & PS Support

Skill / areaRatingUsed in last 12 months
PS1–PS4 workflow awareness (what evidence is captured and where)
Site observation support (recording, photo logs, issue capture)
RFI / SI support (drafting responses, attaching evidence)
Drawing issue packs (IFC sets, superseded sets, transmittals)

Software (Structural Technician)

Skill / areaRatingUsed in last 12 months
AutoCAD
Revit Structure (families, views, sheets, coordination basics)
Tekla Structures (as applicable)
MicroStation (as applicable)
Navisworks (model review / clash viewing)
ACC / BIM 360 (Docs basics)
Bluebeam Revu (mark-up, measurement)

Codes / Standards Awareness (Technician)

Skill / areaRatingUsed in last 12 months
NZS 3101 concrete – detailing awareness
NZS 3404 steel – connection/detailing awareness
NZS 3603 timber – detailing awareness
NZS 1170 / seismic concepts awareness (why detailing matters)
NZ Building Code general awareness (documentation expectations)

NZ Codes & Standards Awareness

Skill / areaRatingUsed in last 12 months
NZS 3404:1997 Steel Structures Standard – drawing requirements
NZS 3101:2006 Concrete Structures Standard – detailing
NZS 3603:1993 Timber Structures Standard – connection details
NZS 4229:2013 Concrete Masonry Buildings – standard details
NZS 3604:2011 Timber Framed Buildings – standard details
NZS 1170.5:2004 Seismic Actions – ductility demand awareness
NZBC Clause B1 (Structure) – structural design intent
NZBC Clause E2 – waterproofing detail coordination
NZS 4203 (legacy – awareness for existing building work)
NZBC Acceptable Solutions for structural elements

Structural Detailing Skills

Skill / areaRatingUsed in last 12 months
Reinforced concrete beam, column and slab detailing
Foundation plan and pad footing detailing
Pile cap and pile layout detailing
Retaining wall reinforcement detailing
Concrete tilt-up panel detailing
Steel connection detailing (bolted, welded, moment, pinned)
Steel beam and column layout and section annotation
Bracing and lateral system layout drawings
Timber framing and truss connection detailing
Timber portal frame detailing
Precast concrete element and connection detailing
Post-tensioned slab layout support
Seismic gap and separation detailing
Anchor bolt and base plate detailing
Stair and landing structural detailing
Mezzanine floor framing layout
Roof framing and purlin layout plans
Structural opening and lintel detailing

NZ Project Types

Skill / areaRatingUsed in last 12 months
Residential new builds (timber framed)
Multi-unit residential (concrete and steel)
Commercial office structures
Industrial warehouse and portal frame structures
Retail and hospitality structural documentation
Educational and community facility structures
Healthcare facility structural documentation
Heritage building seismic strengthening detailing
Earthquake-prone building (EPB) upgrade detailing
Retaining wall and earthworks structure detailing
Bridge and culvert structural drawing support

Construction Support

Skill / areaRatingUsed in last 12 months
RFI preparation and site query responses
Shop drawing review and mark-up
Fabrication drawing coordination (steel, precast)
As-built structural drawing preparation
Site instruction drawing support
Construction set issue and drawing register management
BIM coordination (Revit structural model maintenance)
Clash detection support (Navisworks)