Engineering Practice, Codes, and Digital Frameworks

How Rezali conducts engineering design

 
  • Rezali’s engineering services are delivered within established professional, regulatory, and technical frameworks. This page outlines how our work is structured in relation to professional obligations, applicable codes and standards, and digital coordination environments such as BIM.

    The intent is not to catalogue tools or standards, but to clarify how engineering judgment, accountability, and coordination are applied in practice.

  • Engineering as a regulated profession

    Engineering is a regulated profession, and Rezali’s work is carried out within the requirements of professional engineering bodies such as the Ordre des ingénieurs du Québec (OIQ), as well as equivalent organizations where applicable.

    Our services are structured around professional responsibility, defined scope of practice, and clear accountability for engineering decisions. This includes appropriate supervision, internal verification, and documentation consistent with regulatory expectations.

    Extended key points

    • Professional responsibility and public interest
      Engineering decisions are made with consideration for safety, reliability, and long-term performance, consistent with the obligations of licensed professional engineers.

    • Defined scope and boundaries
      Each engagement begins with a clear definition of what falls within the engineering mandate, what assumptions apply, and where interfaces with other parties exist.

    • Traceable decision-making
      Engineering assumptions, governing cases, and key design decisions are documented so that they can be reviewed, understood, and, if necessary, challenged.

    • Independent judgment
      Rezali operates as an independent engineering consultant, maintaining the ability to exercise objective technical judgment even in complex or constrained project environments.

  • Codes as a framework, not a substitute for judgment

    Rezali practices engineering within the framework of applicable building codes, design standards, and project-specific specifications. In the Canadian context, this commonly includes the National Building Code of Canada (NBCC) as a baseline, along with relevant CSA, AISC, AWWA, and other recognized standards depending on the nature of the work.

    Codes and standards establish minimum requirements and accepted methodologies; they do not replace engineering judgment. Rezali’s role is to interpret, apply, and where necessary supplement prescriptive provisions to address project-specific conditions and governing behaviors.

    Extended key points

    • NBCC as a reference framework
      The NBCC is used as a baseline for loads, combinations, and performance objectives, with careful attention to applicability in industrial and non-building contexts.

    • Use of specialized standards
      Where appropriate, industry-specific standards are applied to reflect the actual behavior and risk profile of the structure or system under consideration.

    • Judgment beyond prescriptive limits
      For non-standard configurations, thin-walled behavior, hybrid systems, or unusual load conditions, engineering judgment is applied to bridge gaps between code intent and real behavior.

    • Project- and client-specific requirements
      Client specifications, authority requirements, and operational constraints are integrated into the engineering process alongside code provisions.

    Code compliance is treated as a starting point, not an endpoint.

  • BIM as a coordination and communication framework

    Rezali uses Building Information Modeling (BIM) as a coordination and communication framework rather than as an end product in itself. BIM models are developed and reviewed to support interdisciplinary coordination, constructability assessment, and clarity of design intent.

    Engineering analysis, assumptions, and decisions are not replaced by BIM models. Instead, BIM is used to reflect and communicate decisions established through calculation, engineering reasoning, and review.

    Extended key points

    • Separation of analytical and representational models
      Structural analysis models and BIM models serve different purposes and are not assumed to be interchangeable.

    • Model reliability and limitations
      All digital models are understood to be abstractions. Their limitations are recognized, documented, and managed.

    • Level of detail aligned with risk
      Model detail is developed to the level necessary to support coordination and decision-making, not beyond what is justified by project risk.

    • Interface clarity
      BIM is used to clarify interfaces between structural, mechanical, and process systems, particularly where assumptions about load transfer or movement compatibility exist.

  • Why documentation matters

    Engineering decisions are meaningful only if they can be understood, reviewed, and verified. Rezali places strong emphasis on documentation that records assumptions, governing load cases, analysis methods, and design decisions in a clear and traceable manner.

    This approach supports internal review, third-party verification, regulatory review, and long-term reference throughout the lifecycle of a project.

    Extended key points

    • Explicit assumptions
      Load definitions, boundary conditions, and modeling simplifications are stated clearly rather than implied.

    • Design rationale
      The reasoning behind key decisions is documented, not just the resulting calculations or drawings.

    • Revision and change tracking
      Changes are assessed for technical impact and recorded to maintain continuity of engineering intent.

    • Audit and review readiness
      Documentation is prepared with the expectation that it may be reviewed by clients, authorities, or independent engineers.

  • Engineering at the interface

    Rezali’s engineering work often sits at the interface between clients, contractors, fabricators, and regulatory authorities. Clear definition of responsibilities, assumptions, and information boundaries is essential to effective coordination.

    Our role may include direct design, independent review, or technical advisory support, depending on project needs.

    Extended key points

    • Clear division of responsibility
      Engineering scope is defined to avoid gaps or overlaps between parties.

    • Constructability awareness
      Design intent is communicated with consideration for fabrication, erection, and operational realities.

    • Independent review and verification
      Rezali is frequently engaged to provide third-party technical review where objectivity and rigor are required.

    • Regulatory interaction
      Engineering documentation is prepared to support discussions with authorities having jurisdiction, where applicable.

  • Across all projects, Rezali’s approach to engineering is shaped by professional responsibility, regulatory context, and disciplined coordination. These frameworks provide the structure within which complex technical challenges are addressed and engineering judgment is applied responsibly.

    They also define how Rezali collaborates—with clarity, accountability, and respect for the limits and consequences of engineering decisions.