Frequently Asked Questions

In most jurisdictions, yes. A pre-engineered metal building typically requires a building permit before construction begins, along with a foundation or structural permit covering its footings. Permit requirements are set by the local building department, not by CMG, and vary by jurisdiction and project use — confirming what's required locally is an early step for any project.

As part of that process, most jurisdictions require signed and sealed structural drawings and calculations for both the building and its foundation. CMG provides the engineered foundation plans and calculations needed for that submittal, and can respond to plan-review comments related to CMG's scope of work when that's included in the project agreement.

CMG does not submit permit applications with the local building department directly — that step is typically handled by the contractor or building owner, using the engineered drawings CMG provides.

A foundation-design proposal is most accurate when CMG has the building dimensions, column locations, and the metal-building manufacturer's reactions, along with the anchor bolt plan the manufacturer will use for erection.

Anchor bolt plans and foundation plans are not the same document: the anchor bolt plan shows the bolt size, spacing, and projection required at each column line and tells CMG what to design around, while the foundation plan is the engineered output built to accommodate it. CMG also needs the applicable building code and design criteria for the site — including the wind, snow, and seismic values used to generate the manufacturer's reactions — along with general site conditions and any available geotechnical information, since these directly affect footing size and reinforcement.

See the Information Needed section on the Foundation Design page for the full list.

In many cases, yes. CMG can begin preliminary coordination, review of site information, and general layout planning before the manufacturer's final reactions are issued.

Final footing sizing and structural calculations typically depend on the completed reactions, so the foundation design itself cannot be finalized until that information is available.

A CMG proposal typically outlines the scope of engineering services, the information CMG needs from the client to begin, and the assumptions and exclusions that apply to the project.

Fee and schedule information are included as part of the proposal and are project-specific rather than standardized.

Revisions needed to coordinate the design with information already provided — such as clarifying a dimension or resolving a plan-review comment within the original scope — are typically included.

Revisions caused by changes in building dimensions, reactions, or project scope after the design is complete are generally treated as additional services. The specific terms are set out in the written agreement for each project.

Engineering timelines depend on project complexity, the completeness of the information provided at the start, and CMG's current workload.

CMG does not provide a standard turnaround time. A project-specific schedule is discussed as part of the proposal.

CMG Engineering is currently authorized to provide engineering services in Georgia, Florida, South Carolina, North Carolina, Tennessee, Kentucky, Virginia, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas, Arkansas, Oklahoma, with a focus on South Georgia and North Florida. Contact CMG to confirm authorization for a specific project location before beginning work.

No. CMG Engineering provides structural engineering services only.

CMG coordinates with the project's architect when one is engaged, but does not provide architectural design, drafting, or code-compliance services outside of structural engineering.

No. CMG Engineering does not perform geotechnical engineering, soil borings, or laboratory soil testing. CMG designs foundations based on geotechnical recommendations when they are provided by a geotechnical engineer.

A geotechnical report is typically needed when soil conditions are unknown or variable, when the project involves heavier loads or larger spans, when the site has a history of settlement, fill, or drainage issues, or when the local jurisdiction requires one for permitting. Where a report is not available and the jurisdiction allows it, foundation designs may rely on conservative, code-permitted default soil assumptions instead. CMG can advise whether that approach is appropriate for a specific project, but a geotechnical report reduces risk and is recommended for most commercial and industrial buildings.

Site visits are not automatically included in every project. Depending on the agreed scope, a site visit can be included as part of the proposal — this is discussed and confirmed before work begins.

It depends on the scope of the revision. CMG can review existing drawings and, in some cases, provide revisions or take responsible charge of a design.

Because taking responsible charge of another engineer's work generally requires CMG's own review and calculations, this is evaluated on a project-by-project basis rather than treated as a standard service.

Changes to building dimensions or manufacturer reactions after a design has started typically require CMG to update the calculations and reissue the affected drawings.

Depending on the extent of the change and the stage of the project, this may be handled within the existing scope or treated as an additional service. CMG will communicate which applies before proceeding.

When responding to permitting or plan-review comments is included in the agreed scope, CMG reviews the comments related to its foundation or structural work, prepares a written response or revised drawings as needed, and resubmits through the client or the project's point of contact.

• The permitting authority issues written comments on the submitted drawings.
• CMG reviews each comment relevant to its scope of work.
• CMG revises the calculations or drawings, or prepares a written response, as the comment requires.
• The response and any revised documents are returned for resubmittal.

CMG cannot guarantee that a reviewing authority will accept a design or that a permit will be approved — plan-review outcomes are determined by the jurisdiction, not CMG.

No. Submitting a proposal request or contacting CMG through this website does not create an engineer-client relationship.

That relationship begins only after CMG has reviewed the project and the parties have entered into a written agreement.

CMG evaluates expedited requests case-by-case based on current workload and project complexity.

Availability for rush scheduling is not guaranteed and does not affect the applicable review or permitting timeline of the jurisdiction.

A proposal request is most useful to CMG when it includes the manufacturer's reactions and anchor bolt plan (if available), overall building dimensions and column layout, the project address, and any geotechnical report already on hand.

These can be submitted through the Request a Proposal page.