What is a load-bearing certificate?
It is an engineering report that assesses an existing building's capacity to carry additional loads. It is based on a technical study of the structure, not a visual check alone, and its findings apply only to the specific load and condition that were studied.
When do you need it?
- Adding a floor or a section to an existing building
- Building an extension or structure on the roof
- Installing heavy equipment or fixtures on the structure
- Mounting billboards or screens where the rules require it
- Changing a building's use in a way that requires a structural check
- Making structural alterations, or when a government body requests proof of load capacity
Who issues it?
A qualified engineering office, accredited to the requirements of the relevant authority and the type of request. Some official requirements — particularly for signs and screens on buildings — call for this certificate from a licensed engineering office as part of the permit documents.
The issuing process
- Document review: building licence, architectural and structural drawings if available, number of floors, area, building age and use, and any past modifications
- Site inspection: examining structural elements such as columns, beams, slabs, load-bearing walls, and foundations where needed
- Load analysis: calculating existing and added loads and how they transfer to the elements and foundations
- Structural verification: comparing findings against the applicable codes, with possible additional tests
- Report: issuing a report stating the scope, findings, recommendations, and the building's suitability for the studied case
The certificate is not a building permit. Required licences and approvals must still be obtained before any work begins, and structural work should not start before the study and approvals are complete. A building's age alone does not determine its load capacity.