❓ Frequently Asked Questions

BuildMetrics is a browser-based structural engineering calculation platform built for UK engineers. It provides Eurocode-compliant calculators for beams, columns, slabs, footings, and more — with professional PDF report output. No software installation is required.

BuildMetrics is designed for:

• Structural and civil engineers in private practice
• Graduate and chartered engineers
• Engineering consultancies
• Contractors needing quick preliminary checks
• Engineering academics and students

Yes — BuildMetrics is completely free for all engineers during 2026. We will introduce paid plans in 2027 but all existing users will be notified well in advance with a generous transition period.

BuildMetrics is intended as a calculation assistance tool. The outputs can be used as part of your engineering process, but:

BuildMetrics works in all modern browsers: Chrome, Edge, Firefox, and Safari. We recommend Chrome or Edge for the best experience. Internet Explorer is not supported.

No. BuildMetrics runs entirely in your browser. There is no software to download, install, or maintain. All calculations and data are accessible from any device with a browser and internet connection.

BuildMetrics currently includes:

• Beam Design — Steel & Timber (EC3 / EC5), multi-span
• RC Beam — EC2, flexure, shear, deflection & crack control
• Concrete Column — EC2, axial + N-M interaction diagram
• Steel Column — EC3, axial compression, buckling
• Timber Column — EC5
• RC Slab — EC2, one-way and two-way
• Pad Footing — EC2/EC7, bearing & punching shear
• Retaining Wall — EC7, sliding & overturning
• Connection Design — EC3, bolt groups & weld capacity

Yes. Each calculator has a unit toggle in the input panel. Switch between metric (kN, mm, MPa) and Imperial (kip, in, psi) at any time — all inputs and outputs update automatically.

Click the Save button in the top-right of any calculator. You'll be prompted to name the calculation and assign it to a project. Saved calculations appear in your Projects page and can be reopened at any time.

Yes. Each project can contain an unlimited number of calculations across different calculator types. All calculations in a project are listed on the project page and can be exported together into a single PDF report package.

The utilisation ratio (η = Ed / Rd) is the ratio of applied design effect to design resistance. A value below 1.0 means the check passes. A value above 1.0 means the section is overstressed and the design fails that check. Aim for a utilisation below 0.95 in practice to allow for tolerances.

Yes. Open the calculation from your Projects page, make your changes, and click Save again. A new revision is saved — the original is preserved in the calculation history.

Yes. The beam and column calculators include full UK and European standard steel section databases (UB, UC, CHS, RHS, SHS, Angles) with all section properties. Select a section from the dropdown to populate dimensions automatically.

Each PDF report includes: project details, engineer name, calculation reference, all input parameters, step-by-step calculation workings with Eurocode clause references, utilisation checks with pass/fail status, diagrams (where applicable), and the BuildMetrics disclaimer.

Custom branding (logo, company name, address) is available on paid plans. On the free plan, reports include the BuildMetrics branding. Go to Profile → Report Settings to configure your details.

Word (.docx) export is available for calculations that need to be incorporated into larger report documents. Look for the Export → Word option in the calculator toolbar.

Yes. Every report contains a mandatory disclaimer stating that results are produced by a calculation assistance tool and must be independently verified by a qualified engineer. This cannot be removed and is required by our Terms of Service.

• EC2 — Design of concrete structures
• EC3 — Design of steel structures
• EC5 — Design of timber structures
• EC7 — Geotechnical design (footings, retaining walls)

UK National Annex parameters are applied by default.

Yes. All calculators apply UK National Annex (NA) recommended values as the default. Where NA values differ from the base Eurocode, the NA value is used and referenced in the calculation output. Advanced settings allow you to override specific parameters where needed.

BuildMetrics applies EN 1990 (EC0) load combinations with UK NA partial factors: γG = 1.35 (permanent), γQ = 1.5 (variable). Both STR and GEO combination sets are evaluated where relevant.

Yes. We monitor Eurocode revisions and UK NA updates and will update the calculation engines accordingly. All users are notified of significant changes via in-app notifications and email.

On the free plan there is no limit on the number of projects or calculations during 2026. Limits may apply on certain paid plan tiers in the future.

Project sharing and team collaboration features are in active development. When released, you'll be able to invite colleagues by email to view or edit your projects. You'll receive an in-app notification when this feature goes live.

Your project and calculation data is stored in your browser's local storage on your device. Data is not currently synchronised to a cloud server, which means it is tied to the browser and device you used to create it. Cloud sync is planned for a future release.

On the login page, click Forgot password?. Enter your email address and we'll send a reset link valid for 30 minutes.

Go to Profile → Account Settings → Change Email. You'll need to verify the new address before the change takes effect.

Email support@buildmetrics.uk with your account email address and we will delete your account and all associated data within 30 days, in accordance with UK GDPR.

Nothing. BuildMetrics is completely free for every engineer — all calculators, the full report builder, unlimited projects and unlimited PDF and Word exports. There is no subscription, no per-report fee and no credit card required.

No. There are no tiers, usage caps or paywalled features — every registered user gets the same full version of the app, including your own company letterhead on every report.

Never. Signing up needs only an email address and a password. We do not collect or store payment details. If you have any questions, email support@buildmetrics.uk.

BuildMetrics requires an internet connection for the initial page load. Once loaded, the calculation engines run entirely in the browser and do not require further network access — so calculations continue to work if you lose connectivity mid-session.

All data is encrypted in transit via HTTPS. Currently, project data is stored in your browser's local storage and does not leave your device. We do not have access to your calculation data. See our Privacy Policy for full details.

Email support@buildmetrics.uk with a description of the issue or your feature request. For bugs, please include the calculator name, inputs used, and a screenshot if possible. We read and respond to every message.