ACH Consulting Engineers

Our story began in 1974 when engineer, Geoff Dainty, set up office in West Auckland. Peter Alderton, joined his small firm in 1986 and worked up to the position of Senior Director, a position he still holds today. From day one, the firm worked across both civil and structural engineering design undertaking projects from small residential alterations, up to large apartment complexes, subdivisions and commercial builds.

Following Geoff Dainty’s retirement, in 2002, Brett Chick and Nick Houlding both stepped into Directorship and the company has continued to flourish under their guidance. Together, our team weathered the economic struggles of 2008 and emerged stronger than ever.  

Today ACH employs around 30 staff in their Auckland office with over 20% being Chartered Professional Engineers. Our staff are specialists across structural, civil and environmental engineering design. This has been illustrated across numerous projects in numerous fields including, retirement home developments, schools, apartment and retail buildings, residential subdivision, water pump stations, bridges, high risk temporary works design, insurance and seismic assessments and many, many more.

Additionally, ACH have established themselves in the industry as go-to experts in a number of specialist and high-risk areas where other consultancies lack the expertise. If you need a safe haven for your high-risk project, come to ACH and let us take care of you.

ACH Consulting Engineers has been providing high quality, cost-effective design solutions to New Zealand for over 30 years. Highly skilled, experienced engineers comprise our structural design team. Our engineers work on projects which range from small residential alterations to complete design of large multi-storeyed buildings. ACH Consulting Engineers recognises the importance of robust technical design without sacrificing aesthetics. Our solutions are tailored to meet each specific client’s needs, while at the same time maintaining a sensitivity to the environment and governing regulations.

Contact Nick Houlding, our leading structural expert, to discuss your project.

New Zealand has switched in recent years from almost all rural living to 86% of its population dwelling in an urban environment. Nearly 30% of New Zealand’s population lives in Auckland. As we shift from an agricultural driven economy to a service-oriented economy our urban centres will continue to feel the strain of ageing infrastructure.

Every new apartment built, every bit of infill development, places pressure on public drainage, sanitary sewer, and water supply reticulation networks. ACH Consulting Engineers have civil engineers whose focus is the upgrading and extending of these three essential water systems.    

ACH Consulting has considerable expertise across all aspects of Three Waters engineering and have worked across territorial authorities within the Greater Auckland region and beyond. Being a preferred consultant to Watercare Services and a number of commercial and residential developers, as well as servicing the private residential sector, we have broad-ranging skills to deal with any water design requirements.

Our civil team is made up of a diverse range of individuals, who all bring strengths and knowledge together to respond to the challenges of small sites, coastal locations, large infrastructure, emergency and reactive works and challenging ground types. Projects have ranged in size and complexity from the design of new and replacement public reticulation networks for stormwater, wastewater and potable water supply to preparation of entire catchment management plans. In most cases, ACH Consulting Engineers handle the tender and project supervision, including obtaining Resource Consents, consultation with Iwi, property owners and other affected parties.

We can provide stormwater solutions including, detention ponds, reuse tanks, soakage disposal, swales, rain gardens, wetlands and stormwater filters, green roofs and pipeline upgrades or extensions.

Our wastewater expertise includes on-site disposal systems, extensions of private and public wastewater lines, remediation of failed systems, and more.

In the water supply area, we offer upgrades to public reticulation, pressure testing and supply analysis for residential and commercial developments, as well as coordination of leak detection, and more.

Our staff have constant interaction with regulatory authorities and stay abreast of the latest practices and trends from around the globe to ensure the best site-specific solution is achieved. We are passionate about three waters being functional, unobtrusive and where possible, a positive visual amenity to your development to add value.  Linda Norman, a senior design engineer at ACH, provides expert advice in this field to others in the industry and is on the cutting-edge of green infrastructure design.

If you need advice for your three waters project, whatever it may be, ACH has an expert who can help.

With increasing demand for property and land in our cities, many sites once considered uneconomical for development are being re-contoured to produce functional building sites.

There are numerous options available for temporary and permanent retaining structures required to facilitate construction or prevent subsidence. ACH Consulting Engineers has a number of specialists in the design of earth retaining structures.

Selecting an appropriate solution for any particular retaining situation requires experience. Our retaining experts take this experience, combined with a commitment to keeping abreast of the changes to regulations and best practice, to provide high quality solutions for our clients. We have developed and maintained a proficiency in the design of segmental reinforced earth walls, use of combined steel and timber sections and precast concrete elements. Our design team also provides professional advice to property owners, or insurance companies, in cases where existing retaining walls have required strengthening or replacement.

Contact Peter Alderton, our leading retaining expert, to discuss your project.  

ACH Consulting has experienced seismic design Engineers and software and can offer expertise in all facets of seismic Engineering design and analysis.  From Initial Seismic Assessments (ISA) for building owners, insurance, and lending institutions etc through to Detailed Seismic Analysis (DSA) and design for strengthening works, and seismic design for new building structures.

ACH was active in the Canterbury region in the aftermath of the 2010-2011 earthquake events both as volunteers for Civil Defence and later as consultants to CERA.    

ACH Consulting Engineers provide expert forensic engineering services - detailed, objective examination and theoretical analysis when engineering failures occur.

Evaluating construction defects, structural failures, flooding and geotechnical failures through the application of engineering principles can determine cause. We have the capability to provide engineering reports and serve as an expert witness where litigation is involved.

ACH Consulting Engineers have regular clients within the Insurance Industry who appreciate speedy response, thoroughness and concise reporting in relation to potential claims. The correct specification for remedial works is equally important. The continued support of repeat clients is a testimony to our strength in this field of Professional Engineering.

Contact Peter Alderton at ACH Consulting Ltd Consulting Engineers with any enquiries regarding Forensic Engineering using our contact form or email him at: peter@achconsulting.co.nz

ACH Consulting Engineers provides engineering services to support the requirements of commercial land development and the Resource Management Act (RMA) 1991.

Our multi-disciplinary team provide innovative and cost effective solutions to:

• Public and private wastewater and stormwater drainage
• Stormwater treatment and flood attenuation devices
• Water reticulation
• Public and private roads and car parks  
• Earthworks

The Resource Management Act 1991 promotes the sustainable management of the natural and physical resources of New Zealand. The rigorous requirements associated with commercial land development are part of the sustainable management scheme. The Resource Management Act (RMA) 1991 is designed to guarantee New Zealand’s future. RMA necessitates rigorous requirements for commercial land development.

It is the goal of ACH Consulting Engineers’ design team to protect both New Zealand’s economic and environmental future.

Contact Brett Chick at ACH Consulting Ltd Consulting Engineers with any Civil Engineering or Infrastructure Enquiries using our contact form here or email him at: brett@achconsulting.co.nz

ACH have extensive expertise in assisting New Zealand companies with new product development and certification. Our scope of involvement typically includes proving compliance with the relevant standards either through desktop analysis and design or load testing. Some of the companies which have chosen ACH as their certifying engineers are:

• CSP Pacific Ltd - leading New Zealand fabricators of utility services poles
• SRP Ltd - fabricators of cold-formed sheet steel products like wall studs and ceiling battens
• Phase-1 Ltd - suppliers and installers of fall arrest and abseil support systems
• GESS Ltd - suppliers of utility services poles
• Sellwood Products Ltd - fabricators of attic stairs
• Concretec NZ Ltd - fabricators of precast concrete chambers for drainage applications
• Boardwalk Systems Ltd - fabricators and installers of roof air-conditioning platforms  

ACH Consulting provide a safe and cost efficient design for a large range of temporary works design.  Our highly experienced staff work closely with our clients to develop a suitable construction methodology, installation sequencing and future reuse plan for temporary works.  Our temporary works design include shoring design and excavation support, formwork and falsework, bridge erection supports and safety structures.

ACH Consulting has the experience to provide quick informed decisions that do not compromise on safety yet provide an efficient and workable design that lets the contractor get on with the job.