Structural Inspections for Condominium Associations in Florida
Important changes in regulations create more necessity for structural inspections for Condominium Associations in Florida. In May of 2022, the “SB 4D-Building Safety Act for Condominium and Cooperative Associations” Bill was passed unanimously through both House and Senate after 98 people perished during the collapse of Champlain Towers South in Miami on June 24th, 2021. In 2018 an engineer warned managers of Champlain Towers to major structural damage at the complex. After waiting three years to begin the work, the building collapsed before it got underway. The report was sent to Surfside’s building department in November 2018, but no follow-up was made. Timely repair could have prevented this tragedy. As a result, elected officials worked to make regulations to ensure building departments follow up when such reports are filed. The new legislation includes a framework of rules that associations must abide by: Condominium Associations must complete mandatory structural inspections. These inspections, known as “Milestone Inspections”, includes a determination of any necessary maintenance, repair, or replacement of any structural component in the building. Milestone Inspections consists of 2 phases: Phase 1 : A licensed architect or engineer performs a visual examination of the building and provides a qualitative assessment of the building conditions. – If the architect or engineer finds no signs of substantial structural deterioration, phase 2 is not required. Phase 2 : Must be performed if any substantial structural deterioration (substantial structural distress that negatively affects a building’s general structural condition and integrity) is identified in phase 1. – May involve destructive or non-destructive testing at the inspector’s direction. – May be as extensive or as limited as necessary to fully assess areas of structural distress in order to confirm that the building is structurally safe for its intended use and to recommend a program for thoroughly evaluating and repairing distressed and damaged portions of the building. – Inspector who completes a phase two milestone inspection shall prepare/ submit an inspection report. Upon completion of phase 1 or 2 milestone inspection, the architect or engineer who performed the inspection must submit a sealed copy of the inspection report with a separate summary of, at minimum, the material findings and recommendations in the inspection report. Condominiums must-have milestone inspections for buildings 3 stories or more in height by December 31 of the year in which the building reaches 30 years of age, based on the date the certificate of occupancy for the building was issued, and every 10 years thereafter. – If the building is within 3 miles of a coastline, milestone inspection must be performed by December 31 of the year the buildings reach 25 years of age, based on the date the certificate of occupancy for the building was issued, and every 10 years thereafter. Associations will have two years to comply with this requirement. Here at Belt Engineering, we offer the services needed to meet the new “Milestone Inspections” requirement by providing a thorough damage assessment inspection, completing a report of findings for repair recommendations, as well as preparing drawings and specifications for permitting and construction. Contact us today to schedule your association’s milestone inspections.
Structural Building Inspection in Florida
In Florida building inspections are important whether you are purchasing a home, evaluating the damage, or closing permits. Utilizing structural engineers for your home inspection offers additional peace of mind when it comes to your foundation and other structural concerns. Considering that real estate is the primary source of wealth for the majority of Americans, it is best to leave building inspections to the most qualified individuals. Engineers have the practical skill set, training, expertise, and experience necessary to complete thorough building inspections. Belt’s structural engineers are a wise addition to a traditional 4-point home inspection needed to buy or sell a home. If your home inspector has mentioned structural concerns around your home, Belt Engineering is an excellent choice for you. Structural concerns can include cracking, sloped floors, visible water damage, crawlspace concerns, etc. Due Diligence Building Inspection Whether you are selling or purchasing a building, a due diligence inspection is beneficial. Understanding the condition of the building is critical to determining the future maintenance and repair of the investment. Structural engineers offer the experience and professionalism necessary to conduct a thorough third-party review. Property and forensic assessing are a specialized service our professional engineers offer throughout Tampa and Orlando, Florida. Property owners, lawyers, and insurance companies trust our structural engineering experience to determine the cause of structural failures and positively identify responsible parties. When it comes to damage evaluation and other forensic considerations, Belt Engineering can provide detailed reports and analysis. Our forensic experience provides us a significant advantage over the traditional home and building inspectors. Consider the Foundation The foundation of your real estate is not something to leave to chance. When it comes to foundation settlement cracks there is no science to determine whether or not the settlement crack is natural settling or indicative of a major problem with the foundation. This is where the experience and training of a structural engineer are of greater benefit than other certified home inspectors. We’ll leave no stone unturned to ensure the property is structurally sound and all permits closed out. The additional training and experience that engineers have are why in some Florida jurisdictions, the government trusts professional engineers to complete required reviews and inspections. This is of benefit to the consumer because sometimes the government can be slow to review and inspect properties. When you work with a firm like Belt