In Miami-Dade County and Broward County, the Building Recertification process, formerly known as 40 Year Recertification or Building Safety Inspection Program, was established to evaluate the general structural and electrical conditions of existing buildings to ensure they are safe for continued occupancy. The building recertification process is now required for buildings that are 30 years or older and for all condominiums within 3 miles of the coast line that are 25 years or older. These buildings will be required to repeat the recertification process at every 10 year interval thereafter for the life of the building.
Florida condominium associations are required to perform a milestone structural inspection for the purposes of determining a buildings’ life safety and structural component integrity or adequacy. These inspections are required if your condo meets the following conditions:
– 3 or more stories in height
– 25 years old within 3 miles of the coast
– 30 years old further than 3 miles of the coast
Infrared thermography inspections are required for electrical systems operating at 400 amperes or greater and must be performed by a Level II or higher Certified Infrared Thermographer who is qualified and trained to recognize and document thermal anomalies in electrical systems. Miami-Dade County requires an infrared thermography inspection with a written report to be submitted for 40 year Recertification.
Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS), better known as drones, can be used as valuable tools to inspect buildings where access is limited and when the use of expensive equipment such as scaffolding or swing-stages is cost-prohibitive. Drone imagery can provide building owners, property managers, engineers, and maintenance personnel the opportunity to see an up-close image of the building to determine if there are any deficiencies that require remediation.
Forensic engineering is the application of engineering principles to the investigation of failures or other performance problems. Forensic engineering also involves testimony on the findings of these investigations before a court of law. Cueto Engineering has provided expert engineering analysis and solutions on numerous building projects. Our professionals are highly qualified to identify and assess the underlying causes of a building’s distress or failure.
Commercial properties including apartments, office buildings, warehouses, restaurants, strip malls, and other similar buildings often require inspections based on the requirements of the owner, tenant, insurance companies, mortgage companies, and banks. An inspection performed by a licensed engineer can inform you about areas of concern, improve your negotiating position, and provide you with an assessment of the property’s current condition for future reference.
Properties that have been deemed by the Building Department as “Unsafe Structures” or “Grow House” are required to have a structural and electrical inspection performed by a licensed engineer. A building may be deemed unsafe if work has been performed without proper permits and inspections, it is vacant with unguarded or open windows and doors, has an accumulation of debris representing a hazard of combustion, and/or creates hazards with respect to means of egress and fire protection. The property cannot be occupied until the inspection has been performed and any hazards are remediated.
Residential structural inspections are recommended for properties built before the year 2000 and any building experiencing signs of distress. These inspections include a visual, non-destructive investigation of all accessible areas of the building and may include structural and electrical systems. Based on the evaluation of existing conditions, a report is prepared detailing the visual inspection and providing recommended methods of repair for areas that were observed with deficiencies.