Building Milestone & Recertification Inspections
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History and Included/Excluded Structures
Miami-Dade County’s program started in the mid-70’s. Broward County’s program became effective throughout the county in January 2006.
Both counties call for structural and electrical safety inspections for buildings 40 years old or older and every ten years thereafter.
One and two family dwellings, U.S Government, State of Florida buildings, schools under the jurisdiction of the B.C. School Board, and buildings built on Indian Reservations are exempt from this program.
Miami-Dade County’s effort exempts other buildings under 2,000 square feet while the Broward program excludes all buildings under 3,500 square feet. Both Counties have had instances of structural building failures.
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Purpose
The purpose of the required inspection and report is to confirm that the building or structure under consideration is safe for continued use under the current occupancy.
This inspection determines the general structural condition of the building or any part which affects the safety of the building and/or which supports any dead or designed live load, and the general condition of its electrical systems pursuant to the Building Code.
Elements Inspected
- Concrete elements such as balcony slabs, columns and beams
- Masonry elements such as walls
- Wood elements such as trusses, columns and beams
- Steel elements such as stairs, beams and columns
- Aluminum elements such as screen enclosures
- Windows, doors, and shutters
- Any other structural elements that support the building
If the building passes the inspection then our reports are submitted and should be approved by the authority having jurisdiction. Once approved by the AHJ, no other action is needed from the building for 10 years until the building requires recertification again.
If the building does not pass the inspection, then our report will note this. The building now has to perform repairs to the building to get it into compliance.
If the Building Did Not Pass
If your building did not pass the Recertification inspection, the UPE can assist with getting your building back into a proper condition to pass the inspection.
UPE’s extensive structural engineering, spec writing and construction administration experience has prepared us to guide you through every step of the process from doing a formal condition assessment to bidding to construction oversight.
We are qualified to assess structural damage, assess building envelope issues, create repair protocols, write repair specs, assist with bidding your project to contractors and perform construction phase services such as special inspections and construction administration.
Update (December 2021)
Champlain Towers South
It should be noted that the collapse of Champlain Towers South in Surfside will very likely cause change to the current building recertification programs.
Numerous task forces have already met and made their recommendations. All have recommended that the initial recertification inspection age should be reduced.
We have seen 30 years all the way down to 5 years of age for the initial inspection.
So, building owners in Broward and Miami-Dade County should expect to see changes coming soon. And, it is likely that this inspection will be required in other counties throughout Florida. It may even become a state requirement.
Why Choose
United Professional Engineering
At UPE, we understand it is hard to find a service provider you can trust and count on and we are here to change that.
Today, one of the largest investments is building a structure and how to maintain its lifespan. Structural integrity, environmental factors, atmospheric elements, and maintaining aesthetics are all important factors that we evaluate very carefully, when working on a project. At UPE our highly qualified licensed designers, engineers and general contractors promises to ensure your investment is protected.
Our trusted team members are ready to listen, help and guide you through the process from start to finish. It doesn’t matter what size of your project, we will be able to alleviate your stress and provide you with the quality of service you deserve.
- Diverse Specialized Team
- Experience in South Florida Projects
- Open Communication Network
- Licensed & Insured
Testimonials
They were very professional looking carefully at all the details.
The inspection report was clear and precise as well they suggested to make some minor repairs needed.
I highly recommend them.
This was a very good experience. There was great communication, work was done on time and professionally handled. couldn't have asked for better.
Thank you for all your hard work on this project.
Mr. Giglio with UPE was very professional and explained everything expected of me before coming out to my house.
He arrived right on time and was very thorough with his inspection. He was also very willing to discuss the issue with the necessary people to solve the problem that I was having.
I had a client that had some settling on a retaining wall. They called me from the site to make sure that we were on the same page. I had a report shortly after in the mail.
They followed up with a call and some more advice on how to proceed with the repair. Very pleasant process
Frequently Asked Questions
What does a Structural Engineer do?
A Structural Engineer can perform a range of services to assist you in the assessment of your home, office or building or to assist with the design of your those.
Whereas an Architect may design the appearance and layout of a property, a Structural Engineer can perform design checks using various structural products and materials to ensure the proposed works are structurally safe and buildable.
What is a structural engineering inspection?
A thorough analysis of a structure’s foundation, basement and crawl space, framing, roof, interior and exterior to determine how well it can support or resist weight.
The engineer will provide a detailed report on conditions that need attention and estimated costs of recommended repairs.
Do all your designs comply with health and safety rules?
Yes. All of our engineers are experienced in the design of structural works and we take our health and safety responsibilities very seriously.
We advise all of our clients on health and safety matters at the time of providing a proposal.
Why should I have an engineer on board through construction?
Your engineer will represent your interests during project construction. On controlled construction projects, inspections by the engineer of record arc mandatory.
The engineer will make periodic inspections to assure that the work is being performed in substantial compliance with the drawings and specifications, and will notify you and other appropriate parties if it isn't.
Furthermore, you are paying for the project as designed and specified, and retaining an engineer throughout project construction is in your best interest to assure that you will get what you are paying for.
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United Professional Engineering (UPE) is a leading professional engineering company based in south-east Florida.
UPE has been in business since 2005 and we have a diverse team of Professional Engineers, Building Inspectors and General Contractors.
