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We Do It All Condo Milestone Inspections Per SB-4D
Our Structural Forensic Engineers specialize in structural design, structural inspections, forensic engineering, Condo milestone Inspections Phase I & II, Structural Engineering design, hurricane damage Inspections, structural engineering assessments, building damage inspections and reports, forensic inspections and reports, roof damage assessments, Concrete Steel & Wood Structural design for condo & high rise buildings per Florida law SB-4D throughout Orlando, Tampa, Clearwater, Daytona Beach, Jacksonville, Structural defects assessments & inspections, buildings structural collapse inspections & assessments, roof hail damage inspections, roof wind damage inspections, Best Condominium Structural engineer Inspections residential structural engineer Structural Engineers
Milestone Inspections Florida:
I. Milestone Inspections: Mandatory Structural Inspections For Condominium and Cooperative Buildings. (§553.899, Fla. Stat.)
You will not find these new milestone inspection requirements in Chapters 718 or 719 of the Florida Statutes, but rather in Chapter 553, Florida Statutes, as cited above.
Milestone Inspections
The term “milestone inspection” means a structural inspection of a building, including an inspection of load-bearing walls and the primary structural members and primary structural systems. The aforementioned terms are defined in §627.706, Florida Statutes, and are to be carried out by a licensed architect or engineer authorized to practice in this state for the purposes of attesting to the life safety and adequacy of the structural components of the building and, to the extent reasonably possible, determining the general structural condition of the building as it affects the safety of such building, including a determination of any necessary maintenance, repair, or replacement of any structural component of the building. The purpose of such an inspection is not to determine if the condition of an existing building is in compliance with the Florida Building Code or the fire safety code.
Substantial Structural Deterioration
The term “substantial structural deterioration” means substantial structural distress that negatively affects a building’s general structural condition and integrity. The term does not include surface imperfections such as cracks, distortion, sagging, deflections, misalignment, signs of leakage, or peeling of finishes, unless the licensed engineer or architect performing the phase one or phase two inspection determines that such surface imperfections are a sign of substantial structural deterioration.
Milestone Inspections For Buildings Three Stories or More In Height
A condominium association under Chapter 718 and a cooperative association under Chapter 719 must have a milestone inspection performed for each building that is three 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.
Within Three Miles of Coastline
If the building is three or more stories in height and is located within three miles of a coastline, the condominium association or cooperative association must have a milestone inspection performed by December 31 of the year in which the building reaches 25 years of age, based on the date the certificate of occupancy for the building was issued, and every 10 years thereafter.
The condominium association or cooperative association must arrange for the milestone inspection to be performed and is responsible for ensuring compliance.
The condominium association or cooperative association is responsible for all costs associated with the inspection.
If The Certificate of Occupancy was Issued Before July 1, 1992
If a milestone inspection is required under this statute and the building’s certificate of occupancy was issued on or before July 1, 1992, the building’s initial milestone inspection must be performed before December 31, 2024. If the date of issuance for the certificate of occupancy is not available, the date of issuance of the building’s certificate of occupancy shall be the date of occupancy evidenced in any record of the local building official.
Upon determining that a building must have a milestone inspection, the local enforcement agency must provide written notice of such required inspection to the condominium association or cooperative association by certified mail, return receipt requested.
Within 180 days after receiving the written notice, the condominium association or cooperative association must complete phase one of the milestone inspection. For purposes of this section, completion of phase one of the milestone inspection means the licensed engineer or architect who performed the phase one inspection submitted the inspection report by email, United States Postal Service, or commercial delivery service to the local enforcement agency.
A Milestone Inspection Consists of Two Phases
(a) PHASE 1—For phase one of the milestone inspection, a licensed architect or engineer authorized to practice in this state must perform a visual examination of habitable and non-habitable areas of a building, including the major structural components of a building, and provide a qualitative assessment of the structural conditions of the building. If the architect or engineer finds no signs of substantial structural deterioration to any building components under visual examination, phase two of the inspection (discussed below) is not required. An architect or engineer who completes a phase one milestone inspection shall prepare and submit an inspection report.
(b) PHASE 2—A phase two of the milestone inspection must be performed if any substantial structural deterioration is identified during phase one. A phase two inspection may involve destructive or nondestructive testing at the inspector’s direction. The inspection 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 sound and safe for its intended use and to recommend a program for fully assessing and repairing distressed and damaged portions of the building. When determining testing locations, the inspector must give preference to locations that are the least disruptive and most easily repairable while still being representative of the structure. An inspector who completes a phase two milestone inspection must prepare and submit an inspection report.
Post-Milestone Inspection Requirements
Upon completion of a phase one or phase two 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 to the condominium association or cooperative association, and to the building official of the local government which has jurisdiction. The inspection report must, at a minimum, meet all of the following criteria:
- Bear the seal and signature, or the electronic signature, of the licensed engineer or architect who performed the inspection.
- Indicate the manner and type of inspection forming the basis for the inspection report.
- Identify any substantial structural deterioration within a reasonable professional probability based on the scope of the inspection, describe the extent of such deterioration, and identify any recommended repairs for such deterioration.
- State whether unsafe or dangerous conditions, as those terms are defined in the Florida Building Code, were observed.
- Recommend any remedial or preventive repair for any items that are damaged but are not substantial structural deterioration.
- Identify and describe any items requiring further inspection.
Local Government Enforcement
A local enforcement agency may prescribe timelines and penalties with respect to compliance with the milestone inspection requirements.
A board of county commissioners may adopt an ordinance requiring that a condominium or cooperative association schedule or commence repairs for substantial structural deterioration within a specified timeframe after the local enforcement agency receives a phase two inspection report; however, such repairs must be commenced within 365 days after receiving such report. If an association fails to submit proof to the local enforcement agency that repairs have been scheduled or have commenced for substantial structural deterioration identified in a phase two inspection report within the required timeframe, the local enforcement agency must review and determine if the building is unsafe for human occupancy.
Milestone Inspections PHASE ONE
Phase One Milestone Inspections Florida
The Phase One Milestone Inspection or condo structural inspections by Structural Engineers are key to ensuring a condominium association is taking the steps to identify any potential structural defects that may affect the structural integrity of the condominium building.
It is critical to hire a structural engineer with a long track record of structural analysis, design, construction & forensic inspections. That engineers will inspect the major structural components of building, looking at key areas of concern and determine if further inspections are necessary.
The Phase I Milestone Inspection is required of every condominium three stories or taller in Florida built before 1992 or 2002, depending on location, and must be filed with your local building department.
MILESTONE INSPECTIONS PHASE TWO
Phase Two Milestone Structural inspections
are done by structural engineers based on the results of the visual Phase I milestone Inspections.
After the Phase I Milestone Inspection, your professional engineers will determine if further investigation and additional intensive testing must be performed on the condominium's concrete, steel, and wood elements.
The Phase Two Milestone Inspection will investigate issues found during the Phase One Milestone Inspection by performing substantial testing and analysis on those areas. The goal of this step will determine the extent of the underlying issue facing your building.
After the Phase II Milestone Inspection, you should have a comprehensive understanding of what needs to be done by your Condominium Association.
We have worked with condo associations and designers to produce top-notch work. Call us today and bring our project management skills and extensive construction experience to your next project.
Hurricane & Flood Damage Inspections Fort Myers.
EMA Structural engineers doing Structural Inspections in Fort Myers Beach on Saturday, October 2, to assess damage to the various areas after Hurricane Ian.
EMA milestone inspections Engineers have qualified and experienced engineers to do all inspections and damage assessments to the residential and commercial properties after the floodwaters of Ian hit the city and surrounding areas.
Our team had a report that a five-story condominium had collapsed, and first had to move debris in order to cross the bridge. That building was still standing, he said, but residents needed help getting out of the building.
This footage shows widespread damage to buildings across the city.
The first night we got here, there was a report that there was a five story condominium that had collapsed. And so to make it over the bridge, we had to remove a ton of debris. The engineers, we looked at the bridge to make sure it was safe still to pass, and then we came over.