Building Inspection Engineers: The First Line of Defense
Conducting a building inspection is a critical step to ensuring the safety and reliability of any commercial building. Whether it’s for a planned purchase or maintenance of a commercial building, the stakeholders must hire a commercial building engineer who can thoroughly inspect the property’s condition. Otherwise, the owners could face significant risks resulting from unidentified (or late-identified) building defects.
Building inspection engineers serve as the “first line of defense” against risks present in the building. They can highlight its true condition and provide a detailed estimate of the repair and replacement costs it entails, thus helping the stakeholders make the right decision before making a major investment in the building.
Here are the potential dangers in a commercial real estate property that a qualified building inspection engineer in NJ can spot and help prevent by conducting a thorough building inspection process.
- Structural and Building Envelope Issues
During a building inspection, a professional engineer evaluates the structural frame’s components for defects that may affect the structure’s integrity or stability. Among these components are the columns, beams, girders, and trusses that are connected.
They also inspect the building envelope, which is composed of various building systems designed to protect the interior of the building from exterior elements, mainly water intrusion. Such systems include the roofing system, the walls – including doors and windows, air barrier systems, and the foundation walls and floor slabs.
The scope of the structural frame and building envelope inspection can vary on different factors such as the age of the building, occupancy, location, and the type of construction materials used. Regardless, an inspection of the building’s structure ensures that it is still reliable and safe and can still keep exterior elements out and interior elements efficiently.
Common defects related to a building’s frame and envelope components and systems that a building inspection engineer can spot during the inspection process include:
- Water infiltration
- Cracked masonry wall/warped siding
- Thermal bridges
- Cracked foundations and floors
- Fire Hazards
A building inspection engineer in New Jersey will also check if the commercial building has the required fire safety routes and fire suppression systems in compliance with the requirements under the NJ Administrative Code Title V, Chapter 70-76.
During the inspection, the engineer will assess fire escapes, fire extinguishers, and alarm systems to check if they have been sufficiently inspected and tested to be in adequate, operational order and strategically positioned in accessible locations.”.
Aside from the local fire codes, a building inspection engineer will also check the compliance of the building with the NFPA 25 code. NFPA 25 is a globally recognized compliance baseline for inspection, testing, and maintenance of (ITM) of water-based fire suppression systems. The building inspection engineer will conduct a meticulous examination of these systems to detect physical damage and signs of corrosion and any other defects.
- HVAC System Issues
Regular HVAC system inspections are vital to creating a safe and healthy environment for the occupants. As part of the inspection process, commercial building inspectors will also assess the heating and ventilation systems attached to the property to ensure that the equipment itself and the distribution system that delivers the air throughout the building are functioning efficiently and safely.
This process also includes a limited visual inspection of the air filters, condenser, and compressor components of the system to ensure that they are free of damage or debris.
As part of the air quality review, the building inspector can also assess the HVAC systems by asking the following questions:
- Is a regular HVAC maintenance cycle followed per the manufacturer’s guidelines?
- Is the HVAC operation cycled properly with the building use schedule?
- Are chemicals and contaminants stored and used safely in relation to HVAC system components?
- Are proper temperatures and humidity levels being maintained?
- Are fumes and exhaust from equipment and shipping bays properly ventilated away from the HVAC components?
- Is there regular use of pest control chemicals that may affect HVAC systems?
Besides, the professional inspection will also check the HVAC system’s exhaust gas venting components for proper clearance, support, and potential airflow restrictions.
- Electrical and Mechanical System Failure
The building’s electrical and mechanical systems must also be inspected to ensure that they are compliant with the National Electrical Code and Standard for Electrical Safety in the Workplace.
Components of the system such as the wiring, feeders, switches and receptacles, motors, transformers, capacitors, elevators, platform lifts, escalators, and exterior lighting system will all be checked for suitability, current, and temperature ratings, working clearances, and proper signage for safe identification.
- Building Codes Violations
The state of New Jersey has its codes and regulations regarding commercial buildings in its jurisdiction. During the site visit, the inspector will check if the building complies with relevant building regulations and standards.
Furthermore, commercial building inspectors can verify if the building has the necessary systems and processes to comply with new regulations such as energy efficiency and conservation requirements stipulated in ASHRAE 90.1-2019.
Also known as the Energy Standard for Buildings Except for Low-Rise Residential Buildings, the ASHRAE 90.1 standards provide the basis for energy codes adopted by the US. The 2019 edition contains several changes that set the stage for future energy efficiency requirements in commercial buildings.
With these changes, building inspections are far more critical than ever. An experienced commercial building inspection engineer’s expertise has become even more crucial as building owners face challenges in understanding the complexities of these new requirements.
Choosing the Right Commercial Building Engineer in NJ
All the key stakeholders of a commercial property should prioritize hiring a qualified licensed professional engineer to conduct the building inspection process. These professionals will know what to look for and see through any cosmetic improvements covering up faults that an untrained eye might otherwise miss.
The engineers at Lockatong Engineering perform commercial building inspections, often referred to as Property Condition Assessments (PCA), per the NABIE Standards of Practice and following ASTM E2018 – the standard guide for Property Condition Assessments.
To learn more about the expertise and services of our Commercial Building Engineers in NJ, visit our website today at www.lockatong.com.
