After catastrophic accidents, the Florida legislature signed Senate Bill 4D into law May of last year. If you have not heard of this law, is a statute which aims to ensure the safety of aging structures requiring that multi-story residential buildings to undergo mandatory structural inspections known as milestone inspections.
So, what is a Milestone Inspection?
Milestone inspection: a structural inspection that must be completed for a condominium association for a building three stories or more in height.
The inspection must be completed by the last day of year on the year the building turns 30 years old (according to the certificate of occupancy)
The building must be re-inspected every 10 years after that.
If your building is close to water, 3 miles from a coastline, the first inspection must be done when the building turns 25 and then every 10 years after that.
My building needs an inspection. Now what?
An engineer that is licensed in the state of Florida is the only person authorized to perform these kinds of inspections. They will look at all the habitable and uninhabitable areas of the structure. Some areas they will focus on are:
Load Bearing Walls
Primary Structural Members
The goal of the inspector is to determine the overall condition of the building, attest to the life safety of the building and it's structural components, and when necessary make judgements and recommendations on repairs or replacements needed to make sure that the building is safe. The objective of this inspection is not to determine if the building is code complaint.
A milestone inspection can be broken down into two parts known as Phase 1 and Phase 2. Phase 1 is what is described above, the original inspection and determination of what is needed. If the inspector determines that repairs are needed in order to make the structure safe then a Phase 2 assessment is needed. Phase 2 requires more in depth testing as well as a more rigorous procedure to be followed for repairs.
What Happens After Your Inspection?
After your inspection, your engineer will provide a written report of their findings to your condominium association as well as your local building department. Ensure that your report is signed and sealed by the registered engineer and start planning remediation actions if necessary.
Specialty Engineering Consultants has been providing milestone inspection to clients all over South Florida. It is important to remember that Milestone inspections are mandatory right now and they are required to be completed by the end of 2024. We are booking clients quickly. If you need a milestone inspection completed call us now (561)752-5440.
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