Blast Design & Physical Security
The job of a blast design engineer is to understand the risk and consequences of an explosive event, and then to develop methods for reducing the potential harm caused to people and critical assets. How can you be sure your building is protected and built with the latest standards in physical security? A prevailing myth…
Best Practices for Structural Building Inspection
There are currently 12 cities in the United States with ordinances that mandate periodic inspections of building façades, most of which are located in the Midwest. However, across the country, many building owners and managers elect to partake in voluntary façade inspections for both safety and long-term financial reasons. Everyone can be involved in keeping…
A Brief History of Fall Protection and How its Standards Affect Us Today
Health and safety legislation began at the state level in 1877 in Massachusetts, and by the 1930’s, all states had some form of regulation. US Congress officially created OSHA under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, with its first standard being published in May of 1971. OSHA Standards are split into many different…
Myths vs. Realities of Physical Security
IEI routinely conducts peer reviews of both structural and physical security designs on behalf of the federal government. This is where we noticed the gap between theory and incorporation of physical security into the design documents. This appears to be the result of a couple of myths in the field of physical security, often referred…
How to Assess the Condition of Your Parking Structure
Whether your parking structure is a multi-level garage or a few below-grade levels under a high-rise building, proactive condition assessment and diligent maintenance are imperative. If problems are ignored, the harsh environment in garages, including corrosive deicing chemicals, freeze-thaw cycling, and the stress of thousands of vehicles traversing the deck, will quickly accelerate deterioration into…
Advantages of Thermal Imaging During a Building Envelope Inspection
Infrared (IR) thermal imaging is the measurement of surface temperatures. However, to the trained eye it is much more than that. Thermal images, when analyzed by an expert, can provide valuable insight to many problems during a building envelope inspection that would otherwise be difficult to identify or diagnose. Three common types of deficiencies that…
What is Commercial Construction Management?
Commercial construction is a huge industry, and as the economy grows, commercial buildings are necessary for creating more space for more workers as population growth and business cycles also grow. Commercial construction projects are all unique. Every business owner has a different vision of their design and the structure of their building depending on the…
Legionnaires’ Disease: COVID-19 for Buildings?
In July 1976, the Pennsylvania chapter of the American Legion held its annual state convention at the Bellevue-Stratford Hotel in Philadelphia. About 4,000 members attended. In the days that followed the convention, 221 of the attendees became ill and 34 died from a mystery form of pneumonia. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) immediately began…
Best Practices for Parking Garage Snow Removal
Do you maintain a parking structure or parking garage at your facility? When winter hits, are you truly prepared to take care of the snow and ice buildup? Best practices for snow removal operations on parking garages are: Don’t store large piles of snow on the top level. Large snow piles get heavy over time…
What to Look for in an Engineering Company
Are you close to the finish line for college graduation? You’ve been working hard for years, and it’s time for that work to pay off as you search for your dream job. Getting your foot in the door at a great engineering company can be intimidating and challenging. What should you look for in an…