DURABILITY OF CONCRETE STRUCTURES: WHAT DID THE ROMANS KNOW?
One question that I was asked during a recent presentation was “What are the differences in materials between then and now and what improvements have been made to increase durability of parking structures?” I’m sure the question was relative to recent history. However, there are Roman structures such as the Colosseum and the Pantheon that…
Why You Should Inspect Your Roof
Facilities often go year after year without having a comprehensive roof inspection. Managers trust that the roof is sound and even at times ignore obvious issues. Symptoms such as cracking, pooling water, and accumulating debris can indicate a significant problem. A proper inspection of the roof surface can head off a more expensive repair or…
Budgeting Maintenance Costs in Parking Structures
A great time was had by all at the Florida Parking and Transportation Association (FPTA) Conference in December at the Sawgrass Resort, Florida. My seminar on Parking Structure Maintenance was well attended, and | received a lot of good questions. One of the questions was how much to budget for maintenance. This was covered briefly…
Why is it Raining Inside my Parking Structure?
Ever wonder why it is raining inside your parking structure? Well, it is a sign that your parking structure needs attention. Water is the number 1 cause of parking structure deterioration. Water-saturated concrete can…
Concrete Crack Repair: When is a Crack a Crack?
At what point should you begin to worry about a crack in your parking structure? There are several warning signs that can indicate that a crack has become an issue. On top of this, there are also several common areas where cracks can occur that may require…
4 Things You Need To Know About OSHA 1910 Subpart D
Keeping employees safe by complying with OSHA’s fall protection requirements is a priority for building owners and property managers. The new OSHA rule, which was published on November 17th, 2016, sets new provisions for work performed at heights. These new provisions may leave owners and managers wondering what has changed and what their timeline is…
How Long Will My Parking Structure Last?
That depends. Don’t you love it? The truth is, there are many factors that influence the prediction of how long a parking structure will last and at what point you will need to tear it down and rebuild. Parking structures are unique in that the structure is directly exposed to the elements, unlike a building…
Vehicle Barrier System Testing Saves Owners Money
Project Background A client recently purchased an office building and while completing their due diligence, decided that the attached parking structure needed restoration work. The client hired Innovative Engineering Inc. for restoration engineering and to determine if the structure met code requirements. At first glance, the vehicle guardrail system, composed of steel pipe embedded into…
SPRAT Certification and What it Means in the Industry
IEI Rope Access Forensics Team (RAFT)recently completed a weeklong SPRAT (Society of Professional Rope Access Technicians) training course which led to the successful completion of the performance evaluation. This training was for both those new to rope access, as well as veterans. What is Industrial Rope Access? Industrial Rope Access has been used in the…
Structural Façade Forensic Investigation: Richard B. Russell Agricultural Research Center
In response to a concern the USDA had regarding cracks and rust colored stains in the limestone façade of the Richard B. Russell Research Center, the team of Toland & Mizell Architects and Innovative Engineering were asked to conduct a façade forensic investigation. More specifically, the USDA was concerned about the structural integrity of the…