The Benefits of Effective Structural Engineering

The building envelope is the physical barrier between the interior and exterior of a building. Components of the envelope typically include roofs, plaza slabs (outdoor floors), exterior walls, openings for doors, windows, skylights, louvers etc. and below grade water management systems. 

The envelope also provides structural resistance to wind, seismic, and gravity loads as well as environmental protection from the elements, including moisture and temperature. 

A well-designed building envelope offers numerous benefits:

• Enhanced Safety: Ensuring the stability of the envelope under extreme events like earthquakes, high winds and bomb blast.
• Improved Energy Efficiency: Minimizing air leakage and thermal bridging, reducing energy consumption for heating and cooling.
• Increased Durability: Protecting the building from moisture damage, corrosion, and other forms of deterioration.   
• Occupant Comfort: Maintaining a stable indoor environment with controlled temperature, humidity, and ventilation.

While there is often overlap, condition assessments and failure investigations of the envelope can be broken down into two categories: structural and waterproofing. Our inspectors are cross trained in both.

Read more on our website!

Prioritize Your Building Envelope Inspection!

No one likes surprises. Having a building envelope inspection and report done only to realize during the restoration that the budget you were given is not enough to complete the project can creates unnecessary problems and possibly damage reputations. IEI takes a very holistic and thorough approach to building envelope inspection, forensic investigation, reporting and estimating of repair costs. Our staff includes engineers with construction experience including estimating and scheduling. We are also backed up by very reputable restoration contractors with real-time cost data. Contact us today!

Understanding the Building Envelope in Structural Engineering

Determining the root cause of a building envelope deficiency can be very challenging, though possible if you understand how building water management and superstructures are constructed, how they behave when subjected to moisture, ultraviolet light (UV), high temperatures, movement and load, and the failure mechanisms involved. 

As experts in the design and construction of buildings and envelopes deterioration mechanisms relating to the specific materials and assemblies of the envelope, our building envelope inspection services include a critical examination of as-built drawings, user interviews and research, broad and close inspection of the building envelope, photographic evidence collection, and estimating repairs and reporting.

The building envelope comprises various components, including:

• Walls: Providing vertical enclosure and resistance to lateral loads.   
• Roof: Protecting against weather elements and supporting snow and wind loads.   
• Foundation: Transferring building loads to the ground and resisting soil pressure.   
• Windows and Doors: Allowing natural light and access while maintaining thermal and air barriers. Openings may also need to be reinforced for bomb blast.  

Each of these components requires careful structural design to withstand various forces and environmental conditions.   

Structural Considerations in Building Envelope Design

Structural engineers consider several factors when designing building envelopes:

• Loads: The envelope must resist various loads, including: 
• Dead Loads: The weight of the envelope components themselves.
• Live Loads: Occupant loads, furniture, and equipment.   
• Environmental Loads: Wind, snow, rain, and seismic forces.  

Read more on our website!

Prioritize Your Building Envelope Inspection!

No one likes surprises. Having a building envelope inspection and report done only to realize during the restoration that the budget you were given is not enough to complete the project can creates unnecessary problems and possibly damage reputations. IEI takes a very holistic and thorough approach to building envelope inspection, forensic investigation, reporting and estimating of repair costs. Our staff includes engineers with construction experience including estimating and scheduling. We are also backed up by very reputable restoration contractors with real-time cost data. Contact us today!

Blast-Resistant Design for Property and Building Owners

Property and building owners and managers should employ a comprehensive approach to blast design:

• Threat Assessment: We work with our clients to define the potential threats, considering factors such as the type and size of explosive, standoff distance, and potential points of attack.
• Performance Objectives: We establish clear performance objectives, defining the acceptable level of damage for different blast scenarios. This might range from minimal structural damage to ensuring life safety.
• Advanced Analysis: We use sophisticated software to model the blast event and analyze the structural response. This includes:
• Blast load modeling: Simulating the complex pressure-time history of the blast wave.
• Nonlinear dynamic analysis: Assessing the structural behavior under extreme loading conditions, considering material nonlinearities and large deformations.
• Design Strategies: Based on the analysis results, we implement design strategies to enhance the blast resistance of the structure. These may include:
•  Ductile detailing: Designing connections and members to deform in a controlled manner, absorbing energy and preventing brittle failure.
•  Stand-Off Distance: Locate parking and roadways to decrease the bomb blast pressures.
•  Redundancy: Build in redundant load paths to minimize the likelihood of progressive collapse.
• Material Selection: Builders should select materials with high strength, ductility, and energy absorption capacity. This may include:
• Ductility: Utilize ductile materials such as steel to absorb the energy from a blast.
• Mass: Utilize heavy cladding to absorb the energy from a blast.

Read the full article on our website!

Blast Design Expertise for Your Business

As technology evolves, so too does physical security design engineering. Integration with cyber security systems and the use of advanced surveillance techniques are becoming increasingly common. This field is constantly adapting to meet the ever-changing security landscape.

By combining engineering expertise with a keen understanding of security threats, physical security design engineers play a vital role in creating safe and secure environments for people and property.

We not only have in-depth knowledge of physical security and blast design criteria; we have access to interpretations and those who make them. Contact us today to learn more!

Blast Design for Defense

In today’s world, the threat of explosive attacks is a serious concern for a wide range of structures, from government buildings and military installations to critical infrastructure and commercial properties.

As a structural engineering company, we understand the importance of designing and constructing buildings that can withstand the devastating effects of blasts.
Understanding the Challenge

Blast events generate extreme loads in a very short time, creating complex dynamic forces that can cause catastrophic damage to conventional structures. These forces include:

•     Airblast: The rapid overpressure wave generated by the explosion.
•     Ground shock: The seismic waves transmitted through the ground.
•     Fragmentation: High-velocity debris propelled by the blast.

The goal of blast design is to mitigate these effects, protecting both the structure itself and the people inside.

Read more on our website!

 Blast Design Expertise for Your Business

As technology evolves, so too does physical security design engineering. Integration with cyber security systems and the use of advanced surveillance techniques are becoming increasingly common. This field is constantly adapting to meet the ever-changing security landscape.

By combining engineering expertise with a keen understanding of security threats, physical security design engineers play a vital role in creating safe and secure environments for people and property.

We not only have in-depth knowledge of physical security and blast design criteria; we have access to interpretations and those who make them. Contact us today to learn more!

Snow Removal 101 for Parking Structures

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?

Before the snow hits, there are some items to add to your to-do list that will make snow clearing easier and will help ensure you avoid costly repairs when the snow finally melts.

1. Don’t use metal or steel snowplow blades in the garage! Use urethane or heavy rubber edges.
2. Only use de-icing agents that are parking garage-friendly! Sodium acetate, potassium acetate, and calcium magnesium acetate are good to use in advance of snowfall. Avoid sodium chloride (rock salt), calcium chloride, and ammonium nitrate in a garage as these accelerate corrosion of reinforcing!
3. Don’t store large piles of snow on the roof. Large snow piles get heavy over time and can quickly exceed the live load limits of the structure or garage.
4. In between snowfalls, make it a habit to use snow melt machines or over-the-side dumping to remove large snow piles from the garage.

Visit our website to read the entire list and learn more about parking garage restoration!

IEI Specializes in Parking Garage Restoration

We’ve been helping owners reduce parking garage restoration costs since 1995. Unlike most other building systems that are protected by a conditioned building envelope, parking structures are directly exposed to the elements which results in exponential or accelerated deterioration. Therefore, early and inexpensive parking garage restoration practices produce a ROI much higher than that of other building systems.

Contact us today for a quote.

Protect Your Parking Garage From Heavy Snow

Winter is far from over in the Northeast and Midwest!

Is your parking structure properly prepped for any inclement weather?

Have you noticed in between snow clearings that your parking structure is starting to show spalls or leaks?
Before the snow hits, there are some items to add to your to-do list that will help ensure you avoid costly repairs when the snow finally melts.

Visit our website to read the full article about winter parking garage restoration!

IEI Specializes in Parking Garage Restoration

We’ve been helping owners reduce parking garage restoration costs since 1995. Unlike most other building systems that are protected by a conditioned building envelope, parking structures are directly exposed to the elements which results in exponential or accelerated deterioration. Therefore, early and inexpensive parking garage restoration practices produce a ROI much higher than that of other building systems

Our engineers are glad to walk your facility and let you know of any conditions that require immediate attention and what maintenance activities you can perform now to extend the life of your facility. Since the back of IEI business cards contain a crack gauge, you can easily evaluate any cracks within your structure to determine if it is of concern. Give us a call today!

Preventing EV Fires in Parking Structures

To mitigate the risks associated with EV fires in parking structures, several measures can be implemented:

• Regular Inspections: Conduct routine inspections of charging infrastructure, cables, and connectors to identify and address potential hazards.
• Fire Suppression Systems: Consider installing fire suppression systems specifically designed for EV fires, such as those using inert gases or foam that do not harm batteries.
• Emergency Procedures: Develop and implement emergency procedures for handling EV fires, including evacuation plans and protocols for first responders.
• Ventilation: Improve ventilation in parking structures to facilitate smoke removal and reduce the spread of fire.
• Battery Management Systems: Advancements in battery management systems can help prevent thermal runaway by monitoring battery temperature, state of charge, and other critical parameters.

While EVs offer many advantages, it is essential to address the potential fire hazards associated with their use in parking structures. By taking proactive steps to prevent fires and ensure proper emergency response, we can create safer environments for both EV owners and building occupants. 

Read more on our website!

Utilize the IEI Advantage!

We’ve been a trusted resource to some of the largest property owners and managers across the United States for over 25 years. 

Our passion is showing real estate professionals how to self-inspect their facilities in order to reduce repair and replacement costs and know when to call in an expert. Our engineers are glad to walk your facility, including parking structure inspection, let you know the condition, what and when repairs or replacement are necessary, and provide reports with construction costs and recommend quality contractors to perform the work. 

Contact us today to get a quote!