Friday, March 15, 2024

How Do Sidewalk Vaults Present Potential Risk or Liability?

sidewalk vaults, structural engineering
Sidewalk vault slabs constructed in the 19th century lacked the drainage and waterproofing details in use today. If waterproofing membranes were used, they were typically poorly installed and/or not easily maintained. They also did not allow for drainage at the membrane level. Decades of slow water migration into the slab resulted in freeze-thaw damage and corrosion of reinforcing and support steel. With the decline in usefulness, sidewalk vaults have been neglected to the point that their structural integrity is in question.

Additionally, in the 19th century sidewalk slabs were built prior to modern building codes and were intended to support pedestrians. Today’s building code sidewalk loading criteria is intended to support parked trucks.

Sidewalk vault degradation is commonly out of sight and out of mind. They are not subject to ordinances similar to those for building facades and fire escapes. Often, the unsafe conditions are discovered by accident or partial collapse thus exposing building owners to tremendous liability and significant cost.

What can you do to protect your property?

Consider hiring a structural engineering firm with expertise in failure analysis and experience in the evaluation of sidewalk vaults to perform a structural condition survey.

The structural engineer should provide a condition assessment report including:

  • Findings and recommendations for remedial work
  • Methods used to conduct the investigation
  • Photographic documentation
  • Cost estimates for making recommended repairs, and
  • A professional engineering seal, signature, and date
  • Depending on the results of the structural survey, the engineer should also provide engineered temporary and/or permanent shoring of sidewalk and basement walls (if needed) to support any surcharge loading requirements identified during the assessment. Temporary shoring is only a short-term alternative (band-aid) to alleviate the most immediate structural concerns, while allowing more time for the development of other permanent solutions

Read the full article on our website!

IEI Provides Expert Structural Engineering Analysis

Our engineers are experts in structural engineering failure analysis and have extensive experience with inspecting and analyzing sidewalk vault conditions. We typically recommend a phased approach consisting of a cursory condition assessment followed by other phases that may include closer examination, analysis, or improvements as necessary. In this manner, building owners are able to better control their expenditures, risk, and liability. Contact us today to learn more.


Friday, March 1, 2024

Maintaining Your Historic Building: Sidewalk Vaults

structural engineering, sidewalk vaults
Have you ever wondered what would happen if a project in your neighborhood or on your street affected the stability of your building? You may not even realize your building has a stability issue, especially if it’s outside under the sidewalk! Out of sight, out of mind.

If your city’s public works department is working on a street project, it’s very likely your sidewalks will be affected. Sidewalk vaults are often overlooked during the maintenance phase, which could mean costly repairs for you.

What is a sidewalk vault?

Sidewalk vaults are a partial extension of a building’s basement under the adjacent sidewalk. They can extend up to and sometimes beyond the curb under the roadway. Introduced in the 19th century in urban areas, the vaults allowed access to utilities and delivery areas without entering the building.

Common sidewalk construction consisted of a 4″ topping slab or brick pavers on a waterproof membrane on a 4″ to 6″ structural slab spanning between steel or concrete beams or masonry arches. Before electricity, cast-iron and precast panels were fitted with glass lenses to allow daylight to reach otherwise dark vaults. Another common top consisted of 6″ to 8″ granite panels without waterproofing. Curbs were often faced with steel plate to protect them from vehicles parked on or driven over them.

Read the full article on our website!

IEI Provides Expert Structural Engineering Analysis

Our engineers are experts in structural engineering failure analysis and have extensive experience with inspecting and analyzing sidewalk vault conditions. We typically recommend a phased approach consisting of a cursory condition assessment followed by other phases that may include closer examination, analysis, or improvements as necessary. In this manner, building owners are able to better control their expenditures, risk, and liability. Contact us today to learn more.


Thursday, February 15, 2024

Protect Your Structure with Concrete Field Testing

concrete restoration atlanta
Corrosion is reinforced concrete’s number one enemy. Corrosion is the result of an electrochemical reaction among ferrous metal, water, and oxygen where rust or other corrosion is formed. This rust expands 5 to 7 times its original volume, and there is no stopping it.

Concrete that is very strong in compression is also very weak in tension. As a result, as the rusted rebar expands, the concrete cracks and eventually spalls.

Concrete has a naturally high pH which protects the reinforcing steel from corrosion. However, the presence of chlorides from saltwater and the process of carbonation occurring from oxygen in the atmosphere serve to lower the naturally protective pH.

The resulting atmosphere promotes corrosion and deterioration of the concrete exponentially over time. Corrosion also occurs at a faster rate and is more concealed in prestressed concrete than conventional reinforced concrete due to more surface area of exposed steel.

Initial Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) recommended:

  • Instantaneous Corrosion Rate Measurement: to measure the rate of corrosion to see how active the corrosion is and predict longevity of reinforcing from a known condition.
  • Impulse Echo: to check thickness and detect voids, delamination, and discontinuities of slabs, walls, footings, pile caps, and piles (concrete, steel, or wood), and to measure in situ concrete compressive strength. Pile testing may require minor excavation.

Optional Minimally Invasive Testing:

  • Chloride Ion Content and Depth to predict service life of reinforced concrete.
  • Carbonation Depth: requires cores sprayed with pH indicator solution to predict service life of reinforced concrete.
  • Half-Cell Potential: to locate different intensities of active corrosion.

Read more on our website!

The IEI Advantage: Concrete Restoration

The engineers at IEI specialize in concrete restoration! We’re happy 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, one can easily evaluate cracks within your structure. Give us a call today!

Thursday, February 1, 2024

Field Testing of Concrete

concrete restoration atlanta
Want to know the health of your concrete structure?

Want to upgrade your concrete structure but don’t have as-built structural drawings?

Non-destructive and minimally invasive concrete field testing can determine the health of your concrete structure and predict its useful remaining life. It can also determine or verify the reinforcement in your concrete structure. Non-destructive testing can also be used to determine the actual concrete compressive strength which supports as-built analysis and determination of reserve load carrying capacity.

Corrosion is reinforced concrete’s number one enemy. Corrosion is the result of an electrochemical reaction among ferrous metal, water, and oxygen where rust or other corrosion is formed. This rust expands 5 to 7 times its original volume, and there is no stopping it.

Initial Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) recommended:

  • Visual Examination: to identify wood and concrete deterioration, efflorescence, and leaks.
  • Probes: to identify soft spots requiring further investigation. Crack gauge to determine crack width and identify which cracks need to be sealed or epoxied (glued) back together.
  • Hammer and Rotary Hammer Testing (sounding): to identify delamination and future spalls on horizontal and vertical concrete surfaces.
  • Electrical Resistivity: to identify the presence of a corrosive environment (corrosion potential) containing chlorides and moisture penetration.
  • Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR): to identify corroded rebar, rebar size, cover, and location. Check for voids behind concrete.

Read more on our website!

The IEI Advantage: Concrete Restoration

The engineers at IEI specialize in concrete restoration! We’re happy 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, one can easily evaluate cracks within your structure. Give us a call today!

Tuesday, January 16, 2024

How to Prevent a Burst Water Pipe This Winter

Water expands 9% when it freezes. There is no stopping it, so it can burst pipes, fittings, and valves. If you live in the southern United States or a warmer climate where below-freezing temperatures occur infrequently, your business may be at a higher risk of a burst pipe.

Many commercial property owners have experienced this issue. To avoid sharing in their misfortune, it is imperative that you take the necessary steps to prevent your own water system from freezing.

You can save your property from total loss by taking these steps in freezing conditions:

  1. Shut off the main water valve: Find the main water valve for your property and turn it off to keep additional water from flowing into the affected portion of the system. If your fire protection sprinkler pipes burst, you will need to post a full-time fire watch.  
  2. Turn off the electricity to the affected area: Live current near a flooded area can present shock hazards. Turn off the power at the electrical panel to prevent dangerous conditions.
  3. Contact a plumber: If you see standing water but can’t tell where the frozen or burst pipe is, call a plumber to diagnose and start the repair process. Fixing the source of the leak is your top priority!

Need more help recovering from a burst pipe? Make sure you take these steps to prepare your building for winter!

For a free download of our winter preparedness checklist, please click here.


Read how you can save your property from total loss on our website.

The IEI Advantage for Structural Engineering

Innovative Engineering Inc. has been a trusted structural engineering, waterproofing engineering, and restoration engineering 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, 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!

Tuesday, January 2, 2024

How to Deal with Frozen Pipes in Your Building

structural engineering

Are you prepared to deal with frozen pipes in your building this winter?

Most buildings have preventative measures – such as insulation in exterior walls, attics, and crawl spaces – which do a good job of holding in the heat and protecting water pipes, but if you have extended periods of long-term cold weather or widespread power outages, your pipes could suffer.

Here are the basics:

  • Water freezes at 32 degrees (Fahrenheit) or colder
  • Pipes in 20 degrees or colder for prolonged periods will freeze
  • Exterior pipes freeze much faster than internal pipes

Water expands 9% when it freezes. There is no stopping it, so it can burst pipes, fittings, and valves. If you live in the southern United States or a warmer climate where below-freezing temperatures occur infrequently, your business may be at a higher risk of a burst pipe.

Many commercial property owners have experienced this issue. To avoid sharing in their misfortune, it is imperative that you take the necessary steps to prevent your own water system from freezing.

Read how you can save your property from total loss on our website.

The IEI Advantage for Structural Engineering

Innovative Engineering Inc. has been a trusted structural engineering, waterproofing engineering, and restoration engineering 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, 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!


Friday, December 15, 2023

Essential Winter Preparedness Checklist for Facility Managers & Owners

parking structure inspection
Is your facility ready for winter?

Have you done everything to ensure your staff are safe and warm during the cold months ahead?

Winter preparedness shouldn't be overlooked, and it's important to follow a checklist to make sure you don't forget any essential items that keep your facility up and running this winter:

Test Heating Systems: Ensure heating systems are functioning properly. Replace filters utilizing high efficiency filters and consider cleaning ductwork and installing a UV sanitizer to minimize the spread of viruses. Also, bringing in more air from the outside can help dilute the number of viral particles in the air. This may cause higher energy bills, but the payoff is healthier, safer employees and guests.

Test Emergency Generator: Service and test emergency generators. Ensure you have the appropriate amount of fuel, and that fuel is tested periodically to determine if fuel polishing is required to keep the fuel clean and free of contaminants.

Shut-Off Landscape Sprinklers: Shut off and completely drain irrigation systems.

Inspect Building Envelope: Visually inspect the roof paying particular attention to areas where work has been done, loose flashing, debris removal from roof, drains and gutters. Visually inspect the façade of your building paying particular attention to doors and windows. Avoid having to fix a roof, door, or window leak in the middle of a winter storm.

Snow and Ice Removal: Have On-Call Service provider(s) available 24/7 for snow and ice removal. Have them work overnight as required to remove snow and ice before occupants arrive each morning. The property owner usually has 48 hours to remove the accumulation of snow or ice to avoid being sued for a slip and fall. If this is done in-house, the property owner or manager should make sure equipment is available and has been serviced, ice melt is available, and shovels and snow blowers are ready. Ice melt such as Calcium Chloride, Magnesium Chloride, and Calcium Magnesium Acetate are not harmful to concrete. Rock salt (sodium chloride) is often the first deicing agent turned to because it’s inexpensive and effective. However, it’s very corrosive and can cause significant damage to concrete surfaces and even pose a threat to pets and plant life. Also, ensure winter wear is available to your workers.

Read the full list on our website!

The IEI Advantage for Winter Preparedness and Parking Structure Inspection

Innovative Engineering Inc. has 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!

How Do Sidewalk Vaults Present Potential Risk or Liability?

Sidewalk vault slabs constructed in the 19th century lacked the drainage and waterproofing details in use today. If waterproofing membranes ...