Maintaining Your Historic Building: 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.

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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.