Structural and Surface Parking Structure Inspections

Visually inspect roofs, flashing, gutters, doors, and windows to spot damage before winter storms. Check for loose flashing, debris, and ensure drainage systems are clear to avoid water pooling that accelerates freeze-thaw damage.

Snow and Ice Management

Have service providers on-call to remove snow and ice promptly (ideally overnight) to keep parking areas safe by morning. Use concrete-safe ice melt products like Calcium Chloride or Magnesium Chloride rather than corrosive rock salt. Make sure equipment such as shovels and snow blowers are serviced and ready along with appropriate winter clothing for workers.

Core Elements of Parking Structure Maintenance

• Surface Integrity and Waterproofing
  Regularly inspect parking decks for surface wear, cracking, and delamination. Patch distressed areas with compatible materials and maintain protective coatings or waterproof membranes designed for heavy traffic and exposure. Advanced waterproofing technologies such as liquid-applied membranes and cementitious coatings have become industry standards for sustained protection.
• Expansion Joints and Sealants
  These essential components accommodate structural movement and prevent water intrusion. Scheduled replacement and sealing maintain flexibility and stop moisture penetration.

Read more on our website!

Our structural engineers walk your facility, identify conditions that require immediate or future attention, and provide actionable reports with cost estimates and trusted contractor recommendations. 

Developing and following a thorough parking structure maintenance plan minimizes safety risks, protects your investment, and keeps your facility operational and inviting year-round. Contact IEI today to schedule your inspection and learn how to optimize your maintenance program. For a free download of our winter preparedness checklist, please click here.

Essential Winter Building Maintenance

Are you a building manager or owner?

Is your property ready for the oncoming winter weather?

Not being prepared could lead to disaster down the road in the event of a major winter weather event like a blizzard. 

Besides your parking structure, there are other areas in your building where you need to make sure you have safety measures in place.

Emergency Preparedness and Tenant Communication

Neglecting emergency preparedness can be costly. Develop a detailed Emergency Preparedness Plan widely communicated to all tenants and owners, especially before winter. This should include measures to protect plumbing lines with insulation or heat tape, ensuring heating systems function properly, and assigning on-call property managers and service providers for 24/7 availability during winter emergencies.

Maintain a current emergency contact list and secure tenant space keys for swift responses.

System Checks and Winterization

• Heating and Cooling Systems: Test heating and cooling systems, replace filters with high-efficiency types, and consider UV sanitizers to improve air quality inside structures.
• Emergency Generators: Regularly service and test generators, maintaining adequate fuel with periodic fuel quality assessments.
• Landscape Sprinklers: Completely shut off and drain irrigation systems to prevent freeze damage.

Read more on our website!

Our structural engineers walk your facility, identify conditions that require immediate or future attention, and provide actionable reports with cost estimates and trusted contractor recommendations. 

Developing and following a thorough parking structure maintenance plan minimizes safety risks, protects your investment, and keeps your facility operational and inviting year-round. Contact IEI today to schedule your inspection and learn how to optimize your maintenance program. For a free download of our winter preparedness checklist, please click here.

Don’t Defer Routine Parking Structure Maintenance!

There are many factors that influence how long a parking structure will last and at what point you will need to tear it down and rebuild.

How can you avoid expensive repairs or a rebuild in the future?

Parking structures are directly exposed to the elements, unlike a building structure that’s protected by a building envelope. Exposure includes moisture, freezing temperatures, deicing salts, thermal expansion and contraction, and dynamic vehicle loads.

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 will quickly accelerate deterioration into hazardous conditions.

Many see the outwardly rugged nature of a parking structure and assume that they are indestructible and require little maintenance. Unfortunately, this is simply not true. Many parking structures lack a true building envelope, and instead leave their structural components exposed to the elements. This leads to deterioration starting before construction has even completed.

Read more on our website!

Innovative Engineering Specializes in Parking Structure Restoration

We help owners with parking structure restoration and reducing costs. 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.

Our engineers are glad to walk your facility and let you know about any conditions that require immediate attention. 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!

Routine Parking Structure Maintenance Can Prevent Long-Term Costs

High-cost structural issues in parking garages often stem from common culprits such as water infiltration, freeze-thaw cycles, chloride attack from de-icing salts, and the natural aging of materials. These issues can lead to concrete cracking, spalling, rebar corrosion, and ultimately, a compromised structure. The good news is that many of these issues are preventable with consistent care and attention.

Addressing small issues promptly is significantly less expensive than tackling large-scale repairs. A comprehensive preventative maintenance plan should include:

• Invest in Effective Waterproofing and Protective Coatings: Applying high-quality traffic-bearing membranes and protective coatings to the parking surfaces creates a barrier against water, chlorides, and other corrosive agents.
• Regular Cleaning: Removing dirt, debris, and corrosive substances like de-icing salts prevents them from penetrating the concrete and accelerating deterioration. Power washing can be an effective way to remove stubborn residues.
• Crack and Pothole Sealing: Sealing cracks and repairing potholes prevents water and chemicals from infiltrating the concrete layers and reaching the reinforcing steel.
• Drainage System Maintenance: Clogged or damaged drainage systems are a major contributor to water accumulation and subsequent damage. Regularly cleaning catch basins, drains, and pipes ensures water is effectively channeled away from the structure. Proper grading and slope of the parking surface are also critical for effective drainage.

Read more on our website! 

Innovative Engineering Specializes in Parking Structure Restoration

We help owners with parking structure restoration and reducing costs. 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.

Our engineers are glad to walk your facility and let you know about any conditions that require immediate attention. 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!

Understanding the Risks of EV Fires in Parking Structures

The rise of electric vehicles (EVs) has brought about a significant shift in the transportation landscape. While EVs offer numerous benefits, such as reduced emissions and improved fuel efficiency, they also present unique safety concerns, particularly in enclosed spaces like parking structures. One of the most pressing issues is the risk of fire. This blog post will delve into the factors that contribute to EV fires in parking structures and explore strategies to mitigate these risks.

Unique Fire Risks of EVs

Unlike traditional gasoline-powered vehicles, EVs rely on lithium-ion batteries, which are highly energy-dense. While these batteries offer excellent performance, they can also be prone to thermal runaway under certain conditions. If a battery cell becomes damaged or overheated, it can trigger a chain reaction, leading to a rapid increase in temperature and the release of flammable gases. This can result in a fire that is difficult to extinguish and can spread quickly in a confined space like a parking structure.

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!

Essential Winter Preparedness Checklist for Facility Managers & Owners

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!

Emergency Preparedness for Winter

Is your facility prepared for winter?

Winter can be a challenging season for property owners and building managers. Inclement weather can strike without notice, and if you’re not prepared, your building and occupants could suffer costly damage.

As the seasons change and temperatures drop, make sure you plan adequately and take these essential steps for winter preparedness:

• Emergency Preparedness: While the following activities ahead of winter will minimize the likelihood or magnitude of unforeseen losses, not having an “Emergency Preparedness Plan” in place can be considered negligence. While insurance typically covers property losses, it likely does not cover lost revenue of affected tenants which can be much more than the cost to repair property damage.
• All actual tenants should be notified before winter threats, such as low temperatures, of steps to be taken to minimize losses to them and other tenants. This may include ensuring unheated spaces are either insulated and heated and/or the affected plumbing lines either drained or heated with heat tape and fire sprinkler lines heated with heaters or heat tape. Also, ensure heaters and heat tape are actually functioning correctly.
• On-Call Property Manager(s) should be identified and be available 24/7, including holidays.
• On-Call Service Provider(s) should be identified and available 24/7, including holidays. Service providers should be familiar with where all utility shut-offs are located.
• A current list of emergency contacts with backups for owners, managers, tenants, utilities, and on-call personnel should be made available and distributed to all tenants and owners.
• Keys for each tenant space should be kept by the property owner or manager and be available to the On-call Property Manager and service providers.

Read more about winter emergency preparedness on our website!

The IEI Advantage for 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 started!

Get the Biggest Bang for Your Buck with Parking Structure Maintenance

Most people, including professionals in the commercial property industry, are either unaware or refuse to accept that parking structures require maintenance. The truth is, they begin to deteriorate before they are open to the public and do so exponentially after just a few years. Unlike the structure of the building or buildings they serve, which exist in a controlled environment, parking structures are exposed directly to the elements. Exposure to precipitation, road salt, thermal expansion and contraction, and vibratory loads, all contribute to the exponential degradation of a parking structure. As can see in the graph below produced by the National Parking Association, simply kicking the maintenance can down the road only results in higher maintenance costs. You will notice that performing maintenance early at A to A’ costs less than performing it later at B to B’. And delaying maintenance too long can result in an unsafe structure or worse, failure.

Biggest Bang for Your Buck

The top level of your parking structure typically serves as the roof of the facility. Focusing on this level will provide the largest return on your maintenance investment. Since water is the number one enemy, causing the largest repair expenses, it is important to remove water from this surface quickly and efficiently. This can be accomplished by managing precipitation runoff from the surface so that it does not have a chance to soak into the concrete or leak through the joints to reinforcing steel below and cause corrosion and spalling of concrete. Maintenance of surface sealer and joint sealant will provide the biggest bang for your buck.

Read more on our website.

Innovative Engineering Specializes in Parking Structure Maintenance

Innovative Engineering helps owners with parking structure maintenance and reducing restoration costs. 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.

Our engineers are glad to walk your facility and let you know about any conditions that require immediate attention. 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!

 

Avoid Costly Repairs by Maintaining Your Parking Structure

Water is the number 1 cause of parking structure deterioration. Water-saturated concrete can freeze, expand, and spall.

Water and parking structures don’t mix! Leaking water is a clear sign that your structure may need repairs. 

The longer leaks are left unattended, the more expensive the consequences can become. Standing water is a huge issue in parking structures that can cause a tremendous amount of damage over time if not addressed early. Drain installation can prevent future, larger problems.

Combined with oxygen, water can also cause corrosion of the concrete reinforcing. Exposure to deicing salts accelerates this process. As reinforcing steel expands as it rusts, this process also leads to concrete spalling. Spalled concrete provides less cover or protection of the reinforcing which leads to further (and accelerated) deterioration if not repaired in a timely manner.

Read more on our website!

The IEI Structural Engineering Advantage

Our engineers at IEI specialize in parking structure restoration. We’ll 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. Give us a call today!

Don’t Defer Routine Parking Structure Maintenance!

There are many factors that influence how long a parking structure will last and at what point you will need to tear it down and rebuild.

How can you avoid expensive repairs or a rebuild in the future?

Parking structures are directly exposed to the elements, unlike a building structure that’s protected by a building envelope. Exposure includes moisture, freezing temperatures, deicing salts, thermal expansion and contraction, and dynamic vehicle loads.

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 will quickly accelerate deterioration into hazardous conditions.

Most parking structures are constructed of reinforced concrete in a few forms:

• Pre-cast: Pre-stressed concrete members fabricated in a plant and erected on site.
• Cast-In-Place: Concrete placed into formwork on site and reinforced with mild steel reinforcement, post tension steel tendons, or a combination of the two. 
• Steel: This type presents a far lower initial cost and accelerated construction schedule as opposed to concrete structures, but the nature of the steel members can lead to corrosion/rusting issues, and therefore higher maintenance costs. Steel structures have a reinforced concrete slab.

Read more here!

If routine parking structure inspection and maintenance is deferred for too long, the costs will add up exponentially, leading to a situation in which maintenance costs outprice those of demolition and construction of a new structure. This leads to a smaller amount of parking spots for your facility, and potentially unhappy visitors.

Our engineers at IEI specialize in parking structure inspection and restoration. We’ll walk your facility and let you know of any conditions that require immediate attention, require further investigation, and maintenance activities you can perform now to extend the life of your facility. Give us a call today!

Best Practices for Snow and Ice Removal on 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!

Visit our website to read the entire list, and learn more about parking structure inspection!

Innovative Engineering Specializes in Parking Structure Inspection

Innovative Engineering has been helping owners with parking structure inspection 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!

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 hazardous conditions.

Don’t Defer Routine Parking Structure Maintenance!

Reactive maintenance represents the cost of doing nothing. If routine maintenance is deferred for too long, the costs will add up, leading to a situation in which maintenance costs outprice those of demolition and construction of a new structure. This leads to a smaller amount of parking spots for your facility, and potentially unhappy visitors.

If you own or operate a parking structure, a good maintenance program is required to prevent costs from adding up exponentially down the line. A plan should be developed to account for the structural, operational, and aesthetic components of the parking structure’s design. Maintenance should be performed proactively rather than reactionarily!

Read the full story on our website!

The IEI Structural Engineering Advantage

Our engineers at IEI specialize in parking structure restoration. We’ll 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. Give us a call today!