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!

Indications You Need Parking Structure Restoration

Do you know how damaging water, ice melt and other moisture is to the structural integrity of your parking structure?

Because reinforced concrete is the primary material used for parking structures, water damage is a major concern, and is often hard to find until it’s too late. Water intrusion is one of the most detrimental issues to parking structures, typically leading to severe structural deterioration. Moisture can freeze and corrode reinforcing steel causing expansion and spalling of concrete.

According to our own Scott Weiland PE., SE., PCC.: “The top level of your parking structure not only provides possibly the least desirable parking spaces; it serves as the roof of the facility. Controlling water in the form of rain or melting snow at this level is the least expensive way to extend the life of your parking structure and minimize maintenance costs. Controlling the water runoff involves shedding water to drains as quickly as possible.”

• Water leakage: 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.
• Ponding: 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.
• Expansion joint failure: Detecting expansion joint problems and reacting quickly to make repairs is very beneficial in the long run. Failed joints provide another avenue for water to reach the reinforcing steel and connector plates.
• Horizontally or vertically cracked concrete: Concrete that has spalled or is cracking represents areas of potential structural damage that needs to be addressed. Cracks let water reach the structure’s reinforcing steel causing it to corrode and expand.
• Exposed rebar: If you can see rebar, it deserves immediate attention. Introduced to water, rebar corrodes and expands up to eight times its original size resulting in spalled concrete. This is due to water penetration into the concrete.

Read more on our website!

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. 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.

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!

Avoid Major Parking Structure Restoration Costs

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 structure that is protected by a Building Envelope. Exposure includes moisture, freezing temperatures, deicing salts, thermal expansion and contraction, and dynamic vehicle loads.

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 before construction has even completed.

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!

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!

Construction Fatal Four and How to Prevent Them

Data from 2018 suggests that the top 4 fatalities reported on construction sites (excluding transportation) are:

1. Falls – falls from roofs, ladders, and scaffolding (most fatalities are the result of falls from between 11 feet and 20 feet)
2. Struck by object – flying objects from power tools, falling tools or material knocked off an unprotected edge, swinging radius of cranes, being rolled into or over by heavy equipment
3. Electrocutions – for electrical workers – electrical equipment and wiring; for non-electrical workers – contact with overhead power lines by heavy equipment
4. Caught in/between – caught in or compressed by equipment or objects, stuck, caught, or crushed in collapsing structures, equipment, or material

Read more on our website!

Need Help Establishing Crucial Fall Protection Standards at Your Organization?

We’re a trusted resource of facility owners and managers of all sizes, including those with the nation’s largest real estate portfolios. We strive to be a true partner to our clients, providing them with unbiased, independent assessments, and more importantly, sound solutions.

“Innovative Engineering Inc. (IEI) has been a trusted resource for our structural and parking garage repair and restoration needs for several years. I have personally worked with the firm as long ago as 2001. We have found IEI to be very responsive and easy to work with. Their work has been accurate, thorough, on time, and within budget. We look forward to continuing our relationship with them.”  – Sarah Peek, Emory University Hospital Midtown

Contact us today for our expert advice and knowledge about fall protection, structure and façade inspection, roof inspection, anti-terrorism force protection, and more. Our experts are standing by to help you!

How to Prevent Falls in the Workplace

Falls are a hazard in many workplace environments. They can happen during walking, climbing a ladder, and unfortunately, due to the carelessness of workers.

How can you protect your workers?

Studies by the Bureau of Labor Statistics show there are more than 600 fatal falls annually. Regular fall protection training and enforcement of safety standards at your workplace are essential to keeping your workers safe and protecting you from potential litigation.

The most common industries that experience fall hazards are:

• Building cleaning and maintenance
• Transportation and material handling
• Construction and demolition occupations

As an employer, you’re obligated to be aware of hazards to your employees, to be aware of hazards to other employees, to disclose known hazards like asbestos, mold, or lead, and to have permanent fall protection and davits when necessary for workers.

With a Managed Fall Protection Program, you are committing to providing a safe work environment for all employees working at heights and exposed to fall hazards. Penalties for not following OSHA regulations can be severe, and employers who have never been inspected by OSHA can still be found liable in civil court if they fail to observe OSHA requirements.

Read more on our website!

We’re a trusted resource of facility owners and managers of all sizes, including those with the nation’s largest real estate portfolios. We strive to be a true partner to our clients, providing them with unbiased, independent assessments, and more importantly, sound solutions.

“Innovative Engineering Inc. (IEI) has been a trusted resource for our structural and parking garage repair and restoration needs for several years. I have personally worked with the firm as long ago as 2001. We have found IEI to be very responsive and easy to work with. Their work has been accurate, thorough, on time, and within budget. We look forward to continuing our relationship with them.”  – Sarah Peek, Emory University Hospital Midtown

Contact us today for our expert advice and knowledge about fall protection, structure and façade inspection, roof inspection, anti-terrorism force protection, and more. Our experts are standing by to help you!

Why Regular Roof Inspection is So Important

Repairs to an extensively damaged roof can be quite costly. This cost is highlighted further when compared against that of a regular inspection. You can save money in the long run by performing thorough and regular inspections of your roof and make small repairs, rather than waiting until the damage has worsened requiring larger repairs.

Neglect tends to be the most common cause of roof failure, as most significant problems can be prevented. It is easy to assume that a roof is invincible, but unfortunately that is not the case, as they are prone to many issues such as ponding water, debris accumulation, exposure, and cracking and personnel damage.

Other common issues include:

• Organic growth: Weed and plant roots can actually penetrate into the roof, which can cause damage.
• Heat absorption: Components of the roof that have absorbed water will cool off more slowly than dry components. This leads to dusk being the best time to thermally examine a roof, as the “hot spots” have not cooled down as much as other areas.
• Ponding: The result of poor drainage, ponding is standing water that remains on a roof after 48 hours. The water can find its way into imperfections in the roof and degrades the materials. Ponding can also void your roofing warranty.
• Parapets: Can be a problematic source of water intrusion particularly where the wall meets the roof. Materials that have been exposed to moisture, sunlight, and UV exposure can crack and split, allowing water an easy path into the inside of the building envelope.
• Rusted supports: Can contribute to damage or falling pieces of your building envelope. Lightning strikes have been known to hit sensitive areas of a roof or facade and cause massive chunks to explode and fall to the ground below.

Read the full article about roof inspection on our website!

Use the IEI Advantage to Protect Your Roof

We recommend a roof inspection twice a year – primarily right before and after winter. However, if your roof is subject to severe weather such as a hailstorm or hurricane, it may be prudent to schedule an inspection to assess potential damage.

Contact us today!