Engineers developing the framework of a three-level system of inspection

After the devastating collapse of the Surfside condo which cost the life of at least 100 people in Miami, the necessity for the engineers to prevent such incidents is more urgent than ever. Because of the fact that there are many decisions that must be taken, a group of four major engineering associations in Florida are coming to consensus on structural engineering recommendations. The recommendations are designed to keep another tragic building collapse, like the one in Surfside, from happening again.

The main target of the four engineering associations group is to recommend which inspections are required, at certain size or threshold of buildings, which are built at seaside and inland with no exceptions.

The association might propose a two or three level system of inspection. The first level is a simple visual inspection, looking for readily apparent problems such as those that could be found with balconies or columns. If problems are observed, the inspections would advance to a second level or even possibly a third level, which could involve what Allen Douglas, the Executive Director of the Florida Engineering Society and American Council of Engineering Companies of Florida, calls “Destructive Inspection.” A destructive inspection includes drilling holes, testing rebar, and tearing things apart to determine the seriousness of an apparent problem. Douglas said the members of the groups are meeting twice a week and are taking their time to get their recommendations right but he expects they will have those recommendations ready in time to present to the Florida Legislature’s leadership prior to the start of meetings in September.

The group is still determining the appropriate timeframe for the recommended inspections. Miami-Dade County currently has a 40-year recertification program for multiple story buildings. But even with this plan, the unthinkable happened — a beachside high-rise condo collapsed, killing over 100 people in the middle of the night. Many counties have little to no inspection of these buildings. Douglas said the new recommended inspections could be required as often as every seven years or possibly over a longer period.

It is the intention of frequent inspections to catch problems early enough to avoid the major repair costs that come after a problem has sat for years and years.