Phase 2 of the milestone inspection Florida requires only when major issues were found in substantial structures during phase 1. A Phase 2 inspection may involve destructive or nondestructive testing at the Engineer of Record’s direction. The inspection may be as extensive or as limited as necessary to fully assess areas of structural distress in order to confirm that the building is structurally sound and safe for its intended use.Furthermore, the inspection head will suggest a plan for the complete evaluation and fixing the building affected and damaged areas. When selecting location for inspection, the team head will give utmost importance to locations that are least disruptive that and can repair easily.
An inspection of the structural integrity of buildings in Florida is performed by a licensed engineer, responsible to evaluate buildings safe condition of condominiums that are 25 to 30 years old. Furthermore, more than three-storeyed buildings are also inspected. Florida state legislature strictly follows the rules and sends engineers to the site for the inspection with the intent of the safety of the building, environment, and occupants staying in the building.
Differences between Architects and structural engineers:
Structural Engineers are construction experts who perform complementary duties in building design. Architects usually focus on the layout and design of a structure, while structural engineers ensure that an architect's design is safe for use. A Structural Engineer's report will tell you whether a property is safe, strong and stable. It will identify likely causes of cracks, movement or subsidence and whether these structural defects are serious or not, what to do about them and how much this might cost.
Structural Engineers specialise in the structure of buildings (foundations, walls and roofs). They provide services whereby they will inspect problems with existing buildings and also help with structural design and calculations for changes.
If it's a more severe crack and you're worried about potential structural damage, you should consult a professional structural engineer immediately. They'll monitor the cracks to see if any movement has stopped, or if the structure is still moving and requires further investigation