RAS Engineering is a professional engineering company serving building managers and owners by providing advice, oversight restoration, and testing to ensure that all components of a build’s exterior and structure meet the standards necessary to provide quality durability and safe protection against the elements.
FACADE INSPECTION ENGINEERING SAN FRANCISCO
San Francisco Building Departments require recertification of a building every 10 years.
RAS Engineering, PA is an award-winning Engineering firm specializing in concrete and waterproofing restoration, Building Structural Safety Inspections, testing, and repair specifications for high-rise condos and commercial buildings. RAS produces building structural safety reports as required by the building code.
Some buildings are exempt from these requirements. RAS can assist you in determining if your building requires a facade inspection and would be happy to walk you through the process and requirements.
San Francisco Code:
San Francisco Ordinance 67-16 states that the façade of buildings five story or more be inspected and reported every ten years on a schedule based on the building construction completion date by the owner.
The inspection and maintenance of the façade has to be undertaken in accordance with Chapter 4 of the San Francisco Existing Building Code and Administrative Bulletin AB-110. The basis for inspection and reporting is the Standard ASTM E2270-14.
Elements of a building façade:
Facades include all areas on the exterior of the building. except for horizontal roof areas. The facade includes all exterior walls. windows, balconies, cornices. parapets. and appurtenances. The facade also includes walls supported at roof level such as penthouse walls, chimneys. and so forth.
Faacade age is defined as the number of years since the original Certificate of Occupancy for the building was issued. or since entire facade replacement.
Why Façade Inspections are necessary?
Periodic Facade Inspections are needed due to ageing. lack of maintenance, design or construction errors, or a combination of these factors. building facades deteriorate. Based on the knowledge gained about the performance of building facades through investigation and research, governing authorities owners. and qualified professionals are becoming more aware of potential unsafe conditions on building facades that if unaddressed. can jeopardize public safety and surrounding properties.
Benefits of Façade maintenance:
Facades require periodic maintenance and repairs to extend their useful life and to minimize and/or correct problems. As a part of any façade inspection, the facade service history shall be reviewed because: (1) it may indicate patterns of leakage or other performance problems leading to concealed damage and an unsafe condition; (2) it may show a poorly conceived or improperly implemented maintenance or repair procedure that can contribute and aggravate unsafe conditions; and (3) it is necessary to distinguish between original construction and subsequent repairs or modifications during the inspection process and help identify the source of potential problems.
RAS Engineering Standard scope of services:
Review of Building Records provided by Ownership
Preparation of Inspection Drawings
Determination of Service History
Assessment of Watertight Integrity
Facade Inspection
Reporting
