Why Does Florida Structural Engineering Matter for Building Safety?
Buildings settle as they age. Concrete breaks. Salt-air corrosion is more severe on rebar than people generally know. It is precisely for this reason that structural engineering has emerged as an extremely important subject for condo boards, property managers and homeowners in Florida. Structures which appeared to be fine just 10 years ago may have underlying issues developing. The very purpose of hiring an engineer is to identify such issues before they can become evident. What Does a Structural Engineer Actually Look For? Structural engineers, who hold a professional license, check the load-bearing components of the structure – columns, beams, slabs, foundations and connections. In Florida, however, this usually involves a closer examination of concrete spalling, rebar corrosion and patterns of water entry because this combination of factors causes quicker deterioration of these components due to humidity, salt exposure and old building techniques. The engineer visits the site...