Commercial properties have several critical areas that a must thoroughly inspect. Determining their present status is a crucial part of the decision-making of business owners, investors, and commercial building operators. Whether they are purchasing a commercial property or conducting improvement projects, stakeholders want to ensure that their investment will be worth it.
Unidentified or late-identified flaws can lead to bigger problems, costing the owners a larger sum for repairs and replacements. Moreover, stakeholders might also face penalties for building code violations if the property becomes a safety hazard.
Hiring a certified ensures that commercial property owners will receive an honest and non-biased report. Apart from possessing advanced skills and knowledge on par with the industry’s latest standards, these certified engineers also uphold a code of ethics. They will make sure that their work is done with their client’s benefit in mind.
The commercial building inspection includes assessing the structural frame and envelope, fire safety systems, heating and ventilation systems, and electrical and mechanical systems. These components will also be verified if they comply with the general and specific mandates of regulatory agencies. Because of their training and extensive experience, certified engineers can spot cosmetic improvements concealing defects that undertrained eyes might otherwise miss.
After completing the property condition assessment, the building inspection engineer will prepare a detailed report highlighting the structure’s true condition. The document also includes an estimate of the potential repair and replacement costs for faulty components to adhere to relevant building codes and standards.
With the significant contribution of structural engineers to ensuring a commercial building’s safety and reliability, they are considered the first line of defense against potential risks in commercial real estate.
To know more about the role of building inspection engineers and their work scope, an infographic from Lockatong Engineering is provided below.
