Restoration Consulting – Walker Consultants

Spring into Building Maintenance: A Proactive Guide

Walker Consultants — Mon, 31 Mar 2025 19:48:09 +0000

As Spring in in full swing and the last of the frost has thawed, it’s a crucial time to proactively assess and maintain your property. Winter’s harsh conditions often leave behind issues in various structures—from office buildings and medical facilities to parking structures—that if neglected, could lead to costly emergency repairs.

Roof Maintenance is Key

Roofs are particularly susceptible to winter damage. Regardless of age, roofs in northern climates endure months under snow and ice. This exposure can compromise the integrity of vent stacks, sealant pockets, and expansion joints, often leading to seal failures and damage to flashings due to ice expansion and contraction. Moisture can infiltrate these compromised areas, potentially causing significant internal damage. It’s vital to inspect your roof as the winter ice recedes to identify and remedy any issues before the spring rains exacerbate them.

Examine Your Exterior Walls

Exterior walls endure repetitive freeze/thaw cycles that can lead to a variety of structural issues, including cracks, spalling mortar, and shifting materials. These symptoms not only signal water intrusion but may also indicate more severe structural problems like failed anchorages or corroded support steel. It’s important to have these potential risks assessed by a licensed engineer or architect to ensure the structural integrity of your building.

Don’t Overlook Parking Facilities

Parking facilities, often being more exposed, face a range of weather-related distresses. Issues such as concrete cracking, dislodged concrete, and damaged joints or sealants are common and can be exacerbated by plowing and erosion. Addressing these problems promptly can prevent further deterioration and extend the lifespan of the structure.

Maintenance Action Plan

As the weather clears, take the time to review the condition of your structures. Identifying the root causes of winter-induced damages and developing cost-effective repair strategies are essential steps in extending the longevity of your buildings. Let Walker Consultants assist you in navigating the complexities of building maintenance this spring. Our expertise can help enhance the protection of your assets throughout the year.

FISP Made Easy: Our QEWI-Led Team for NYC DOB FISP is Here to Guide You

Walker Consultants — Wed, 12 Feb 2025 21:29:24 +0000

When it comes to compliance and safety, we are prepared to deliver prompt and effective solutions to building owners’ needs. Our experienced and responsive QEWI-led team will guide you through the Façade Inspection Safety Program (FISP) from New York City Department of Buildings.

FISP Cycle 10 Has Started.

What is a QEWI? What do they help with?

A Qualified Exterior Wall Inspector (QEWI) is a registered design professional (ex. Registered Architect or Professional Engineer) that meets a certain level of experience and qualifications, set by the New York City Department of Buildings (DOB), to inspect a building and assess the condition. Obtained through the New York City Department of Buildings Facades Unit, each QEWI is approved by the DOB to perform the façade inspection and complete the façade report filing for the NYC FISP.

While many design professionals may be experienced with both designing and assessing various façade assemblies across the country, the QEWI certification from the City of New York requires local professionals to submit documentation of at least 7 years of professional experience in performing New York City façade inspections. Also, it requires a working knowledge of numerous types of existing historic and modern masonry and other exterior enclosures to ensure that unsafe and deteriorated façade conditions are correctly identified, prioritized, and repaired.

Walker’s QEWI is Your Guide

Sara Holcomb, PE, a QEWI, in our New York City office, has worked on numerous façade inspection and restoration projects across the five boroughs of New York City. Catering to commercial, residential, hospitality, and historic properties, she is well-equipped to offer strategic advice, detailed project management, and expert oversight. Our QEWI’s expertise can help your building’s exterior comply with DOB standards.

The History of the Façade Inspection Safety Program

The Façade Inspection Safety Program (FISP) façade ordinance originated out of NYC legislation intended to protect the public health and safety from the risks of falling and deteriorated façade materials, due to aging building stock in New York City.

The New York City Department of Buildings (DOB) first instituted a façade-related inspection ordinance, referred to as Local Law 10 in 1980, when a piece of masonry debris fell and killed a pedestrian on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. Later amended and known as “Local Law 11”, the ordinance mandated maintenance and necessitated buildings to be classified as either “Safe”, “Safe with a Repair and Maintenance Plan (SWARMP)” or Unsafe. Over the last 44 years, well-publicized façade failures and resulting tragedies involving fatalities or injuries have expanded the complexity and strictness of these inspections and report filing requirements surrounding the NYC façade ordinance.

Exceptional Client Responsiveness on Critical Life Safety Issues

Our QEWI, together with our team of building enclosure experts, offers technical expertise to assist with projects that may arise from a New York City FISP filing:

Immediate repair design and protection recommendations related to addressing unsafe conditions per NYC DOB requirements.
Repair prioritization and façade project feasibility and phasing studies
Compliance with historic preservation
Bidding and construction administration services

For a comprehensive understanding of FISP requirements and their impact on your properties, visit our detailed FISP page.

For property owners and managers, safeguarding the structural integrity and compliance of your buildings is paramount. By partnering with Walker’s QEWI led team, you gain more than just compliance assurance—you receive a strategic ally dedicated to the longevity and safety of your property portfolio. Let our expertise in building envelope consultation enhance your property management strategy, supporting every aspect of your building exterior so that it is not only compliant but also optimized for future resilience and efficiency.

Maximize Your Airport’s Revenue with Parking Structure Condition Assessments

Tasha Samkough — Tue, 09 Jul 2024 15:04:17 +0000

Optimize performance and profitability with our expert evaluations.

Parking structures often represent the first or second highest source of income for airports, making their upkeep vital to financial strategies. For many travelers, these structures are their first interaction point with an airport when starting their journey. This makes maintaining the structural health of airport parking crucial to operational efficiency and a good customer experience, thus maximizing revenue.

Condition assessments offer detailed insights into a parking structure’s current state, pinpointing issues like structural integrity, waterproofing failures, and general wear and tear that can significantly impact operational efficiency and safety. Early detection and maintenance extends the lifespan of these assets and significantly mitigates escalating repair costs, thereby safeguarding revenue streams and minimizing operational disruptions.

What does a condition assessment entail?

The evaluation can include:

Visual assessment of structural components
Assessing surface conditions and evaluating repair options (if any)
Evaluating the effectiveness of waterproofing, sealers, and other protective finishes
Providing cost-effective repair recommendations based on the urgency of repairs
Development of future maintenance plans, ensuring minimal disruption to normal operations

Discover expert insights

An engineer’s evaluation is essential to accurately assess structural health and safety. Professional oversight helps identify potential risks that could lead to costly repairs or, crucially, safety hazards. Professionals can assess structural components, mechanical/electrical/plumbing systems, and waterproofing measures, providing a foundation of information to support the safety of users and the long-term durability of the structure. An engineer will also recommend preventative maintenance measures and prioritize repair actions to optimize your budget and project timelines.

Click below to watch a comprehensive webinar featuring Senior Vice President Al Bustamante, PE. In this session, he delves into common types of parking structure deterioration and demonstrates how proactive maintenance strategies can significantly reduce costs over time.

How can we help?

Walker’s restoration staff specialize in parking structure condition assessments. Whether it’s inspecting older facilities, routine maintenance checks, or newly built assets, our goal is to identify the root cause of the issue and mitigate its recurrence. We bring the expertise necessary to evaluate structural integrity, improve operational efficiency, and develop a comprehensive asset management plan.

Our proactive approach to maintenance and restoration can extend the lifespan of your parking assets and help them to continue generating significant revenue without interruption. A well-maintained parking structure is more than just a part of airport infrastructure; it’s a crucial element of your financial success.

Enhance the longevity and profitability of your airport parking structures. Contact Jeffrey Smallidge today to discuss how we can optimize your parking asset management for sustained success.

Jeffrey M. Smallidge, PE, LEED AP BD+C
Director of Aviation Services & Director of Business Development
317.348.2122
jsmallidge@walkerconsultants.com