Below is an interview with attorney Donna DiMaggio Berger and engineer Tim Marshall regarding the new Florida condo safety law:
Conversation highlights include:
- The new safety law is tied to building height but how is that height calculated?
- Find out how a structural engineer determines if substantial structural deterioration exists.
- What credentials are required to qualify as a Special Inspector and when are their services needed?
- Just how significant is the structural engineer shortage in Florida?
- What qualifications does an Engineering Intern have and can an intern assist with any aspect of the milestone inspection?
- Engineers are required to notify the local building department if they find life safety issues in a building. Other than the obvious inconvenience to the residents associated with an evacuation, why would engineers be reluctant to order evacuations if there are serious life safety concerns in a building?
- What should the role of local government be in terms of ensuring that residential buildings remain safe for occupancy?
- Find out how often Tim is asked to attend board or membership meetings, how well attended those meetings are and how strong he must be when attempting to communicate a structural issue.
- What can the average community resident do to become more aware of a building’s condition?
- What resources are available to boards when they are looking to hire an engineer?
- How often do boards seek a peer review on an engineering report and is that advisable?
BONUS: Tim discusses the average length of a 40- or 50-year certification report, its costs, and the preferred engineering language to use in those reports.