Buying, leasing, financing, or maintaining a commercial property is a major investment for stakeholders in New Jersey. With a structurally sound commercial building, business owners and investors can maximize their revenue generation capacity. They can ensure a healthy and safe environment for occupants while avoiding unwanted expenditures on unidentified or late-identified construction defects. Moreover, it enables them to comply with building codes and regulations.
To monitor their building’s condition, commercial property owners must hire a certified building inspection engineer to conduct an assessment. A NJ structural engineer[JG1] [SL2] will evaluate several critical components in the building, such as the structural frame and envelope, fire suppression systems, HVAC systems, and electrical and mechanical systems.
These parts of the commercial property play different roles in keeping it safe and reliable. For example, the frame connects the columns, beams, girders, and trusses that give the structure support and shape. Proper framing provides stability and ensures the building will not collapse. Furthermore, the building envelope is designed to protect the interior from external elements, primarily water intrusion.
Meanwhile, fire safety routes and fire suppression systems ensure occupants’ protection from possible fire hazards. Fire escapes should be adequate and accessible to allow easy egress from the building. Likewise, properly functioning fire alarm systems and fire extinguishers enable tenants to act and protect themselves immediately.
To keep the indoor climate comfortable, commercial establishments have heating and ventilation systems to regulate temperature and enable efficient airflow. Additionally, properly working electrical and mechanical systems ensure that occupants can utilize machines and other equipment that require electricity to make most tasks easier.
By conducting a property condition assessment in NJ, certified structural engineers will detect flaws in the building components, report them to the stakeholders, and estimate the repair and replacement costs. These data are crucial in guiding commercial property owners to make the right decisions before making investments in building projects.
Because of their role in determining a commercial property’s true condition, building inspection engineers are considered “the first line of defense” against potential risks in the structure.
For more information on a commercial building engineer’s work scope, see the following infographic provided by Lockatong Engineering.
