MyFloridaCode.com

Well said - thanks for the quality reply to this post

 

Bob Koning

 

From: codetalk-bounces at myfloridacode.com
[mailto:codetalk-bounces at myfloridacode.com] On Behalf Of Hernacki
Engineering
Sent: Tuesday, April 20, 2010 4:22 PM
To: 'mark martin'; codetalk at myfloridacode.com
Subject: Re: [Florida Code Talk] Concrete footer

 

Hello Mark,

 

I wish you provided more information as to the complete picture.  But I
am assuming that the wall is complete and built awhile ago.  Now a new
construction project has started, based on your first email, it was
discovered the load bearing wall and its support footing are not located
in the same place on the structure.  

 

Now I assume that you have a BN number issued by the state of Florida.
I also assume you are providing inspection services as either an owner's
quality man, private provider, or as a special (threshold) inspector.
In all cases the owner hires you for performing your duty.  In all but
the 1st type (quality man) you report or represent the BO.

 

In ALL cases you represent your license as an inspector.  Your natural
course of events is to identify the deficiency to the property owner.
Depending on the "risk" of the situation you may give the property owner
and their design professional time to come up with a fix and update the
permit package to remedy the situation.  If the "risk" is HIGH you have
now choice but to alert the BO of your concern.  Defining to the BO what
you believe is the risk.  The BO then can make a determination as to let
the problem take care of itself through the normal course of business or
issue a red tag for the structure.

 

No matter what sooner or later the BO will be informed.  Either by
remedial engineering submitted by a DP saying the as is "Record
Condition" is acceptable or here is fix engineering.  Or the BO will
force the repair on the back end via a red tag.

 

Believe me, it is not fun writing or submitting letters like that to a
BO.  Did it once and it was not fun at all.  But I knew it was the
correct thing to do.  During the course of the project the problem was
corrected to everyone satisfaction.  I believe that is what you desire.
How the owner gets there is not your concern only they get the building
to a safe position.  Face it the BO could come to the owner's side and
state the structure is safe and thank you for your due diligence.

 

 

TRH

Hernacki Engineering & Construction Services Inc.

________________________________

From: codetalk-bounces at myfloridacode.com
[mailto:codetalk-bounces at myfloridacode.com] On Behalf Of mark martin
Sent: Tuesday, April 20, 2010 2:37 PM
To: codetalk at myfloridacode.com
Subject: [Florida Code Talk] Concrete footer

 

Thanks to all for responding. Please let me clarify a few items: The
commercial project has a permit, but the contractor sold his license to
the building  owner who incompetently supervised the concrete crew. The
crew placed the footer in the wrong place and obviously the owner didn't
have a clue until after the footer and slab were poured. When the block
masons pointed out the mistake, the owner had them cut off the rebar
penetrating the slab & had them build the wall in the proper location
(minus the footer and footer rebar) 

The owner now is resorting to lies to cover his incompetence, but I
consider this a safety hazard and believe the building now has serious
flaws and does not meet the uplift requirements for wind loads nor
safely supports the roof trusses. As an open question to all out there
who have felt the impact of local politics,  would you just ignore the
structural safety to avoid confrontation with the boss & let this go, or
require them to comply with the code ?

 

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