Condo Milestone Phase One
In June of 2021, the collapse of Champlain Towers Condominium in Surfside, Fla. laid the foundation of condo milestone phase one and phase two inspections. The collapse killed 98 people. The collapse was not caused by an earthquake, explosion, or another recognizable trigger. The tragedy was blamed on over forty years of inspection shortcuts and poor construction efforts. According to published reports, had every design flaw been recognized through adequate inspections, the collapse may have been predicted or even avoided.
The New Condo milestone phase one and milestone phase two inspection law was signed by the Governor on May 22, 2022. This make any 3 stories of higher building within three miles of the Florida coast lines mandatory to get structural inspection at 25 year of building age. Condo milestone phase one inspections for all other three stories and higher building start at 30 years of age and then every 10 years. The, condo buildings across Florida weren’t technically required to be inspected by a licensed architect or engineer after being built and occupied. Required inspections and recertifications by licensed engineers like EMA engineers are essential now to ensure building safety.
Policy changes of new condominium safety law from Senate Bill 4-D will specifically focus on greater, more recurrent inspection processes. With the help of Florida condominium engineers, the bill was written to ensure that condominium buildings are properly maintained as they age.
The bill requires condominium associations and developers to set aside funds to cover structural milestone phase one inspections of any three stories or taller buildings throughout Florida and keep enough funds to repairs when necessary. This will ensure that no shortcuts are taken due to inadequate budgeting or funding. These reserves must be reassessed every ten years and are intended to cover large maintenance costs.
The condo milestone phase one inspections requires mandatory statewide inspections through a new program. A condo building that is taller than three stories requires one inspection every decade after its certificate of occupancy reaches 30 years of age. The bill requires condominium and cooperative associations to conduct a “structural integrity reserve study” that includes waterproofing, exterior painting, the roof, load bearing walls, floor, foundation, fireproofing and fire protection systems, plumbing, and any item with a deferred maintenance or replacement cost that exceeds $10,000.
Which Buildings Need Milestone Phase One Inspections?
Condominiums that are located within three miles of the Florida coast require inspections known as “New Condo milestone phase one and phase two inspections.” These inspections are required to begin after 25 years of building occupancy and every 10 years thereafter.
All inspection reports must also be published online and shared with owners and tenants. If an inspection uncovers a need for any structural repairs or maintenance, this work is required to be performed no later than a year following the report.
“New Condo Milestone Phase one inspection” means a structural inspection of a building, including an inspection of load-bearing walls and the primary structural members and primary structural systems as those terms are defined in F.S. s. 627.706, by a licensed architect or engineer authorized to practice in this state for the purposes of attesting to the life safety and adequacy of the structural components of the building and, to the extent reasonably possible, determining the general structural condition of the building as it affects the safety of such building, including a determination of any necessary maintenance, repair, or replacement of any structural component of the building.
How Change Will Help
Call EMA Engineers to schedule your structural inspections of your condominium buildings at (321) 355-6052 or visit us at https://constructionsiteonline.com
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