Good day,
I'm involved in a project where a single story building built in 50's had basement expanded for fur storage not so long after the building was built. Current owner was in the process of getting occupancy permit for new tenant and inspector, after looking into basement, advised client to get a engineer to look at it.
Added basement walls were built of CMU and are in good shape. Basement floor is slab on grade in good shape as well. Level 1 slab was a concrete slab that before used to be slab on grade. Surprisingly, the slab didn't have any large cracks on the underside. I designed shoring structure to support this slab as I had doubts of any reinforcement present in it.
Authorities did not accept my certification of the space after the construction of shoring structure because they say there is no evidence that added CMU walls are safe. They are now requesting the information about wall construction such as block/mortar strength, reinforcement, how it connects to basement floor slab etc.
Im curious to know how many of you would flag the wall "issue" during site visit and if you would be concerned of this wall performance. Again, walls are in good shape without any signs of distress or deterioration whatsoever and been there for 60 years.
Thank you
I'm involved in a project where a single story building built in 50's had basement expanded for fur storage not so long after the building was built. Current owner was in the process of getting occupancy permit for new tenant and inspector, after looking into basement, advised client to get a engineer to look at it.
Added basement walls were built of CMU and are in good shape. Basement floor is slab on grade in good shape as well. Level 1 slab was a concrete slab that before used to be slab on grade. Surprisingly, the slab didn't have any large cracks on the underside. I designed shoring structure to support this slab as I had doubts of any reinforcement present in it.
Authorities did not accept my certification of the space after the construction of shoring structure because they say there is no evidence that added CMU walls are safe. They are now requesting the information about wall construction such as block/mortar strength, reinforcement, how it connects to basement floor slab etc.
Im curious to know how many of you would flag the wall "issue" during site visit and if you would be concerned of this wall performance. Again, walls are in good shape without any signs of distress or deterioration whatsoever and been there for 60 years.
Thank you