Milestone
WHAT IS A MILESTONE INSPECTION ?
The main goal of a milestone inspection, is to evaluate the building members’ structural integrity and determine if they are safe for continuous use. Statewide structural examinations of elderly condominiums and cooperatives are now required due to the state’s strong commitment to safer building practices in the wake of the fatal condominium collapse in Surfside, Florida in 2021.
WHEN DOES MY BUILDING NEED THIS INSPECTION?
ACCORDING TO SB-40
IS YOUR BUIDLING.....
- 3 stories or more
- 25 years or older (1998)
- 3 miles or less to a coast
- DUE DATE 12-31-2024
IS YOUR BUIDLING.....
- 3 stories or more
- 30 Stories or older, (1994)
- 3 miles or more to a coast
- DUE DATE 12-31-2024
WE ARE LISENCED TO PERFORM SUCH SERVICES:
The only authorized experts, by law to carry out these checks are licensed engineers and architects. They examine deferred maintenance, determine the need for repairs, appraise the overall structural condition, and—most importantly—look for significant structural degradation. Problems that potentially jeopardize a structural component’s integrity are referred to as substantial deterioration. Examples of these problems include large-scale cracking in vital support beams or a substantial loss of section in columns.
WHAT BUILDINGS MUST COMPLY WITH MILESTONE INSPECTION LAWS:
Buildings 30 years of age or older with a Certificate of Occupancy granted before July 1992 are required by Florida Statute 553.899 to complete a milestone inspection by December 31, 2024. The rules governing structures located three miles or less from the coast have also been modified.
A few Florida localities, such as Highland Beach, Miami-Dade County, Broward County, and the city of Boca Raton, have building safety plans in place that mandate inspections at the 40-year mark and every ten years after that. The majority of these programs changed the initial inspection obligation to 30 years with the passage of the milestone inspection legislation. As a result, building safety inspections for structures located in these locations will now be required earlier than anticipated.
Elements Assessed During Milestone Inspections
Milestone inspections are primarily concerned with the critical structural elements of a building. This includes:
Foundation Making sure the foundation of the building is stable Balconies checking for structural integrity on balconies.
Balconies checking for structural integrity on balconies.
Roof ensuring the roof structure’s safety and soundness.
Load-bearing walls evaluate the structural strength of the walls that bear the weight of the construction.
Shear Walls assessing the stability-critical lateral force resistance of walls.
MILESTONE INSPECTION BREAKDOWN
Milestone A: A Qualitative (visual inspection) is carried out in the initial stage. The building is inspected by the certified specialist for indications of significant degradation, if significant degradation is not found, the building passes the Milestone inspection.
Milestone B: (Detailed Inspection): When Phase One finds possible significant degradation or deficiency, Phase Two is started. This step entails a thorough inspection to ascertain the problem’s scope and identify the required fixes.
DEADLINE FOR MILESTONE INSPECTIONS
The stringent dates for condominium associations to finish Phase One milestone inspections are reaffirmed in SB 154. Associations that receive notice from local building inspectors have 180 days to start Phase One. Buildings that are about to turn 30 years old must pay particular attention to this schedule since they may receive notice at any time.
A deadline of December 31, 2024, is for all buildings with a birthday of 1998 or older. Given the potentially dire repercussions of missing these deadlines, it is imperative that you take proactive measures to comprehend the timeframe and guarantee compliance. A breach of the officers’ and directors’ fiduciary obligation with the unit owners occurs when they fail to get a Milestone Inspection. If you have questions about your particular building, and when it need’s inspected, call us today
HOW LEGISLATION WILL EVOLVE OVER TIME
The laws pertaining to milestone inspections are dynamic and subject to change. “Glitch bills” are being discussed in an effort to clarify and improve the requirements. These measures deal with complexities that have raised doubts and worries in the industry, like the definition of “coast” and other matters.
Building owners, associations, and property managers need to be aware of how milestone inspections are evolving as this legislation continues to grow and develop. We invite you to get in touch with our team at Building Mavens if you have any queries regarding how SB 154 affects your building. Being the leading Milestone Inspections, SIRS, and engineering consulting company in South Florida, we are aware of the intricacies and deadlines associated with the legislation, which enables us to offer you the inspections and advice you need to proceed with upmost confidence.
Frequently Asked Questions about Milestone Studies
Only a Florida-certified engineer or architect
A visual inspection only. We look for damage that could be harmful to the structural integrity to the building.
Any 3 story Condominium, Commercial, Multi-story, Mixed use, Industrial, Government, and High-end residential buildings.
there are two qualifiers.
The main goal of a milestone inspection, is to evaluate the building members’ structural integrity and determine if they are safe for continuous use. Statewide structural examinations of elderly condominiums and cooperatives are now required due to the state’s strong commitment to safer building practices in the wake of the fatal condominium collapse in Surfside, Florida in 2021.
