THRESHOLD INSPECTIONS

Rigorous structural inspection is indispensable to today’s sophisticated design and construction methods.

Joe Servos, Director of Inspection Services

SERVICES

BNI is singularly focused on providing outstanding structural engineering services to our clientele.

Bliss & Nyitray is a firm believer in quality control and for us it is a practice, not an idea.  Our quality control is centered around three concepts:

  1. The quality of the staff that perform the inspections,
  2. The thoroughness of our inspections, and
  3. The oversight of our Threshold Inspector of his representatives.

It is our philosophy that rigorous structural inspection is indispensable to today’s sophisticated design and construction methods.

No matter the firm’s quality control procedures, it cannot perform quality services unless the individuals performing the inspections have the proper education, inspection experience and design experience to properly synthesize the myriad of conditions they encounter during an inspection. All of our inspectors are either Florida registered professional engineers or graduates of universities with an accredited Civil Engineering program and have passed the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) test. All of our inspectors have significant design experience.

Our inspections are extremely thorough. We arrive at the inspection prepared. Our preparation consists of review of the inspection plan requirements for the elements being inspected and a thorough review of the structural documents and shop drawings of the members being inspected. Finally, when appropriate our preparation includes conversations with the structural engineer of record to obtain any necessary clarifications or explanations. Quality inspections can only take place when someone is armed with all of the necessary information and has the education, and the inspections and design experience to synthesize it.

The involvement of the Registered Threshold Inspector throughout the process is key to the quality of our inspections. The Registered Threshold Inspector will be on site as required to fully understand the nature of the construction, the progress and sequence of the construction, the structural documents and shop drawings, and to monitor the quality of the inspections and reports being made by his authorized representatives.

Why choose BNI for Threshold?

  • While a number of inspectors meet the minimum qualifications established by Statute, the Florida Board of Professional Engineers states, “The presumption is that the Structural Engineer of Record knows what, if anything, is unique about the structure and if anything should be closely examined and when”.
  • As the Structural Engineer for this project, BNI is vitally concerned that our design is constructed properly.  Our philosophy is that rigorous structural inspection is indispensable given today’s sophisticated and fast-paced design and construction methods.  The on-site presence of the Structural Engineer also facilitates problem resolution through direct contractor, inspector and engineer communication.
  • Some of the problems BNI has noted on projects where we were not the Special Inspector can translate into delays, added cost, and possibly a deficient or unsafe structure and include:
    1. Inspectors communicating late or not at all, such as identifying deficiencies only in periodically published reports.
    2. Inspectors unfamiliar with the drawings, specifications or Inspection Plan.
    3. The inspectors not using the current structural drawings with latest revisions and missing significant deficiencies, mostly in reinforcing steel and connections.
  • George Khoury was the lead Structural Engineer for design and would serve as the Special Inspector.  When the inspections would be performed by his authorized representatives, each would be a professional engineer or a structural engineering graduate who has successfully completed the NCEES Fundamentals Examination and has been involved with design of the structure.  This knowledge allows our inspectors to identify deficiencies, evaluate whether corrective action is required and detail the solution quickly, which can greatly aid the schedule.
  • Note that there is no conflict of interest for the structural engineer to “inspect his own work.” Approval of BNI’s design is done during permitting.
  • The role of the Special Inspector is limited to confirming that the structure was built per the Construction Documents. At the conclusion of construction, the Special Inspector shall submit to the Building Official a signed and sealed statement stating that, “to the best of his knowledge and belief, the construction of all structural load‑bearing components is in substantial compliance with the permitted documents, and the shoring and reshoring are in substantial compliance with the shoring and reshoring plans submitted to the enforcing agency.”

Working with City of Miami for Threshold

Our quality control is centered on three concepts: the quality of the staff that perform the inspections, the thoroughness of our inspections, and the oversight of our Threshold Inspector of his representatives.

No matter the firm’s quality control procedures, it can not perform quality services unless the individuals performing the inspections have the proper education, inspection experience and design experience to properly synthesize the myriad of conditions they encounter during an inspection.  Our inspector and his representatives are either Florida PEs or 4-year graduate engineers with significant design experience.

Before we start work BNI meets with the City of Miami and design and construction teams to confirm and establish processes for our inspections, reports, handling deviations, etc.

Our inspections are extremely thorough.  We arrive at the inspection prepared.  Our preparation consists of a thorough review of the contract documents, shop drawings, and inspection plan requirements for the elements being inspected.  Finally, our preparation includes conversations with the structural engineer of record to obtain any necessary clarifications or explanations.

We do not work from a canned checklist.  The only comprehensive guide to inspection is the combination of the inspection plan, contract documents and shop drawings.  No checklists can simulate or replicate the extensive amount of information found in those documents.  Quality inspections can only take place when someone is armed with all this information and has the education, inspections and design experience to synthesize it.

The involvement of the Threshold Inspector throughout the process is key to the quality of our inspections.  The Threshold Inspector will be on site as required to fully understand the nature of the construction, the progress and sequence of the construction, the contract documents and shop drawings and to monitor the quality of the inspections and reports being made by his authorized representatives.

The inspector’s representatives closely monitor testing in the field and the published reports to assure compliance with the contract documents.

BNI works closely with the contractor to ensure that deviations are addressed in a timely manner and that the design team’s input is sought when needed.  We also address any concerns of the Building Department promptly.

We fill out the Structural Punchlist is filled out promptly and verify that items are addressed by the contractor in a timely manner and removed as resolved.