General Information About Building Recertification

Building Recertification: Everything you Need to Know! As per Miami Dade County new guidelines webinar for all Property owners and Condo association managers. 

What are the buildings that are covered by the Recertification program, and what buildings are not?

Building Recertification Inspection is enforced by the County Ordinance No. 75-34 (amended by Ordinance 92-1) to certify that the property is structurally and electrically safe for its intended use and occupancy.  

Buildings covered by the Building Recertification program include all buildings and structures, such as; Threshold buildings shall be defined as any building greater than three stories or 50 feet in height, or which has an assembly occupancy classification as defined in the Florida Building Code exceeding the 5,000 Sqft in area, as defined by section 553.71 Florida Statutes, which may be amended from time to time.

The only exceptions for minor buildings or structures are; Single-family homes, Duplex residences, and agricultural buildings or minor buildings 2000 SqFt or less and having an occupancy load of 10 or less based on the building code classification by table 1004.5(FBC) minimum occupant load.

How does the recertification procedure work?

When recertification notice is received, it is the owner’s or owner’s representative responsibility to submit the recertification reports prepared by a Florida-registered professional engineer certifying that each building or structure is structurally and electrically safe for continued occupancy. 

Once such buildings or structures have reached a construction age of 30 years and 10 years thereafter must undergo recertification. However, any building or structure when reached an Age of Construction is required to undergo a “milestone inspection” under section 553.899, Florida Statutes, which that recertification will serve as fulfillment of any “milestone inspection” requirement under section 553.899.

All buildings and structures constructed between 1983-1992 must undergo an initial recertification, no later than December 31, 2024, and then with a subsequent recertification every 10 years thereafter. 

All buildings or structures constructed between 1993-1997 that are required to undergo an initial “milestone inspection,” as defined in section 553.899, Florida Statutes, by December 31, 2024, will be required to undergo recertification by the manner described below. before December 31, 2024 and must undergo subsequent recertifications every 10 years thereafter.

These buildings and structures will not be subject to the early notification requirement described in Section 8-11(f)(2)(E) for their initial recertification.

In the case of a building or structure built in 1982 or earlier, including those required to perform “milestone inspections,” as defined in section 553.899, Florida Statutes, the recertification requirement will begin when the building or structure has reached an age of 40 years old construction. years and subsequent recertifications will be required every 10 years thereafter.

What is a Milestone inspection?

Milestone Inspection shall be for the purpose of determining the general structural condition of the building or structure to the extent reasonably possible of any part, material, or assembly of a building or structure which affects the safety of such building or structure and/or which supports any dead or designed live load, and the general condition of its electrical systems pursuant to the Building Code.

Notice of the required inspection will reach the owner of the building or structure once the building official determines

that the building or structure is 30 years old (or 25 years old, as applicable) and every 10-year interval thereafter (ie, construction ages of 40, 50, etc.). If the building is located within 3 miles of a coastline, the timeline becomes 25 years and every 10 years thereafter.

Advance courtesy notice will be provided one year prior to the anniversary year of recertification. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the failure of a Building Official to provide courtesy advance notice shall not affect a building owner’s requirement to timely recertify a building or structure.

What are the elements included in a Building Recertification?

Building Recertification process starts with a visual inspection at first to identify any distress, or a deficiency that is structural and or electrical at the property; each discipline will evaluate the corresponding elements at the time of the inspection.

An engineer will review all engineering documents and previous reports, if available and/or applicable to the building recertification and can perform non-destructive and/ or destructive testing when necessary.

What are the Structural elements to evaluate at time of the recertification?

During the Building Recertification a Structural professional engineer is responsible to inspect and certify the condition of the structural elements listed below; foundation and masonry, main structural elements such as columns, beams, and slabs. Wall, floor and roof, windows and doors, and building façades.

What are the Electrical elements to evaluate at the time of the recertification?

supplying the building, during the process he will evaluate the branch circuits, evaluate if they are free of corrosion and dents. All lighting, exit signs, and fire alarm systems will also be inspected if applicable.

The infrared thermographic inspection will be determined at time of the electrical inspection, since it will only be necessary if the building has an electrical system operating at 400 amps or greater.

When inspections are completed, If the building is classified as safe, no inspections are required for ten years. However, you have 180 days to obtain necessary permits and complete specified repairs if structural or electrical deficiencies are indicated.

Failing to submit the 25/30/40-year structural recertification form will result in a Notice of Violation and Notice of Hearing and penalties if efforts are not made to comply promptly. Nevertheless, please note that extensions may be granted on a case-by-case basis.

What do we recommend as professional engineers to avoid the effects of aging in a building?

Ongoing building maintenance should be essential to the safety of all owners. As a property owner, and/or member of the board association it is vitally important to visually inspect the building regularly, do maintenance in the areas necessary, and seal hairline cracks. However, in the event of an emergency repair please contact a professional engineer immediately. 

If your commercial or residential building is 25/30/40 years or older Eastern Engineering Group is here for you, our firm is licensed and covered with all the appropriate business insurances to have a backup and take care of the safety of our services, employees, and clients, our company counts with more than 15 years of expertise in the Recertification field.

Request a free proposal today! We are here to help!