| Author |
Message |
Dale Hurttgam, NCARB, AIA,LEED AP, CSI
Senior Member
Username: dwhurttgam
Post Number: 133
Registered: 10-2005
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 07, 2018 - 11:25 am: |    |
Has anyone prepared a spec or know of a guide spec
for requiring that the contractor document the condition of adjacent buildings to a construction site for any potential damage or affect on them by the construction project being undertaken.
We have some thoughts on how to prepare one from scratch - but was hoping to find a guide spec. Have been unsuccessful in finding one to date.
Some one on the Team has recalled seeing one in the past.
Want to monitor settlement or potential cracks or other adverse affects on adjacent buildings. |
Steven Bruneel, AIA, CSI-CDT, LEED-AP, EDAC
Senior Member
Username: redseca2
Post Number: 634
Registered: 12-2006
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 07, 2018 - 12:50 pm: | |
We have not created a unique specification to monitor the condition of adjacent buildings to a construction site for any potential damage or affect on them by the construction project.
We do regularly include a 01 32 XX photo documentation spec that includes documenting the "before" condition of adjacent the buildings (or even adjacent rooms for a small tenant improvement). For a small project these existing condition photos may be the only work result goal for the photo documentation spec. But as projects ramp up in size we add monthly and final progress photos, aerial photos, 24-hour web cams and whatever else the project warrants.
After specified photographic documentation, the most frequent item we see coordinated by the Owner or Contractor outside the spec include recording and monitoring of all existing cracks in adjacent building walls and site improvements. This can be just photo documentation, or include increasing sophisticated crack monitoring devices. It really pays off to have those "before" photos when a neighboring property owner claims you have caused cracking.
This is all part of keeping on civil terms with the neighbors of your project. As we slot large medical buildings and campuses into existing neighborhoods it often pays to offer proactive services for the neighbors. We have seen the Owner provide monthly window washing, free coupons for car washes and waxing, weekly and project end house keeping services if dust is an issue, and even complementary stays at out of town resorts for pile driving, all night concrete pours, and similar messy/noisy construction activities. |
Mark Gilligan SE,
Senior Member
Username: mark_gilligan
Post Number: 842
Registered: 10-2007
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 07, 2018 - 01:43 pm: | |
If there is the potential that the Owner of the project or the Owner's consultants could be pulled into litigation maybe it is best if this monitoring is retained by the Owner. |
Michael Chusid, RA FCSI CCS
Senior Member
Username: michael_chusid
Post Number: 366
Registered: 10-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 07, 2018 - 01:46 pm: | |
Contact www.straamgroup.com. They have very sophisticated structural monitoring capabilities that have been used to monitor construction impacts on neighboring buildings. Tell them I sent you.
Michael Chusid, RA FCSI CCS 1-818-219-4937
www.chusid.com www.buildingproduct.guru |
ken hercenberg
Senior Member
Username: khercenberg
Post Number: 1147
Registered: 12-2006
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 07, 2018 - 05:44 pm: | |
Dale, this can be a rabbit hole and it's pretty easy to screw up so please be careful.
As Steve pointed out, the reasonable level of care is pretty much photo and video, and lots of it. The smart Contractor will document every crack and void they can find in existing facilities whether on the client's property, adjacent properties, or even on adjacent utility and municipal structures.
If the client wants more, they should get in touch with folks like Michael suggested or whomever the structural engineer likes to use to survey conditions. There are all kinds of simple and complicated means of determining and documenting existing levels of damage and of tracking changes in those levels. The simplest are often the most effective such as the Avongard crack monitors - http://www.avongard.com/products/category/1/tell-tales/P-00010/crack-monitoring-kit which are great if you've already identified areas of concern and want to have definitive proof. There are many similar tools for other conditions. |
|
4specs.com Home Page