Our interpretations of the many codes and standards in our engineering industry
What To Know When Designing & Installing Handrails & Guards About Stair Requirements The International Residential Code (IRC) contains railing guidelines similar to those found in the Florida Building Code*. Below are selected regulations from the 2021 IRC for reference as they are typically used on our safeguard projects. R311.7 Stairways (2021 IRC link) R311.7.1 …
There are many updates to the Florida Building Code 7th Edition (2020), but several of them directly impact structural building component product evaluations. A similar update schedule applies to updating Here’s a breakdown of whats changed and what to expect when updating your Florida Product Evaluations & plans to the 2020 Florida Building Code: 1) …
Original FL Engineer Seals Are Not Required On Product Approvals. Here’s the proof. Engineering Express frequently gets asked to ‘re-seal’ our product approvals for site-specific project after they have been approved by the state. These documents are to be validated by by the municpality by comparing them to the approved records on file with the approving …
Proof Florida Product Approvals and NOA’s Don’t Require The Original Engineering Seal Read More »
Florida Statewide Approvals (FSA): Validator & Quality Assurance Requirements Florida’s Statewide Product Approval (FSA) system ensures that every product used in construction meets the state’s strict building code requirements. Two key components of this process are Validation and Quality Assurance (QA) — both critical for maintaining credibility and compliance throughout a product’s approval lifecycle. The …
Florida Statewide Approvals (FSA) – Quality Assurance and Validator Requirements Read More »
HISTORY Back in the day, kings used wax to seal an envelope to prove its authenticity. That seal evolved over time to become variations of paper embossing and ink ‘wet’ sealing up until this day to certify blueprints by architects and engineers. In today’s digital world, a more secure solution is needed. Engineering documents are …
FLOOD GLOSSARY The following is provided as a curated summary of terms taken from the referenced standards that appear in the article footing. SEE ALSO OUR GENERAL GLOSSARY OF TERMS NATIONAL FLOOD INSURANCE PROGRAM (NFIP) The Federal program, create by an act of Congress in 1968, that makes flood insurance available in communities that enact …
An engineer’s walk through of the design requirements for flood resistant design of building components With Engineering Express’s early start with floodproofing designs for floor barriers and exterior glazing in projects across the US, we quickly became experts in this field. We’ve witnessed and directed static and dynamic flood testing, sat on industry meetings, met …
Flood Resistant Design & Floodproofing of Buildings Read More »
The High Velocity Hurricane Zone (or HVHZ) in Florida encompasses only Miami-Dade And Broward Counties. It is a special section of the Florida Building Code which lays out special codes which apply to these counties. Important to note that the HVHZ does not extend south of Dade County and does not include Monroe County. It …
What is the HVHZ – High Velocity Hurricane Zone – in Florida? Read More »
(2020 Florida Existing Building Code Section 503) (adopted by use of IBC 2018 with amendments, definitions apply nationwide) Alteration – Level 1 (FBC Existing Buildings Section 602) Removal and replacement, or covering of existing materials, equipment, fixtures using new materials that serve the same purpose. Alteration –Level 1 does not include reconfiguration of space. Commentary: …
What are alteration levels in construction and how do they relate to delegate engineers? Read More »
The minimum roof slope requirement for metal panels varies depending on panel connection conditions. The required roof slope varies with application of materials and use. See the below Florida Building Code 7th Edition (2020) sections below to determine which slope is appropriate based on your specific design scenario. Definition METAL ROOF PANEL. An interlocking …
What is the Minimum Roof Slope for Metal Panels and other Roof Types? Read More »
Interior Glass: Not Just For Looks When designing interior glass, you must consider both structural concerns and code requirements to ensure safety, functionality, and performance— Here are some important code items and other concerns to consider: Code References Regarding differential horizontal movement: From Both the IBC 2021 Section 2403.4 and FBC 2023 Section 2403.4, Interior …
Designing Interior Glass? Here are some engineering code items to consider Read More »
In Florida (as well as mast all states): 1. If an engineer produces a drawing that is not a final plan, it needs to be sealed and stated as such. Releasing unsealed plans violates Florida Administrative Code 61G15-23.001 as highlighted below. 2. If the drawings an engineer produces are final plans, they need to be signed …
Product Approvals for building components are the general rule in Florida. Building officials, architects, insurance companies, even homeowners ask for them all the time, frequently refusing permits, insurance discounts, and product installations. So what is the legal ruling on when and if product approvals are required for this product? The Florida Building Code requires only …
Case Study: Phantom Screens – Is a Florida Product Approval Required? Read More »
Footings Move When Soil Freezes. Let’s Explain. Building codes describe the design requirements of shallow foundations in regions where soil is subjected to seasonal ground freezing. Codes require that footings be protected from frost to prevent a phenomenon known as heave. Frost heave occurs when water penetrates the ground soil and subsequently freezes. When water …
Frost Protection For Concrete Footings On Grade – Heave Explained Read More »
Florida Product Approval & Miami-Dade NOA : What You Need to Know Florida Building Code (FBC) vs International Building Code (IBC) Florida stands out as one of the few states that requires statewide product evaluations before products can be permitted or installed. While the IBC includes similar provisions, the FBC enforces them more consistently, and …
Florida Product Approval and Miami Dade NOA Requirements Read More »
Why Your TER Might Get Rejected — and How to Fix It A Technical Evaluation Report (TER) is an engineer-certified evaluation of a product’s structural performance limits (wind, gravity, etc.). However, submitting a TER alone does not guarantee approval by a permitting authority. Various factors during the permit review process can lead to additional requirements …
