Civil & Structural Engineering
Arcon’s structural and civil engineers have the depth & breadth of experience to thoroughly inspect and assess damage associated with residential, commercial or industrial structures and public works infrastructure. With specialized knowledge of building envelope issues and personal injury situations arising from building code non-compliance, Arcon offers a full range of structural forensic engineering services.
In our capacity as consulting structural engineers, this range of services extends to assisting clients with the repair, reconstruction, re-purposing and rehabilitation of structures to prolong their lifespan.
Structural Damage Assessment
In addition to assessing the severity & extent of any structural damage, understanding the causation of the damage event is essential in recommending corrective measures to avoid a future recurrence. Structural damage can arise from a multitude of sources including:
- impacts from cars or trees
- wind, rain and hail storms
- ice damming & snow loads
- overland flooding
- improper grading
- renovations
While most damage involves a breach of the building envelope – foundation, exterior cladding & roofing – sometimes the damage to the building’s structural integrity arises from renovation work inside the structure such as removing load bearing walls or creating a basement walkout without proper underpinning of the foundation and drainage installation.
Water infiltration can lead to a variety of structural and environmental issues in buildings. Whether the damage is a result of a sudden unexpected event such as a rainstorm or swimming pool failure or it’s the result of long-term exposure to moisture through improper installation and maintenance of roofing, exterior cladding systems, doors, windows & skylights or improper grading, Arcon’s experts will specify the necessary structural repairs and suggest improvements to avoid a similar failure in the future.
Arcon partners with experts in environmental testing and remediation as well as soil engineers to offer a complete solution when there are environmental issues such as mold and asbestos or soil related issues.
Fire Damage Assessment and Repair
Arcon is well-versed in assessing the extent and severity of structural damage resulting from fires & explosions. During our initial site inspection, we inspect the structural damage to ensure that the site is safe for fire investigators and reconstruction personnel and direct the installation of shoring as needed. Our initial inspection and assessment provides the basis for our reconstruction work; creating drawings, obtaining building permits and reviewing the repairs/reconstruction.
Structural Repair & Reconstruction
Our experience with structural failures in residential, commercial and industrial buildings gives us unique insight for our consulting engineering work helping clients repair, reconstruct and re-purpose structures.
When the structural failure is subject to insurance coverage, Arcon’s ability to integrate the initial assessment with the subsequent repair of the structure can save our clients time and money by eliminating redundancies and reduce their stress by taking ownership for the entire workflow. From drawings to permit approval, construction supervision to occupancy permit, Arcon will be there.
Ontario Building Code Compliance
Ontario Building Code compliance can be a critical factor in litigation relating to personal injuries and construction deficiencies. Compliance assessments are also used during the sale of multi-residential, commercial and industrial buildings to assist insurance underwriters in properly assessing and pricing the risk and by risk managers to identify and mitigate potential liability in the future.
Typical elements reviewed in an assessment include: stairs, handrails, guardrails, walking surfaces, roof ventilation, lighting, as well as the integrity of the structure and building envelope.
Environmental Contamination
When there is a question of the toxicity of materials or air-quality issues during demolition or reconstruction, or soil/groundwater contamination, Arcon partners with established environmental engineering firms who are qualified in the sampling and testing of these materials and can recommend and implement remediation work.
Personal Injury
Arcon’s structural engineers are frequently called upon in situations where a personal injury is thought to have arisen from a building code compliance issue. Commonly referred to as “slips, trips & falls”, these scenarios are often complicated by the existence of environmental factors (snow, rain) and how those factors affect the performance of footwear and flooring materials in those conditions. Injuries can also result from the poor design, shoddy construction or lack of maintenance of a structure or structural element such as a deck.
Our team draws on its practical experience with construction methods and materials, an in-depth knowledge of industry standards and the specialized input from our Mechanical & Metallurgical engineers in their investigations.
