Top 10 Reasons to Hire a Building Envelope Consultant

Rick De La Guardia, E.I., M. ASCE

rad@dlgengineering.com

Consult with a knowledgeable glazing specialist BEFORE you complete your design. Working with glass, aluminum, structural silicone and glass Interlayers and knowing the limitations of the State’s product approval system is a very complex process.

Having to change the design of the building envelope does not only affect the exterior aesthetics but it could impact other trades as well.

Not considering the availability of systems allowing very large spans could create a situation where additional internal reinforcing is required which could mean testing and one-time approval or having to design a supporting steel framework.

Do not get caught with a design that looks great, one which the client loves, only to realize later that there are no approved products that can meet your design intent…OR…be forced to redesign, causing delays and increasing cost, time and effort by having to go through the testing and approval route.

1. Help In Avoiding Design Problems Before They Happen.

If it is too late, and you find yourself in the position described in item 1, you will need specialized advice to minimize the affects and the schedules of other trades.

You may need help to: select an alternate glazing system that best fits design intent and meets code

requirements.

Determine and resolve the affects on interior and exterior finishes.

Consult with the building department on quick resolution.

Obtain a site specific one-time approval to help maintain the design and attempt to avoid testing.

Provide special inspections to speed up installation and help recover lost time.

2. Help In Minimizing Delays Due To Architectural Redesign

Working in the State of Florida is like working in a foreign country with respect to building envelope design.

Did you think the State of Florida was governed by a uniform code? Think again. There are actually 2 building codes in Florida disguised as one.You have the High Velocity Hurricane Zone (Miami-Dade and Broward

Counties) and then you have the rest of the State.

In addition, every municipality has nuisances which lead to varying interpretations and enforcement of the code.

3. Ensuring Proper Compliance With The Codes And Standards.

All building envelope products sold in the State of Florida must go through a rigorous design, testing and certification process.

They must obtain a State Product Approval or a Miami-Dade County Product Approval.

There are wide variations between the two approval agencies which could cause confusion and permit delays.

There is a constant change of available products due to approvals that are expiring, getting renewed and revised or new product approvals being granted.

Do not get caught specifying a system that does not work or costs much more than a suitable alternative.

4. Assistance In Selecting Affordable & Applicable Products.

If you have to wait until your design is complete and for your contractor to value engineer your envelope, it may be too late.

You simply cannot change envelope systems after a permit has been issued by value engineering without going through the entire approval process of revised shop drawings, calculations, plans processing and permit revision.

Glazing systems typically have very long lead times and even longer when special finishes are desired.

Do not get caught up in the value engineering craze. There is no such thing when dealing with building envelope systems.

Do your value engineering during the design phase by having specialized advise up front.

5. Help In Avoiding Construction Delays.

Most municipalities in Florida require above and beyond what other states require for approval of building envelope products due to strict hurricane design requirements.

Most municipalities differ or have special requirements in their review process.Did you know that some municipalities in the West Coast of Florida require

Turtle friendly glass?

Did you know that one municipality in South Florida does not allow metal stud framing on the building exterior?

Do not get stuck with endless delays and resubmittals by having someone unfamiliar with the local requirements advising you on glazing submittal requirements.

6. Help In Minimizing Rejected Submittals Or Comments.

Not all glazing contractors do good work. Some do, but mostly while under direct supervision.

Most will try and do the least amount of work possible to get the job done regardless of quality.

Make sure you have someone knowledge overseeing installation to avoid bait and switch from approved products to their cheaper alternative (glass, silicone, interlayer, anchors, etc.)

7. Assistance In Selecting A Qualified Glazing Contractor.

There is no construction project without something not being as it should.

Having to make design changes, as a result of field conditions, that require the attention of a qualified consultant or the design engineer are part of the job.

Do not accept remedial work repairs or approval of deficient installations.

What good is it to have state of the art hurricane mitigation products if due to field conditions will result in deficient installation?

8. Assistance Resolving Field Condition Issues During Construction.

The building envelope is our first line of defense during a storm.

It is the only thing protecting our friends, family and property from fierce winds and wind borne debris.

Make sure that all aspects of your envelope are in order, from design, to shop drawings, to plans review, installation and inspections.

9. Help In Protection Of Life And Property During a Storm.

It is not a matter of if we will get struck by another major hurricane, it is a matter of when.

We live in a highly litigious society.

Make sure that when we do get struck again, that you have done your due diligence in ensuring all aspects were done based on all available research, technology and design to avoid any potential legal claims of negligence should your project suffer unwarranted damage.

10. Help In Minimizing Exposure Due To Damage After A Storm.

Hurricane Prone States and Regions

http://www.jumpjet.info/Emergency-Preparedness/Hazard-Maps/Hurricane_Evacuation_Plan_States.gif

http://www.wbdg.org/images/env_wind_1.gif

Historical Data

http://news.discovery.com/earth/early-hurricane-forecasts-what-are-they-worth-110407.htm

HURRICANE ANDREW

http://www.magazine.noaa.gov/stories/mag205.htm

http://www.noaanews.noaa.gov/stories/s966.htm

Don’t put yourself and your project or client in the compromising position of having:Design IssuesRe-Design DelaysNon-Compliance With CodesIncompatible ProductsConstruction DelaysSubmittal RejectionsIncompetent ContractorsUnresolved Field ConditionsLoss of PropertyUnwarranted Failure and Liability.

IN SUMMARY

Bachelor of Science in Architectural Engineering from the University of Miami.

President/Founder of DLG Engineering, Inc., a structural consulting firm based in South Florida.

Past-President of the University of Miami College of Engineering Alumni Association

20 years experience consulting in the building envelope and glazing field.

Developed and presented live webinars for the American Society of Civil Engineers on Hurricane Mitigation Design ( January, July and November 2013)

Vice Chair of the Architectural Engineering Institute’s Curtain Wall Committee.

Presented on hurricane design of glazing systems to:

Florida Structural Engineers Association

ATC-SEI 2012 Advances in Hurricane Engineering Conference

Written articles on:

“Allowable Strength of Glass: How to Design Safely for Today’s Threats” (US Glass Magazine, July 2010)

“Growing Awareness: Changes in ASCE 7-10 to Affect Hurricane-Prone Regions” (Architects’ Guide to Glass & Metal, December 2011)