§ 16-89. Implementation.

(a)

Framework. Implementation of this article in accordance with sections 16-87 and 16-88 indicates the need for a framework to be established for evaluating the condition of a building; determining the potential for modification; and establishing the acceptability of required or proposed changes.

(b)

Evaluation of existing buildings. Evaluation of existing conditions in a structure is needed to determine the existence of any hazardous conditions which must be eliminated and to provide a basis for evaluating the impact of the proposed changes on the performance of the building. Subsections (c) through (h) of this section may be used for determining the condition of the structure; however, the provisions of subsections (c) through (h) are not necessarily all inclusive and the use of other methods or procedures are not precluded by this chapter.

(c)

Available documentation of an existing building. Prime sources of design information for existing buildings are the architectural and engineering drawings and specifications used in the construction of the building. Although the passing of time often obscures the identities of depositories of such documents, the following are probable prospects in attempting to locate such information:

(1)

If the building is in use, an individual responsible for its management may have retained drawings and specifications to facilitate maintenance. A building manager, resident manager, resident engineer, superintendent, plant engineer, or similar person may be the most direct contact at the building site.

(2)

Other potential sources (especially if the building is not in use) include the original designer, architects, engineers, contractor or subcontractors.

(3)

The building inspection department which issued the permit for construction may have documentation.

(4)

In the case of large corporations or government agencies, a separate contracting officer may have developed a technical file on the erection of the building.

(5)

In some cases, individual consultants are contracted to serve as clerk-of-the-works and pursue the inspection of a building project from start to finish with the keeping of a file.

(6)

Insurance companies sometimes maintain drawings or records of their insured buildings.

(7)

Historical or archaeological societies may have considered a building to be important enough to develop a file of documentation.

(d)

Field surveys. Documentation may be augmented by onsite data acquired through a field survey. A detailed visual examination of the structure shall be used to confirm and/or alter documentation or other previously available information pertaining to the building.

(e)

Testing. Testing may be used in evaluating the condition of a building or structure or parts thereof when other methods of evaluation will not suffice. Testing may be initiated voluntarily on the part of a permit applicant or may be required by the enforcement authority as deemed necessary. The costs of all such tests shall be borne by the permit applicant or building owner and should therefore be required by the enforcement authority only when other methods of evaluation prove inadequate or insufficient. Such testing should be conducted by an approved testing agency under the supervision of a Georgia registered architect or engineer. The report of the tests shall be submitted to the enforcement authority and shall include the details of test procedures, references to any accepted test standards used, the results of the tests and any conclusions drawn from the test results.

(f)

Field tests. Both nondestructive and destructive test procedures can be applied to evaluate the condition of a building.

(g)

Nondestructive testing. Nondestructive tests involve and include techniques where the structural integrity of the building is not affected, such as the following:

(1)

Analyzing various portions of the building to determine dimensions, types and conditions of materials, etc.

(2)

Portable apparatus for impact testing.

(3)

Load application short of failure to determine capacity of materials and components.

(4)

Magnetic methods for detecting flaws in ferrous metals.

(5)

Proximity magnetometers (locating rebars in concrete, concealed ferrous fasteners, etc.).

(6)

Electronic means for measuring the sonic modulus of elasticity of concrete and masonry in assessing its soundness.

(7)

Ultrasonic transmission or reflective methods in detecting flaws in various materials.

(8)

X-ray or infrared-ray photographic techniques used to evaluate portions of elements whose integrity is questionable.

(h)

Destructive testing. Destructive tests involve the destructive testing of a sample of the building removed for testing (e.g., concrete core), or components of the building could be reconstructed and tested in the laboratory.

(i)

Laboratory analysis. Various tests may be performed in the laboratory. Such tests might include the following:

(1)

Chemical or metallurgical tests;

(2)

Optical or electronic microscopic examinations which can help identify and evaluate the soundness of materials where decay or other molecular degradation is involved;

(3)

Conventional laboratory tests for determining physical properties (strength, ductility, absorption, solubility, permeability, stiffness, etc.); and/or

(4)

Testing of a scale model of the building (computer model, wind tunnel model, etc.).

(Ord. No. 83-4-5, § 1, 4-19-83; Code 1981, § 8-9004)