Specialized Services
Life Safety and Fire Protection
CSE has been involved with numerous cases that include accessibility (Americans with Disabilities Act and the Architectural
Barriers Act) and life safety concerns. Our staff of design professionals routinely performs site investigations of the as-built
conditions to assess compliance with construction documents as well as the applicable codes and standards. During a site
investigation we will analyze surface conditions, slope, lighting, handrails, guards, and other required applications by ANSI
A117.1.
Additionally we have extensive knowledge on assessing fire protection issues such as wall and assembly ratings, structural
protection, as well as egress limits. Health, Safety, and Welfare are the reasons building codes exist. Our professional staff can
help make sure yours is up to code.
Windows and Doors
CSE has been involved with numerous cases that include window and
door issues. Most of these cases have included allegations of water intrusion, defective products,
improper design and/or product selection or a combination of these issues. Our investigations
include on-site testing of windows and doors, engineering evaluation, review of design parameters,
and review of construction documents including plans, specifications and product submittals.
Coating Failures
CSE also evaluates various types of coating failures. These failures have included paint failures on metal roof panels,
coating failures from concrete floor systems, coating failures from stucco wall systems and coating failure of textured ceiling on
concrete slabs. In some cases, our evaluations have included adhesion testing of coatings in accordance with ASTM test methods. Our
evaluations typically include a determination of the cause of the failure and recommended repair procedures.
Water Intrusion
CSE Architects and Engineers are routinely retained to evaluate water intrusion issues on existing
buildings. Our evaluations typically begin with visual surveys of relevant building
components, followed by destructive testing to determine the extent of damage
and to verify water intrusion paths. Water spray testing in accordance with
established standards is also commonly utilized. This work is often supplemented
by an evaluation of the cause of the water intrusion, which typically includes an
integration between each component to determine what went wrong.