Florida Milestone Inspection Report Template

The Florida Milestone Inspection Report inspects the condition of load-bearing walls and the primary structural members and primary structural systems as specified in the Florida Statutes 553.899. These primary structural system is a collection of the primary structural members such as columns, beams, trusses, girders and spandrels in habitable and non-habitable areas.

These inspections are conducted according to law by a professional engineer or registered architect that is licensed to practice it. The milestone inspection has two phases, although it is not specified in the bill, it’s an inspection term in the industry included in the standard form to indicate the inspections done.

Phase 1: Visual Inspection

This is the initial thorough assessment of the building’s structural integrity conducted using essential tools such as measuring devices like tape measure and ruler, moisture meters, and a camera. The goal here is early detection and faster repair, i.e., if moisture infiltrates critical components, it should be detected and repaired as soon as possible to avoid damage or corrosion. Such is the case in the tragic collapse of Champlain Towers South in Surfside, Florida, on June 24, 2021. One of the issues detected was the corrosion of reinforcing steel. There were overlooked issues such as inadequate waterproofing beneath the pool deck that led to seawater infiltration and accelerated deterioration of the steel components.

Phase 2: Detailed Inspection

Phase 2 is essentially a targeted follow-up milestone inspection that is only necessary when there are detected substantial structural deterioration in Phase 1 which means it is not required if there are none triggered in Phase 1. As per the statutes, it may be as expansive as necessary to fully assess areas of structural distress to verify the building is structurally sound and safe. The point of phase 2 is to fully assess, and repair distressed and damaged portions of the building.