ASCE Announces Public Comment Period for Updated ASCE Standards

The American Society of Civil Engineers today announced it will conduct a public comment period from Aug. 1, 2012 through Sept. 15, 2012 on ASCE/SEI 30 Guideline for Condition Assessment of the Building Envelope. This standard was developed by the ASCE/SEI Structural Condition Assessment and Rehabilitation of Buildings Standards Committee.

The Condition Assessment of Existing Buildings Committee Building Envelope Subcommittee has revised the ASCE/SEI 30 Guideline for Condition Assessment of the Building Envelope document. Revisions include organization of the document, revision of various sections, and updating some graphics and references. This document provides a guideline and methodology for assessing the condition and performance of existing building envelope systems and components, as well as identifying problematic and dysfunctional elements.

Because the adaptive reuse, rehabilitation, and improvement of existing buildings have assumed a more prominent role in meeting national needs, the ability to accurately assess the conditions of a building is imperative. Failures of the building envelope can result in safety and health problems, as well as structural damage. Proper evaluation of the building envelope is often the first step toward stabilization and rehabilitation of the building. This Standard is a compilation of basic information, procedures, and references; it will be an asset to the investigator developing a logical approach to the assessment of the building envelope in order to focus on fundamental defects rather than outward symptoms.

To participate in the public comment period, contact Lee Kusek, ASCE codes & standards administrator, at lkusek@asce.org or 703-295-6176. For more information on this standard or ASCE's standards program, please contact Jim Jennings at jjennings@asce.org or 703-295-6406.