Building Envelope Consulting
The building envelope includes the facade, roof, windows, parapets, balconies, and other exterior elements that protect a building from water and weather. When these systems deteriorate, problems can spread quickly, from leaks and material failure to interior damage and rising repair costs.
RAND evaluates existing conditions, identifies root causes, and develops repair and restoration programs for buildings across New York City and the surrounding region, including New Jersey.
Services
RAND provides building envelope consulting services including:
- Facade inspections and restoration
- Facade Inspection Safety Program (FISP / Local Law 11)
- Parapet inspections and repair programs
- Roof repair and replacement
- Window and door replacement
- Balcony and terrace repairs
- Leak investigations and water infiltration analysis
- Cornice repair and replacement
- Curtain wall investigations
- Exterior condition surveys
- Historic restoration and preservation
- Adjacent construction consultation
Where appropriate, investigations may include probes, testing, drone surveys, rope access, and infrared thermography.
Facade Inspection Safety Program
Under New York City’s Facade Inspection Safety Program (formerly called Local Law 11/98), all buildings taller than six stories must be inspected by a Professional Engineer or Registered Architect every five years, and owners must file a facade condition report with the Department of Buildings. RAND’s in-house engineers and architects have issued more than 4,000 Local Law 10/80, 11/98, and FISP reports, and we have administered hundreds of follow-up repair programs. With our comprehensive knowledge of the laws’ many details, we help building owners comply with the often complicated inspection, filing, and repair process to achieve a safe status for their properties.
Window and Door Replacement
Although one of the more costly and lengthy major capital improvement projects, window and door replacement programs can result in better thermal insulation, energy efficiency, and noise reduction, as well as an improved appearance to a building. Replacing window and doors requires careful consideration of several key issues, including the structural stability of the frame, water resistance, air infiltration, and noise abatement. For architecturally significant buildings, retaining the same design aesthetics, configurations, and sight lines is paramount. RAND has extensive experience with many types of window and door replacement projects, including double-hung, casements, sliding, projecting, and those for properties in historic districts.
Drone Services
RAND has a team of licensed Drone Technicians that conducts close-up evaluations of exterior building conditions, including facade and roof inspections, leakage investigations, emergency investigations, and more. Drones provide safer access to hard-to-reach locations and potentially hazardous conditions. Because they are easy to set up and operate, drones can be more cost-effective and less intrusive than traditional visual inspection methods because no additional equipment or contractor fees are required. Drones capture clear, detailed, high-resolution videos and photographs from multiple angles and are useful in covering tall buildings and large sites. When combined with hands-on inspections, drones provide a more thorough analysis of building structures.
Visit our portfolio of projects for more on RAND’s Building Envelope services.
