Did you receive a dangerous-building order from the municipality?
Have cracks, rusting steel or crumbling concrete appeared?
Do you need an engineering opinion to have the order removed?
A dangerous-building order is not a death sentence for the building. In most cases the structure can be strengthened and restored, returned to a safe condition and the order removed, with the guidance of a structural engineer.
At B.R.N. Engineering we carry out an engineering inspection, produce an opinion and execution instructions, design the structural strengthening and accompany the restoration until the building is approved and the order is removed by the authority.
A dangerous-building order is an official directive issued by the local authority, through the engineer of the dangerous-structures committee, when there is a concern for the stability of the building and the safety of the residents or passers-by nearby. The order is issued under the municipal by-law for dangerous structures, and it requires the property owners to act within a set time frame.
To have the order removed, the property owners or the house committee turn to a structural engineer, who inspects the building, writes an engineering opinion and execution instructions for the contractor, and accompanies the restoration works. Once the works are complete and the engineer confirms the building is safe, the approval is submitted to the authority - and the building is reclassified as "not dangerous". Good to know: fast, professional action prevents escalation, fines and the risk of evacuation, and in severe cases a demolition order too.
The structural engineer examines the frame, foundations and loads on site, identifies the source of the failure and the extent of the damage.
A signed document detailing the condition of the building, the level of risk and the precise repair instructions for the executing contractor.
Structural design of the solution - strengthening columns, beams and foundations, concrete repairs and corrosion treatment - according to the standards.
Guiding the contractor and quality control that ensures the work is carried out exactly according to the design and the engineering instructions.
When the restoration is complete the engineer confirms the building is safe, and the approval is submitted to the local authority to remove the dangerous-building order.
Every dangerous building has its own engineering story, so the solution is determined only after a precise diagnosis of the source of the failure. These are the main structural restoration methods we use:
Cleaning the damaged areas, injecting epoxy into structural cracks and high-quality concrete reinstatement, to restore strength and imperviousness.
Exposing the reinforcement steel, removing rust, passivation and a protective layer - to stop the deterioration and prevent the damage from returning.
Strengthening columns and beams using steel jackets or carbon-fiber sheets (CFRP), and adding load-bearing elements where needed.
Treating settlement with injections or micropiles, and adapting the building to earthquake resistance according to the Israeli standard.
The local authority can issue several types of orders, according to the severity of the risk. In most cases, the guidance of a professional structural engineer makes it possible to restore the building and avoid the extreme scenario of a demolition order:
| Type of order | What it means | How a structural engineer helps |
|---|---|---|
| Fencing and marking order | A requirement to fence and mark the dangerous area to protect passers-by. | A structural engineer diagnoses the source of the danger and determines which works will remove the fencing. |
| Repair and renovation order | A requirement to carry out strengthening and repair works within a set time frame. | The engineer prepares an opinion and execution instructions, and accompanies the restoration through to approval. |
| Evacuation order | A requirement to vacate the building due to an immediate danger to its occupants. | Fast, planned strengthening can return the building to a safe condition and allow re-occupancy. |
| Demolition order | A requirement to demolish the building or part of it when it cannot be restored. | An engineering opinion proving it can be safely strengthened frequently prevents the demolition. |
Received a dangerous-building order? Talk to a structural engineer before deciding on demolition:
Rich experience in advising on the restoration of various types of dangerous buildings
Significant savings in time, costs and on-site complications
Use of advanced tools to find solutions before execution
Professional consulting and design by a structural engineer to restore the building and remove the order
For further details or to arrange a meeting, contact us in whatever way is convenient for you:
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The order is issued by the local authority, through the engineer of the dangerous-structures committee, under the municipal by-law. It is issued when there is a concern for the stability of the building and the safety of residents or passers-by nearby.
You turn to a structural engineer who inspects the building, prepares an engineering opinion and execution instructions, and accompanies the restoration works. When the works are complete the engineer confirms the building is safe, the approval is submitted to the authority - and the order is removed.
Not necessarily. A demolition order is issued when the authority believes the building cannot be safely restored, but an independent engineering opinion proving it can be strengthened often prevents the demolition. It is important to consult a structural engineer as early as possible.
Diagonal cracks or cracks in concrete columns and beams, exposed reinforcement steel and rust ("concrete cancer"), crumbling and erosion of concrete, settlement and slopes in the floor, and wear in foundations and exposed columns. Signs like these require a structural engineer’s inspection.
The opinion includes a description of the building’s condition, the source of the failure and the level of risk, detailed execution instructions for the contractor and the signature of a licensed engineer. It is the document on which the restoration is based and the order is removed.
When the dangerous building is common property, the responsibility lies with all the apartment owners through the house committee. The house committee is usually the one that turns to the structural engineer and leads the restoration process with the authority.
The duration depends on the extent of the damage, the type of building and the contractor’s availability. The inspection and opinion are produced within a short time, while the strengthening works themselves take as long as their scope requires. Close engineering supervision shortens delays and prevents rework.
Choose a licensed structural engineer experienced in building restoration, who is familiar with the updated standards, can diagnose different types of buildings (unstable, dangerous, requiring strengthening) and accompanies the project from the inspection through to removal of the order.
The process begins with an engineering inspection of the building and the production of an opinion and execution instructions. To arrange an inspection with a structural engineer call 03-563-0000 or leave your details and we’ll get back to you.
