SEP Structures’ work on Surfside

As one of the country’s leading forensic structural engineers, SEP Executive Principal, Joel Figueroa Vallines, was quickly called as an expert for news organizations around the world to provide expert analysis on the collapse and first responder tactics

Early in the process, Joel was also selected to be part of the Surfside Structural Working Group, a selective coalition of twelve expert structural engineers from four of the Nation’s engineering societies and organizations assembled by ACEC and FES.  With the Group’s expertise and periodic support from other building professionals, our Group assembled to establish the standards for mandatory minimum structural inspections and post-occupancy whole building safety inspections to prevent a tragedy like Surfside from happening again.  Our SSWG Recommendations are currently in the legislative approval process with the Florida Legislature.  For updates on the process please reach out to us at erteam@sepengineers.com .

three pillars of safety and durability

In addition to being a key player in shaping legislation to prevent future disasters, SEP has been at the forefront of analyzing the collapse and promoting a process we coined the “three pillars of safety and durability”: strong design by experienced structural engineers, detailed construction inspections by qualified engineers, and frequent proactive maintenance procedures.  To promote this concept globally, our principal Joel was featured on the Science Channel throughout the Engineering Catastrophes Surfside Episode S5-E10 ( Episode Link ), where he discusses the importance of these three factors and the failure of the structure.

Coverage of Surfside collapse featuring Joel Figueroa Vallines

 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Spectrum News 13

Surfside: One year later

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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