Critical examinations, ongoing inspection reports, and the repair design that follows — sealed by a licensed Illinois Structural Engineer.
Chicago requires periodic inspection of the exterior walls of every building 80 feet or taller. Reports are filed with the Department of Buildings and must be sealed by a licensed structural engineer or architect. The requirement follows the building through every sale and management change.
Two filings, depending on where your building sits in its cycle:
Critical Examination — a close-up inspection of every elevation from swing stages or boom lifts, with exploratory openings to expose the concealed steel supporting the masonry. Due December 1. Cycles run four, eight, or twelve years depending on how the walls are built.
Ongoing Inspection Report — a visual inspection filed between critical examinations. Due November 1.
What we provide
Verification of your building's category, cycle, and filing history before we quote
Elevation drawings of every facade face, used during the inspection and included in the report
Close-up examination of all elevations, including courtyard faces
A sealed report in the Department of Buildings format, with annotated photographs and marked-up elevations
Response to city review comments through to resolution
Repair drawings and specifications when the report calls for work
What gets reports rejected
A critical examination isn't just an inspection — the city's rules specify what the report must contain, and reviewers send back submissions missing the building category justification, the comparison to the previous examination, or evidence of the required exploratory openings. We prepare to that standard from the start, and when comments do come back, we handle them. You don't.
The repairs are the real project
Most examinations end in "safe with repair and maintenance," which means a repair program follows. We stay on through it — repair drawings, contractor coordination, and documentation of what's found once the masonry comes off. One engineer through the whole sequence means the repair scope comes from the person who saw the building.
Send us the address.
We'll tell you what your building is required to file, when it's due, and what it costs — before you commit to anything.