SEPTEMBER 2026 ENGINEERING SOLUTIONS NEWSLETTER

The September 2026 edition of the Engineering Solutions newsletter is out now. This issue covers our on-site rehabilitation work at a longstanding Palm Beach institution, a plain-English explanation of Florida's newest condominium safety law, and a structural engineer's perspective on balcony and railing conditions. Here's a quick summary — then read the full issue below.

Project Spotlight: Palm Beach Day Academy Structural Rehabilitation

Engineering Solutions is providing full-time, on-site structural engineering support for the ongoing rehabilitation of Palm Beach Day Academy on Seaview Avenue in Palm Beach. With a professional engineer stationed on site, our team can respond quickly to structural conditions encountered as work progresses on the building's deteriorated exterior steel column cladding.

Our scope includes developing site-specific steel and concrete repair details, emergency repair permit drawings, waterproofing, and restoration solutions. This hands-on, expedited support helps the project team address critical conditions efficiently while keeping rehabilitation work moving forward. Engineering Solutions will continue providing on-site inspections and construction administration through project completion, with all work designed in accordance with the Florida Building Code, 8th Edition (2023).

HB 913 Explained: What Florida's Newest Condo Safety Law Actually Changed

House Bill 913 took effect July 1, 2025, refining the post-Surfside framework established by SB 4D. It extended the Structural Integrity Reserve Study deadline to December 31, 2025, raised the reserve funding threshold from $10,000 to $25,000, and expanded document transparency requirements to associations with 25 or more units starting January 1, 2026. The law also formalized how reserve studies must be scoped, requiring a licensed engineer, architect, or reserve specialist to evaluate structural components like roofs, load-bearing walls, and waterproofing systems.

HB 913 doesn't replace milestone inspection or SIRS requirements — it adjusts how associations meet them, touching on insurance appraisals, financial reporting, and electronic voting along the way. For many boards, these changes also affect how lenders and insurers evaluate a building at renewal time, since a completed and compliant reserve study is increasingly treated as a baseline expectation rather than an optional formality. Understanding these changes now helps boards budget accurately and avoid last-minute compliance issues.

Balcony and Railing Safety: A Structural Engineer's Perspective

Balconies and railings are among the most frequently cited deficiencies in Florida milestone inspections, yet most owners never think twice about them until something feels off. A common culprit is oxide jacking, where corrosion at embedded steel railing connections expands and cracks the surrounding concrete from the inside out — often invisible until the railing becomes loose. Balcony slabs are also exposed on every side to sun, rain, and salt air, making spalling, cracking, and exposed rebar common warning signs in South Florida's coastal climate.

Older buildings may also have railings that predate current load capacity standards, which is why a structural evaluation matters even when nothing looks visibly wrong. Failed sealant joints and inadequate drainage accelerate these issues, allowing moisture to reach embedded steel long before damage is visible at the surface. Rust staining, hairline cracks near posts, or a railing that feels loose are all worth investigating sooner rather than later — catching them early is almost always less costly than emergency repairs after a failure.

Our Latest Projects

• Palm Beach Day Academy (Palm Beach, FL) — Structural Rehabilitation & Construction Administration
• Chilean Ave Residence (Palm Beach, FL) — Residential New Construction
• 172nd Place North Residence (Jupiter, FL) — Structural Conditions Assessment
• Palm Beach Biltmore Condominium (Palm Beach, FL) — Structural Design & Shoring Inspections
• Village Road Residence (North Palm Beach, FL) — Residential Renovation
• South Beach Road Residence (Hobe Sound, FL) — Residential Renovation
• 1979 West Hillsboro Blvd (Deerfield Beach, FL) — Structural Conditions Assessment & Waterproofing
• Wilson Road Property (West Palm Beach, FL) — Structural Conditions Assessment & Reverse Engineering

Read the Full September 2026 Newsletter

Want the complete issue? Both pages are below. Click either page to open it full size and read every article, project update, and photo from the field — then use the arrows to flip between pages.