VERTEX was retained by an insurance carrier to provide forensic engineering investigation and construction cost estimating services on this 12,000 square foot wooden bowstring truss building in Zion, Illinois. The structure included heavy timber wooden trusses with 80 foot clear spans, spaced at approximately 25 feet on center, that were supported on structural masonry bearing walls. One of the roof trusses had suffered multiple fractures and experienced substantial deflection reportedly as the result of recent heavy snow-loading. VERTEX’s scope of work including confirming the specific cause of the failure, developing a comprehensive conceptual scope of repairs, and providing a full cost estimate. The conceptual scope of repairs included extensively shoring the failed truss, replacing fractured wooden top and bottom chord members, and installing new steel tie rod reinforcing to increase the strength of the truss for current building code requirements.
Due to the sensitive condition of the structurally compromised roof framing, and in recognition of the potential for additional structural failure and the potential risk to human life, VERTEX was able to rapidly respond to the request for inspection and was on site the same day, and within 6 hours of receiving the initial request to inspect.
VERTEX experience in complex structural systems, including historical and antiquated construction techniques, allowed us to rapidly assess the failure and determine appropriate repairs as well as to provide a comprehensive estimate of the associated repair costs.
To learn more about VERTEX’s Forensic Consulting services or to speak with an Expert, call 888.298.5162 or submit an inquiry.
