What is a Commercial Building Inspection, and What Do Inspectors Look For?

A commercial building inspection is one of the most essential steps in ensuring your building is safe, structurally sound, and up to code. Knowing the details about this inspection helps all property stakeholders avoid unexpected, expensive problems in the future.

In this blog, we’ll discuss what a commercial building inspection is, what inspectors look for, and why it’s important for the longevity and safety of your investment.

What Does A Commercial Building Inspection Look Like?

Think of a commercial building inspection as a detailed health check-up for your property. A building inspector examines commercial properties in the same manner as a doctor examines patients. The inspector detects troubling issues that may cause extensive repair expenses, safety hazards, and legal challenges.

A commercial building inspection is typically conducted before buying or leasing a property, but it can also be performed regularly for maintenance purposes. The assessment evaluates every essential system in the building structure. This includes assessment of infrastructure strength, examination of water plumbing systems, electrical network, and HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) functionality.

Why Do You Need A Commercial Building Inspection?

Customers often base their buying decisions on the building’s appearance or a quick exterior inspection. They must go for detailed assessments before finalizing agreements. Remember the adage, ‘appearances can be deceiving’, so, always dig in deep to get the full picture. Having a commercial building inspection ensures you’re not walking into a property with hidden flaws that could cost you thousands to fix later.

Every year, data indicates that inspected properties contain significant defects, including mold, water damage, and structural problems. A property inspection serves its purpose because it enables you to gather necessary information for well-informed decisions.

What Does A Building Inspector Look For?

When it comes to a commercial building inspection, inspectors have a long checklist of things to examine. The most frequently checked elements during inspections include the following:

Structural Integrity

• The evaluation of the foundation is the starting point of an inspector’s assessment. Parallel assessments of surfaces, cracks, and shifting foundations are indicators of severe structural malfunctions.
• Inspection of walls, roof, and framing systems detect damage, leaks, and signs of wear. A broken roof presents risks of water leakage, partial or complete collapse, and mold formation, among other problems.
• Floor inspections entail examining them for unevenness or sinking.  Abnormal movements of the floor could indicate foundation problems.

HVAC Systems

• Inspectors check heating units and air conditioning systems to verify their proper operation. Because commercial buildings are usually large,  repairing a failed heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system demands substantial costs because of their massive size.
• Ventilation is an essential factor for keeping interior air clean. The inspection includes verifying that ventilation systems have unclogged pathways and that their installation matches current building regulations.

Plumbing Systems

• Plumbing specialists examine all pipe structures to verify for leaks and check for corrosion and clog buildup. Neglected minor issues, such as leakages, can develop into bigger complications over time. So, it’s better to fix them as soon as they are detected.
• Water pressure inspections check drainage and water systems to verify they are free from blockages or mechanical failures that would disrupt operations.

Electrical Systems

The inspection evaluates: 

• Electrical wiring for fire risk.
• Overloaded circuits.
• The system’s capacity to meet modern requirements.

Safety Features

• A commercial building inspection will ensure that fire safety systems, such as alarms, sprinklers, and emergency exits, function well and meet safety regulations.
• Emergency exits should be prominently mentioned and within easy reach for all, including disabled people.

Exterior And Landscaping

• Property inspectors examine external building structures that encompass parking lots, sidewalks, and the building landscape.
• Commercial building inspections evaluate parking lots because their condition reveals potential problems with the foundation.
• The inspector evaluates drainage systems outside the property to confirm proper water flow away from the foundation area.

Pest Control

An often overlooked part of a commercial building inspection is pest control. Inspection teams will spot indications of: 

• Pest colonization.
• Rodent and termite presence, which indicates major structural harm in the future.

The Commercial Building Inspection Process

An inspection process operates in this sequence:

• The inspection process begins with meeting the inspector to review the purpose of the inspection, seeing the building map, and discussing specific areas of concern.
• The onsite inspection requires continuous visual assessment that takes several hours, depending on the building size.
• The inspection leads to an inspection report that details the discovered problems, their severity level, and recommendations for fixing them.
• Apart from assessment reports, the inspector might provide additional guidance about secondary inspections, recommended restorations, and structural modifications.

Why Hire A Professional Inspector?

Hiring a professional for your commercial building inspection is crucial for many reasons. Building inspectors possess training, knowledge, and expertise to detect potential issues you cannot notice. A small leak may indicate major problems within poor roofing and plumbing systems that require swift interventions.

The inspectors also understand regional safety standards and check the building’s conformity. The inspection guarantees that your property will avoid legal complications as it adheres to all safety and other regulations. 

Conclusion

A commercial building inspection is essential for anyone involved in purchasing, managing, or maintaining a commercial property. It allows you to find concealed problems while ranking essential maintenance work as a priority and confirming the building’s safety for its occupants and visitors. Building inspection lets you sleep in peace as your asset is safe and secure. 

Your building requires a professional inspection to keep it in outstanding condition. Trust Inspect360 for your next commercial building inspection. Our team of certified experts provides detailed reports to help you make well-informed choices concerning your assets. Schedule a building inspection today before small issues develop into expensive major problems. Contact us now.