Design Consulting
Picco Engineering provides consulting services for large, complex architectural designs. Our structural engineering staff proposes various support options -structural steel frame, reinforced concrete, wood frame, light gauge steel stud - and their corresponding risk, cost and schedule impacts. Once a support system is selected, Picco prepares a detailed structural design, including specifications and drawings. These documents are then integrated into the architect's drawings, and become part of the contract set of documents used by general contractors to bid on a construction project.

Component Certification
Picco Engineering's component certification service includes calculation of a loading situation and provision of a stamped letter to certify acceptability of structural components. For many residential construction projects, it is not required that designs and working drawings are prepared by a licensed professional - as long as they are prepared in accordance with Part 9 of the Ontario Building Code (OBC). However, the OBC does not provide guidelines for complex loading situations, such as steel supporting brick or the application of point loads supported on members other than approved columns. Local building officials may not be willing to accept liability for these conditions, and will often request that a Professional Engineer provide certification of these components. Failure to comply with certification halts the building permit issuance process, which may cause delay and additional expense to the construction project.

Structural Review
Our structural review services offer builders a proactive approach to handling component certification issues. Picco Engineering will conduct a structural review of the preliminary set of drawings, then provide structural information to the architect or designer to include in the permit application set of drawings. Once our recommendations are incorporated, we review and apply a professional engineer's seal to the permit application set of drawings. These are some of the benefits of conducting a structural review at the preliminary plan stage:

1) provides a higher value product containing accurate structural information that can be used for advance purchasing of items with long lead times - such as structural steel

2) ensures structural issues are eliminated from the project's critical path

3) expedites and streamlines the permit application process - instead of reviewing the structure in detail, examiners can rely on the professional engineer's competence and acceptance of liability

4) saves money, since the cost is either equal to or less than the sum of providing individual components

Inspection and Field Review
In most construction projects, there is usually some discrepancy between contract documents and field conditions. Picco's engineers or technologists will visit a site to evaluate and document field conditions within 24 hours of a request. Each inspection is promptly followed up with a written report and photographic documentation.

BUILDING SCIENCE SERVICES

Building Envelope Consulting
Picco Engineering's envelope consulting services help optimize the lifecycle of a building through effective envelope design and detailing. A properly designed building envelope will stop or slow the transfer of water, air, vapor and heat to a level that prevents material deterioration, staining, and microbial growth.

Technical Audits
Picco Engineering provides a technical audit service to assess the overall condition of a building - the results of which can be used to establish immediate and future repair requirements. This information is of particular interest to condominium corporations in identifying the condition of common elements to develop future maintenance plans. In Ontario, the Condominium Act, 1998 stipulates that periodic filing of such information is required.

Reserve Fund Studies
Picco's reserve fund study service produces a financial document that utilizes information from a technical audit to plan funding for future repairs to a property's common elements. The quality of the reserve fund study's financial data is heavily dependent on an accurate technical audit. In order to project future repair costs and condominium owner contributions, a fund study defines a property's common elements in terms of value and lifecycle. This information becomes a major input to a property manager's duties and processes. In Ontario, the Condominium Act, 1998 stipulates that periodic filing of such information is required.