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November 2014

Below is a realistic look at risks involved in South Florida's current construction boom, in an attempt to avoid the building failures from a decade ago.

We also examine big data collection methods in construction, arguing for a move away from traditional means and towards more synchronized systems based on telemetry.

Additionally, we're offering a free download of our mold and moisture manual.

Please forward this along to any individual or firm who may be in the market for our services.
What's to Prevent a Repeat of 2005 Failures in South Florida's 2015 Construction Boom?Miami

The immediate future looks bright for South Florida as it basks in a revival of new construction

But Florida-based Liberty Building Forensics Group (Liberty) cautions designers, engineers, and contractors not to let history repeat itself. 

A significant number of condo projects built in Miami in the early 2000's ended in litigation due to building failures such as new product failures, humidity and mold problems, air conditioning failures, and even falling stucco off the building. 

Despite being a lengthy, costly, and hostile learning method, litigation is unfortunately construction's only true form of feedback.

Building complexity and costs have not decreased since 2005, nor have risks gone down. Designers and subcontractors have not become more insightful and proactive about the underlying causes of failure, either. In fact, today's buildings are larger, bolder, more complex, costlier, and more susceptible than ever to failure.

Projects are at greater risk in this fast-paced market, with developers using out-of-region architects and builders who lack knowledge about unique construction challenges and risks of mold and moisture problems that warm, humid climates pose. 

Liberty's experts believe that only by embracing the mistakes of the past and properly managing risk can we build better structures in the future. 

As Italian philosopher George Santayana once said, "Progress, far from consisting in change, depends on retentiveness. When change is absolute...no direction is set for possible improvement: and when experience is not retained...infancy is perpetual. Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it."
Is Big Data in Construction a Big Problem or Big Opportunity?BigData

Massive construction projects often create major building forensic issues, requiring big data collection that quickly becomes a liability if not managed properly.

If a quarter million data sets are to be used by a 40-member team, the data needs to be organized so as to efficiently accomplish goals and achieve solutions amidst large construction project daily needs and looming deadlines.

"Anybody can collect data," said George DuBose, Vice President of Liberty Building Forensics Group (Liberty), a Florida-based firm. "What's critical is collecting the right data and making it accessible to the right people for their intended use. The data organization system must allow for the extraction of the right information at the right time in order to meet objectives."

DuBose believes few know how to properly gather and utilize data to result in a maximum recovery when a project runs into difficulty, and to do so in such a way as to produce confidence in all parties involved - contractor, subcontractor, owner, designers, and end users.

Liberty recently gained unique insights from a major systemic issue occurring during construction of a large government project. Embedding digital data in each data point allowed for rapid, sophisticated, and continuous analysis that historically hasn't been possible. Using geolocation in the large footprint multi-story building was critical so correlation to other information could be done quickly and contiguously.

Liberty believes construction data gathering needs to move away from traditional, time-intensive methods and towards a synchronized system that operates more like telemetry.

A recognized leader in solving, remediating, and litigating complex moisture and mold-related building failures, Liberty has extensive expertise in investigating and resolving construction and design deficiencies

This includes over 30 years of successfully assisting the Disney Corporation in completing over 500 highly complex construction projects worldwide, as well as successfully resolving the largest moisture/mold problem in the last 20 years and recovering $60MM+ in repair costs for the Hilton Hawaiian Village.

Liberty staff have authored three manuals that are currently serving as industry standards for avoiding and resolving mold and moisture problems, including both the NCARB training monograph used by architects worldwide and Disney's in-house design guidelines

Liberty has assisted clients in recovering over $500 million through its proven ability to understand and apportion complex moisture-related insurance claims and then effectively communicate its findings to a judge or a jury.

In This Issue
Quick Links
Free Moisture & Mold Manual


Providing the latest information to designers, contractors, and building owners on today's key issues:

* Building envelope and rainwater intrusion solutions

* HVAC and humidity control solutions

* Moisture and mold remediation



BOOK REVIEWS


"Building failures can be prevented and this manual tells you how."

      ~ Florida Architect


"The concepts presented in this manual should be studied and followed in every building project."

~ Robert Dimarcantonio, Marriott Vacation Club


"This book distills practical field lessons from seasoned professionals." 

~ Lew Harriman, Author of ASHRAE's Humidity Control Design Guide

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In the News


EDC, the official magazine for the LEED professional, printed an article by Liberty's Don Snell and Rick Scott in their October 2014 issue.

The article, titled "Air Barriers: Expectations Versus Reality", discusses how military housing washed out on new air barrier standards.
Liberty Building Forensics Group | 407-703-1300 
P.O. Box 1120 | 3700 Dohnavur Drive
Zellwood, FL  32798