Key Takeaways

• Many cities require annual and periodic parking garage assessments to maintain safety and issue Operating Certificates.
• Type I (annual) and Type II (every third year) assessments help identify both visible and hidden deterioration through visual observations and specialized testing.
• Braun Intertec offers comprehensive parking structure assessment services, including engineering oversight, nondestructive testing, and repair recommendations, to help clients stay compliant and extend the life of their facilities.

Does your parking garage need an annual assessment? Most likely – many cities require parking garage owners to complete regular structural condition assessments before an annual Operating Certificate can be issued. Our experts can help identify early signs of deterioration and ensure parking structures remain safe for daily use.

Two Types of Required Assessments

Cities typically mandate two different structural assessment types, each serving a specific purpose in monitoring the condition of a parking garage.

Type I Structural Condition Assessment: Annual Requirement

A Type I assessment is performed every year and focuses on visual observations of the structure. A professional licensed engineer oversees the assessment, examining all key structural components and framing elements.

These visual observations help identify cracks, spalling, corrosion, and other early warning signs that may indicate structural concerns.

Type II Structural Condition Assessment: Every Third Year

Every third year, a more in-depth review is required: the Type II structural condition assessment. This includes everything from the annual Type I assessment, plus additional nondestructive and destructive testing to identify potential structural issues 

Nondestructive testing may include:

• Sounding by either chain dragging along horizontal surfaces or hammer tapping on vertical and overhead surfaces to detect delamination
• Core drilling to collect samples for chloride ion concentration or compressive strength testing

Destructive testing may include:

• Exposing reinforcing steel to document bar size, placement, and corrosion levels

This deeper level of testing provides a clearer picture of long-term structural health.

Supporting Safe, Long-Lasting Parking Structures

Together, the Type I and Type II assessments help owners maintain compliance, identify issues early, and plan timely repairs, ultimately extending the usable life of their parking structures.

Braun Intertec offers a full range of structural assessment services, along with repair recommendations and long-term building science expertise to support the lifecycle of your parking facilities.

Connect with a building science expert about your parking garage assessment needs by filling out our Contact Us Form.