No matter what industry your business is engaged in, it is vital that you ensure the structural integrity of your buildings. A structural flaw that goes unnoticed can be destructive not only to the building itself, but also to the people and equipment inside the building.

Here are some common structural problems that are important to recognize and prevent.

Snow Buildup

For any business that operates in a cold climate during the winter, snow buildup can be a serious problem. When excessive amounts of snow accumulate on the building, the roof may even be in danger of collapsing if it has not been thoroughly inspected for structural integrity. You can protect against this risk by employing a building health monitoring system that gathers data and helps you see what needs to be fixed before problems occur.

Inadequate Framing

Framing is critical to a building’s safety. Some buildings, especially older ones, may not possess the strong framing that you need to perform business operations. If you add new equipment to the building over time, you may increase the stress you are putting on the building’s frame, which may lead to structural problems.

Damage to Walls

Wall damage can come from many sources, such as storms and even normal business operations like forklift use. Even if the damage is only on the surface of the wall, it is important to have a professional investigate the damage and make sure that it is not a threat to the safety of the building.

Weak or Damaged Trusses

Trusses are essential to the overall stability of the building’s structure. If the trusses are weak, or if they have been altered in any way to create more space for storage or business operations, your buliding may be at risk during a storm or other dangerous situation.

As you can see, there are many structural problems that may occur in your building. It is important to hire a professional to evaluate these issues and update your structures regularly.