Glossary of Terms – Dangerous & Hazardous Conditions

Glossary of Terms – Dangerous & Hazardous Conditions

To understand how dangerous and hazardous conditions impact buildings in Chicago, it helps to know the terminology. For example, what does dangerous and hazardous mean in Chicago’s building code? How do professionals define structural failures? And what about spalling or settlement? Here, we’ve compiled a glossary of dangerous and hazardous terms to help you understand these subjects at a deeper level. If you have any questions or want professional input, don’t hesitate to contact our masonry specialists today.

Dangerous and Hazardous Meaning in Chicago

Chicago’s building code defines dangerous and hazardous conditions as any situation where a building or component poses a risk to life, safety, or property. This might include things like walls that are on the verge of collapse, fire hazards from faulty wiring, or loose masonry overhead that could fall onto the sidewalk. When a city inspector labels something as dangerous and hazardous, it usually triggers an official notice. Property owners may be required to fix the issue or vacate the building, and they can face fines if they fail to comply. 

Structural Failures

Structural failures happen when a building’s most important elements, like its beams, columns, foundation, or walls, can’t support the loads they were designed to hold. Failures don’t always look like dramatic collapses, though this does happen. Most of the time, structural failures are more subtle and might look like sagging floors or widening cracks in masonry.

In Chicago, our annual freeze-thaw cycles are one of the driving forces behind structural failures. Water seeps into cracks, freezes, and expands, which gradually weakens the brick or stone over time. If ignored, minor damage can turn into a structural failure that compromises the entire building.

Structural Integrity

Closely related to structural failure is the term structural integrity, which is essentially how reliable a building is. A structure with good integrity does what it’s supposed to do, which is hold weight, resist weather, and stand strong over time. If integrity is compromised, the building becomes unsafe. That’s why inspectors pay close attention to things like foundation shifts, rusted steel reinforcements, and crumbling mortar in Chicago’s older masonry buildings. Even slight reductions in integrity can turn into hazardous situations down the line.

Structural Damage

Structural damage refers to any harm done to the essential load-bearing parts of a building. This might include things like broken trusses, cracked foundation walls, or damaged masonry piers. 

In Chicago, this can happen for several reasons. The first is the weather. Heavy snow, ice, and storms put pressure on roofs and walls and cause damage. Additionally, age is a factor. Many Chicago buildings are more than a century old, and materials naturally degrade over time, leading to structural damage. Finally, water intrusion can cause structural damage, since leaky roofs or poor drainage often cause hidden damage in basements and walls. When structural damage is spotted, the fix usually involves adding reinforcement or contacting a qualified professional for repairs.

Spalling

You’ll often hear about spalling in masonry. This is when the surface of brick or stone starts to crumble away. In Chicago, salt used during the winter months is notorious for causing spalling, especially on sidewalks and building faces. Though it might seem like a small problem, spalling is often a sign of deeper issues like moisture or compromised structural integrity.

Load-Bearing Wall

A load-bearing wall is a wall that carries weight from above, such as the roof or upper floors. Removing one without adding proper reinforcements can cause issues. In dangerous and hazardous conditions cases, inspectors often flag bulging or cracked load-bearing walls as a sign of potential structural failure.

Facade Instability

Chicago takes facade safety seriously, so much so that there’s an official “Exterior Wall Program” that requires periodic inspections of tall buildings. Facade instability means the outer wall (usually made of brick, stone, concrete, or glass) is no longer stable. Things like loose bricks, broken mortar joints, or rusting wall ties can make a facade dangerous for people moving below.

Foundation Settlement

When the ground beneath a building shifts, it can cause foundation settlement. Signs of this include sloping floors, stair-step cracks in masonry, or doors that no longer shut properly. In Chicago, clay-rich soils and the weight of older masonry often make settlement a more common issue. If a foundation settles and it isn’t fixed, it could hurt structural integrity and could qualify as hazardous if it progresses far enough.

Water Infiltration

Water infiltration is one of the sneakiest threats to buildings. Things like leaks in roofs, basements, or walls will slowly erode structural materials until they become serious. In Chicago, where rainfall and snowmelt are common, water infiltration is a leading cause of structural damage.

Fire Hazards

Fire hazards can come from things like faulty wiring, flammable construction materials, blocked exits, or anything else that has the potential to either cause a fire or hurt people who may become trapped in one. While masonry itself is fire-resistant, many older Chicago buildings still contain wood joists or outdated electrical systems that raise the risk.

Roof Collapse

Things like heavy snow or water pooling on flat roofs mixed with structural deterioration can cause roofs to cave in. Chicago’s winters make roof safety important, and property owners are responsible for clearing excess snow and making sure their drainage systems work properly.

Unsafe Egress

Egress means exit. An unsafe egress happens when doors or stairways are blocked or otherwise unsafe for people to use in an emergency. In Chicago, inspectors regularly check that buildings have clear egress routes to comply with fire safety laws.

Vacate Order

If a building poses an immediate danger, the city may issue a vacate order, forcing everyone to leave until repairs can be made by a qualified professional. These orders usually happen after severe structural damage or hazardous conditions are discovered.

Learn More About Repairing Dangerous and Hazardous Conditions With Jagra Masonry 

Understanding dangerous and hazardous conditions, as well as how to fix them, is important for safety. If you have any questions on these terms, have a hazardous condition in your own home, or want the opinion of an expert, Jagra Masonry can help.