On Anniversary of Surfside Tragedy, New Book Coaches Residents to Identify Warning SignsAvailable today, one year after the collapse of the Champlain Towers South highrise, the book by professional engineer and expert witness Greg Batista, PE aims to educate condominium owners and managers.
By: Greg Batista, PE From his 30-plus years in engineering and construction, Batista has a unique vantage point on the inner workings of the construction, concrete repair, and structural engineering industry in South Florida. In fact, he was hired by and visited Champlain Towers in 2017. He provides key insights on the confluence of issues that attributed to the deadliest building failure in modern history. His prescient view of the issues at hand is highlighted by the passage of Florida's new condo safety law that, among other things, will require more frequent inspections, special attention given to properties near the coast, and stipulations for funds to be set aside by homeowner's associations for repairs. Batista explains in his book why these are vital measures, and in a Fox News interview last week he opined that "a lot of times the law has to prod [HOA boards] along who aren't necessarily engineers, they aren't contractors." That, in part, is what he hopes to solve with his new book, which is available today and advertised at $9.99 on his website, with all profits being donated to the American Red Cross. "I'm not looking to make money off this book," says Batista, whose aim is to educate. "For residents, owners, property managers—the people that are in the building every day—knowing what to look for and when to call an engineer for a closer look is the first line of defense. I hope the book is a resource for the growing concerns about structures that—without proper maintenance— For more information, visit askgbatista.com/ End
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