FINAL REPORT

STRUCTURAL INVESTIGATION & RECOMMENDATIONS

1051 Emerson Street Firehouse

4090 Lake Avenue Firehouse

Submitted by:
Ravi Engineering & L.S., P.C.
6605 Pittsford Palmyra Rd., Suite E5
Fairport, New York 14450

Submitted to:

The City of Rochester

Bureau of Architectural and Engineering
414 Andrews Street
Rochester, New York 14604-1493

October 2007
 TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Introduction
2. Emerson Street Firehouse
3. Lake Avenue Firehouse
4. Sequence of Repairs

Appendix A: Photos

Appendix B: Key Plans

City of Rochester
Structural Investigation & Recommendations
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1. Introduction
This report represents the results of a structural investigation of the following two (2) firehouses
located in the city of Rochester, New York.

Emerson Street Firehouse 1057 Emerson Street

Lake Avenue Firehouse 4090 Lake Avenue

Ravi Engineering & L.S., P.C., a structural engineering firm, acting as a consultant to the City of
Rochester, prepared this report after conducting a structural investigation of the buildings that
included review of existing drawings when available, field visits, and structural study of each
building.

2. Emerson Street Firehouse

Description of Existing Building

This building was constructed in 1956 and it consists of concrete masonry bearing walls,
structural steel and 3” concrete plank on metal joists with a built - up roof system. The height of
the truck bay is approx. 20’-0”, the offices and living areas are approx. 14’-0”. Interior non-
bearing walls were built using both 4” & 6” concrete masonry units resting on 4” concrete slab.
Exterior load bearing walls consists of 8” concrete masonry block with 4” face brick. This
building was constructed on an area that was part of the old Emerson Street landfill.

Findings and Recommendations

Finding Recommendation

2.1 Exterior canopy column base is cracked
in several places.
2.2 Main Truck Bay metal floor drain covers
are corroded.
2.3 East side of the truck bay has a horizontal
crack, 2 & 6 courses from the floor
almost full length of truck bay.
2.4 Wall between Toilet area and Bunk Room
is a large crack in wall chase between
rooms.
2.5 Mechanical Room has cracks in the
concrete masonry North wall.
2.6 Bricks have some cracks in them.
Clean and apply non-shrink grout to cracks
around column base.
Wire brush, clean and paint or replace with
galvanized covers.
Clean, route and fill all cracks using an epoxy
sealant and paint to match existing.
Clean, route and fill cracks using an epoxy
sealant and paint to match existing.
Clean, route and fill all wall cracks using an
epoxy sealant and paint to match existing.
Repoint and or replace.

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Structural Investigation & Recommendations
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 2.7 Base of truck bay door frames at each
side and center area showing rust.
2.8 Driveway in front of west truck bay door
shows signs of settlement.
2.9 Exterior light pole base in the rear
parking lot is fractured and needs to be
repaired.
2.10 Canopy over the front of the building
contains transite panels.
2.11 Vertical crack in wall over door jamb.
2.12 Numerous minute cracks in various
walls.
2.13 Facade over truck bay leaks with heavy
rain or snow.
2.14 Under floor drains back up with heavy
rains.
2.15 Truck bay doors, metal thresholds have
deteriorated badly, bricks are broken,
weather seal is worn. Repair concrete
apron.
Clean with wire brush and repaint with rust
inhibitor paint to match existing.
Cut out area, replace sub - base, compact &
apply asphalt patch.
Clean and apply non-shrink grout to cracks
around column base.
At this time, no work needs to be done, but
note that this material is likely to contain
asbestos, should future work require their
disturbance.
Clean, route and fill wall crack using an
epoxy sealant and paint to match existing.
Clean, route and fill all cracks using an epoxy
sealant and paint where applicable.
Repair roof flashing along the facade.
Clean out under floor drains with “power
snake”.
Replace existing metal thresholds with
galvanized angle also replace bricks &
weather seal.

Probable Construction Cost Estimate

Component Quantity Cost

Clean and repaint truck bay door frames. 8 lin. Ft $400

Remove & replace truck bay thresholds, bricks, weather seal (2) @ $2,000 $4,000
Repair concrete apron

Replace floor drain covers (Truck Bay) (6) @ $150 $900

Clean, route and apply epoxy sealant to cracks 150 lin. ft. $900

Clean and grout light pole base/front column base lump sum $300

Repair section of asphalt driveway lump sum $900

$7,400

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Structural Investigation & Recommendations
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General Conditions………………….3%............$222

Overhead and profit………………..20%......... $1525

Contingency……………………….20%..........$1830

Engineering fee……………………20%..........$2,195

Total $13,171

Conclusion
Based upon our field visit, discussions with the City of Rochester Architectural and Engineering
Personnel, Captain of the Fire Department, and after reviewing the existing structural drawings
we conclude that the cracks in the non load-bearing walls are due to long term settlement of the
floor slab.

As recommended, the cracks in the non-load bearing walls and the gap between the wall tiles and
slab in the truck bay can be fixed and monitored as a part of the building maintenance program.
Also, if a more long-term fix is planned, the sub-grade under slab can be pressure injected to
prevent future settlement issues.

3. Lake Avenue Firehouse

Description of Existing Building

This building was constructed in 1962 and consists of concrete masonry bearing walls, structural
steel and 3” concrete plank on metal joists with a built-up roof system. The height of the truck
bay is approximately 17’-0”, the offices and living areas are approx. 11’-0”. Exterior walls are 8”
concrete masonry with 4” face brick. Interior non load-bearing walls are concrete masonry units
(varying thickness) supported on 4” concrete slab on grade with no thickened slab under them.
Some of these interior non load-bearing walls are made up of two wythes of block with a gap
between them for air space or pipe space. The slab for the truck bay is constructed as a 5” slab on
earth form supported by concrete beams, masonry piers and footings. However, the slab is not
supported on the exterior foundation wall and hence, subject to settlement.

Findings and Recommendations

Finding Recommendation

3.1 First 5 courses of brick at various locations Clean and re-point bricks.
around the exterior of the building have visible
deterioration of grout.

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Structural Investigation & Recommendations
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 3.2 Side walk on the west side shows visible
signs of heaving and settlement due to frost
penetration.
3.3 Side walk on the southeast corner of the
building has large cracks due to uneven
settlement and/or frost heave.
3.4 Concrete spalling at the east side entrance
slab.
3.5 Hairline vertical cracks on the brick face of
exterior walls at various locations.
3.6 Front Truck Bay apron has concrete spalling
at the three support locations.
3.7 Brick Pilaster between the Truck Bay and
Office Area in the front of the building shows
signs of deterioration and effervescence.
3.8 Slab at the southeast corner of the truck bay
has settled showing a gap of ½” to 1” between
wall tiles and slab. However, there are no cracks
in the tiles.
3.9 Masonry crack following block coursing
near the overhead door at SE corner of truck
bay.
3.10 The following three non load-bearing
partition walls have vertical cracks where they
meet the exterior load-bearing wall.
• Wall between Bunk Room and Toilet
• Wall between Toilet and Exercise Room
• Wall between Exercise Room and
Equipment Room.
Slab settlement is suspected to be the reason for
the wall cracks.
3.11 Non load-bearing partition walls in the
Exercise room and Equipment room have ¼”
+/- horizontal cracks for the full length of the
wall. Slab settlement is suspected to be the
reason for the wall cracks.
3.12 Masonry wall in between the corridor and
shower stalls shows signs of water damage at
the bottom 2 to 3 courses.
3.13 Floor slab (slab on grade) in the
Mechanical room has a few cracks.
3.14 Canopy over the front of the building
contains transite panels. The panel on the west
side of the truck bay is sagging by ½”.
City of Rochester
Structural Investigation & Recommendations
Remove and replace sections of sidewalk. In
addition, provide proper drainage using stone
fill under sidewalk slabs to prevent future
settlement.
Remove and replace sections of sidewalk. In
addition, provide proper drainage using stone
fill under sidewalk slabs to prevent future
settlement.
Cut out section of slab and replace.
Fill cracks with sealant as needed.
Cut out sections of concrete apron as necessary
and replace.
Power wash and re-point as necessary.
Clean and fill gap with non-shrink grout and
monitor slab for any further movement.
Clean and fill cracks with sealant, paint as
necessary and monitor crack for further
movement.
Clean, route and fill all cracks using a flexible
epoxy crack sealant and paint as necessary.
Monitor cracks for further movement.
A more long term fix would be to pressure
inject under the existing slab to strengthen the
sub grade in addition to filling the cracks.
Clean, route and fill all cracks using a flexible
epoxy crack sealant and paint as necessary.
Monitor cracks for further movement.
Caulk interior corners of both showers with
waterproof caulking.
Clean, route and fill all cracks using an epoxy
crack sealant.
No repair required at this time, however if
sagging continues panels need to be replaced.
Since transite panels are generally known to
contain asbestos, panels should be tested before
any repair or replacement.
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Conclusion
Based upon our field visit with the City of Rochester Architectural and Engineering Personnel,
Captain of the Fire Department, and after reviewing the existing structural drawings we conclude
that the cracks in the non load-bearing walls are due to long term settlement of the floor slab.
The settlement of the truck bay slab is due to lack of edge support.

As recommended, the cracks in the non-load bearing walls and the gap between the wall tiles and
slab in the truck bay can be fixed and monitored as a part of the building maintenance program.
Also, if a more long-term fix is planned, the sub-grade under the slab can be pressure injected to
prevent future settlement issues.

Probable Construction Cost Estimate

Component Quantity Cost

Clean and re-point bricks. 200 ln. ft. $1,200

Power washing brick at front brick pilaster Lump Sum $300

Replace sidewalk and sub-base. 30 ln. ft. $1,950

Clean and fill cracks with epoxy sealant 250 ln. ft. $1,500

Replace Sections of Concrete Apron and Entrance 20 sq. ft. $1000

Clean and apply non-shrink grout to gap between wall & floor 20 ln. ft. $200

Caulk at shower corner 50 ln. ft. $250

Estimated cost $6,400

General Conditions 3% $192

Overhead and profit 20% $1,318

Contingency 20% $1,582

Engineering fee 20% $1,898

$4,990

Total $11,390

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Structural Investigation & Recommendations
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 Appendix A
Photos
Emerson Street Firehouse
Lake Avenue Firehouse

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Structural Investigation & Recommendations
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Emerson Street Firehouse

Canopy support Canopy support Canopy support

Wall crack - Bathroom Wall crack - Bathroom Wall crack - Bathroom

Wall crack - Bathroom Wall crack – truck bay Wall crack –Bunk room

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Structural Investigation & Recommendations
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Wall crack – Bunk room Light pole base -Cracked Truck bay door frame

Crack in concrete apron Concrete apron – broken Truck bay door frame and concrete

Depressed area – driveway Wall crack – mechanical room Wall crack – mechanical room

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Structural Investigation & Recommendations
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Lake Avenue Firehouse

3.1 Brick mortar deterioration 3.2 Sidewalk heave 3.3 Sidewalk crack

3.4 East entrance slab spalling 3.5 Crack in the Brick Wall 3.7 Deterioration of Brick on Pilaster

3.6 Spalling on Concrete Apron - right 3.6 Spalling on Concrete Apron - 3.6 Spalling on Concrete Apron - left
side center side

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Structural Investigation & Recommendations
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3.8 Gap between Wall tiles and Slab 3.8 Gap between Wall tiles and Slab 3.9 Masonry Wall crack

3.10 Masonry Wall Crack 3.10 Masonry Wall Crack 3.10 Masonry Wall Crack

3.11 Masonry Wall Crack 3.11 Masonry Wall Crack 3.11 Masonry Wall Crack

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Structural Investigation & Recommendations
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3.12 Masonry Wall water damage 3.13 Floor crack in Equipment Room 3.14 Sag in Canopy panel

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Structural Investigation & Recommendations
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 Appendix B
Key Plans
Emerson Street Firehouse
Lake Avenue Firehouse

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Structural Investigation & Recommendations
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