The Book Corner

The Investigation of Buildings

A Guide for Architects, Engineers and Owners

by Donald Friedman, PE, published 2000

This book is an essential reference for building professionals, from architects and engineers to owners, managers and individuals planning to purchase, repair or rennovate a building. This invaluable guide explains the principles of investigation and shows how to:

Identify building types and mechanical systems

Determine their condition

Document the investigation through field work and other research

Deceide whether probing or other testing is needed

Historical Building Construction: Design, Materials, and Technology

by Donald Friedman, PE

Winner of the Association for Preservation Technology (APT) 2012 Lee Nelson Book Award

A comprehensive guide to the physical construction of buildings from the 1840s to the present, covering the history of concrete- , steel- , and skeleton-frame buildings. The book provides case histories that apply the information to a wide range of actual projects, and supplies technical data essential to professionals who work with historic structures.

After 9-11

by Donald Friedman, PE

The tragic events of September 11, 2001, have forever changed the lives of the individuals and families that were directly affected and have changed history for everyone.  Those same events began a 24-hour-per-day, 7-day-per-week effort by structural engineers to investigate the condition of the buildings remaining at the World Trade Center site, to work with the rescue and clean-up crews in evaluating the safety of the towering piles of rubble, and to try to explain what happened to the buildings as they collapsed. After 9-11 describes one engineer's experiences on site and off as part of that effort. 

The government agencies responsible for the physical site after the building collapses – the New York City Department of Design and Construction and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey – began planning the work assisting the emergency service crews and cleaning the site on September 11. Friedman, as part of the first effort, was on site beginning September 12 and continuing through the fall. His account includes descriptions of the damage to the buildings near the site, the methods used by engineers to assist the rescue and recovery work, and what it was like to be part of the civilian response to the disaster.

The Design of Renovations

by Donald Friedman, PE and Nathaniel Oppenheimer, PE

The design of renovations is like any other building design, but more complicated, because the questions that architects and engineers face in the process are complicated by the existing building's form, materials, peculiarities of age, and construction. The Design of Renovationsoutlines the basic pertinent principles of design and construction and explains how to apply them to renovation that meets the physical and aesthetic needs of the job, given the constraints of the materials involved. Dozens of actual case studies illustrate the practical application of the theory, methods, and procedures.

The Complete Book of Home Inspection

by Norman Becker, PE; 4th Edition

 This comprehensive instruction manual covers every aspect of a home inspection. It includes the exterior, interior, and electro-mechanicals of the home or condominium apartment. The book is basic enough for a layperson and detailed enough to be a working on-site tool for professional home inspectors. Revealing techniques and methods used by experienced home inspectors, this heavily illustrated reference details how to evaluate the condition of a home - inside and out. Precise step-by-step procedures enable you to inspect a home as though accompanied by an inspector with many years' experience.

Home Inspection Checklists: 111 Illustrated Checklists and Worksheets You Need Before Buying a Home

by Norman Becker, PE, published 2003

 A  prospective home buyer's guide to evaluating a property, inside and out – loaded with inspection checklists, worksheets, charts, checklists, and photographs. This is a must-have for anyone considering a new or used home purchase.