Markets we serve
Industrial
Inspec inspects, tests and investigates industrial roofs, walls and pavements, then designs the repairs — plants, warehouses and distribution centers.
Securing Industrial Facilities with Advanced Maintenance
Industrial facilities such as warehouses, manufacturing plants, and storage units face harsh operating conditions and require durable, well-maintained structures. INSPEC provides comprehensive building envelope services to ensure that your industrial facilities are protected from the elements and remain efficient and safe for your operations. Our Services Include:- Industrial roof inspection
- Waterproofing for manufacturing plants
- Structural assessments and leak detection
- Building envelope consulting for warehouses
Talk to us
Responsible for an industrial facility?
Tell us about the building and what you are seeing. Our consultants work across Chicago, Milwaukee and Minneapolis.
Common questions
Do you repair industrial roofs, or only inspect them?
We do not perform repair work. Inspec is a consulting engineering and architecture firm — we inspect, test, investigate, prepare design and bid documents, and observe the contractor's work during construction. The repair or replacement itself is carried out by a contractor you hire, working to documents we prepare on your behalf as the owner.
Water is dripping in over our production line. Is that a roof leak?
Not always. In industrial buildings, condensation from process humidity, cold storage or make-up air often produces drips that look exactly like roof leakage, as can wall, window and piping sources. An investigation separates these before repair money is committed, because a roof repair will not stop a condensation problem inside the assembly.
Can this work be done while the plant is running?
Usually. Inspections, testing and investigation are generally carried out around production, and repair or replacement scopes can be phased so docks, drive aisles and critical areas stay usable. Constraints such as hot work rules, staging space and protection of equipment below are worth raising at the outset so they shape the recommendations.
We have several facilities. Can you assess them all?
Yes. Multi-site owners commonly ask for condition assessments across a portfolio so roof, wall and pavement needs can be ranked and budgeted together, rather than replaced reactively when something fails. A facility asset management program keeps that information current so each year's capital request is based on documented condition.
Our metal wall panels are rusting along the bottom edge. Is that a wall problem or a site problem?
It can be either, and often it is both. Panel bases corrode where snow is piled against them, where splash from pavement keeps them wet, or where grading slopes toward the building. We look at the panel base detail and the site drainage together, because replacing panels without correcting what is wetting them repeats the failure.
We're adding rooftop equipment. Should the roof be reviewed first?
Yes. New units, screens, walkways or solar arrays add load, add penetrations and change how water drains across the roof. Reviewing the existing assembly, deck and remaining service life before the equipment is specified lets curbs, flashings and support details be designed properly, rather than field-improvised by whoever installs the equipment.
Do you get involved in new plant construction, or only existing buildings?
Both. On new construction and expansions we consult on enclosure design, review the assemblies and details, and observe the work during construction. On existing buildings we investigate problems, assess condition and prepare repair or replacement documents. The industrial work we see most often is a mix: an addition tying into a building already in service.
Can you evaluate the truck court and dock aprons at the same time as the roof?
Yes. We provide civil engineering as well as building enclosure consulting, so pavement, site grading and stormwater can be reviewed on the same visit as the roof and walls. That matters at industrial sites, where roof drainage discharges onto the same pavement that trailers are loading on.