Reserve Fund Studies – It’s all in the details

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Reserve Fund Studies – It’s all in the details

Condominium residents are at the mercy of their building’s maintenance, and the Property Managers are at the mercy of the accuracy of the documentation and support they receive. Many people know that Reserve Fund Studies need to be updated every three years with every other study requiring a site visit. We commonly see reports that differ little from revision to revision, but worst of all we see short, high-level, and vague reports. Did you know that the usefulness of the study is entirely in the details?

Condominium law has changed, and the regulations are catching up. The Government of Ontario has put out a good summary at https://www.ontario.ca/page/condominium-law-changes , but let’s discuss the most fundamental issues of all: No matter how your report is produced, every common element must have a detailed review which results in a well studied, clearly laid out, entry in the report.

When choosing an Engineering Firm to provide you with a Reserve Fund Study, it is important to make sure you compare “apples to apples” in the quality of the study a firm will provide.

The more detail in the study, the more accurately the Board, with help from their Property Manager, can assess what needs to be done and when. When matters. What matters. How matters. Do your reports give you enough clarity to know where your building is going?

What about maintenance? Does your Engineering Firm recommend maintenance practices that will make your equipment and finishings last longer? This isn’t necessary in law, but it is certainly something an engineer experienced in maintenance, repair, restoration, and rehabilitation should be able to offer with little added effort. So why don’t they?

What about assessments? Does your Engineering Firm account for having assessments done for large projects to ensure the scope of the project is accurate? Are there entries for forward planning those major projects? Those are important costs, aren’t they?

Anyone living in a building with elevators knows how difficult it can be when an elevator isn’t working, so why do so few Reserve Fund Studies include a specialist review of the elevator condition and maintenance? This isn’t even one of the more expensive options, yet often the RFS engineering firm don’t even mention the possibility. What happens when TSSA (the Governing Authority) orders a directive to comply with a change to the elevator? Does your engineering firm take those costs into account? Are they shown in the RFS? They are routine, fairly predictable, and every RFS should have some realistic flexibility built in.

Make sure you are getting all the information in your Reserve Fund Study that you truly need to keep your building running smoothly and efficiently with the proper funding.

Want to see what a better study looks like? Reach out to us for your next Reserve Fund Study.

Buying in a new condominium? Reach out to us and we can help you assess what costs you may be facing in addition to the sticker price.

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CEL Business Card Crack Gauge - Innovation & Excellence

June 13, 2025

The Original Professional Engineering Crack Gauge Business Card: A 15-Year Legacy of Innovation At CEL innovation has always been at the heart of what we do. Fifteen years ago, we pioneered a unique idea: integrating a practical crack gauge into the design of our business cards. This wasn’t just a gimmick, but a thoughtful addition and a solution born from our early planning to make our business cards more than just contact information. From our call to action "How may we help you?" run up the right hand side, to the use of a bright yellow in order to be able to leave cards in place as tell-tales to save clients costs, we wanted to set ourselves apart as the pragmatic problem solvers we set out to be. We envisioned these cards as tools that engineers, contractors, and property-interested parties could carry in their wallets, ready to assist them in seeking our structural advice on the spot. The Origin Story Back in 2010, our team brainstormed ways to stand out in the competitive engineering industry. We wanted our business cards to reflect our commitment to practical, problem-solving innovation. The crack gauge was the perfect fit—a compact, functional tool that embodied our expertise in structural analysis and our dedication to providing value beyond expectations. After months of design and testing, we launched the first crack gauge business card, a concept that was entirely novel at the time. A Global Influence Over the past decade and a half, our crack gauge business cards have gained recognition worldwide. From our staff attending the ICCRRR International Conference on Concrete Repair, Rehabilitation and Retrofitting in Leipzig Germany through to attending Restoration, Seismic, and Engineering conferences in Japan, Italy, France, New Zealand, and the USA, our little idea has travelled far and wide. Companies in Germany, France, South Africa, New Zealand, and Australia have adopted similar designs, inspired by our original idea. We’re flattered by the global reach of our concept, but we’re also proud to set the record straight: Capacity Engineering was, to the best of our knowledge, the first to bring this idea to life. The Most Recent Imitation Recently, we’ve noticed a local Canadian competitor incorporating crack gauges into their business cards, positioning themselves as innovative. While imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, we believe it’s important to celebrate the true origin of this idea; a backyard and a beer, 2010, with the birth of CEL. For 15 years, our crack gauge business cards have been a hallmark of our brand, trusted by clients and imitated by other professionals, worldwide. This latest instance marks the first time a Canadian firm has followed suit, joining a line of international engineering firms inspired by our work. Why It Matters Our crack gauge business card is more than a marketing tool, but is in fact a testament to our commitment to innovation, functionality, simple solutions, economic results, and quality that maximises value. There is often little need for expensive monitoring and data collection. It can be as simple as a fractional cost of a dollar, and a free giveaway, conveniently placed on the back of the business card. Call to action? No; it is a call to simplification, and a way to offer clients more value out of our services. It is a reminder that true innovation isn’t just about creating something new; it’s about creating something that lasts, solves problems, and inspires others. We’re proud to have led the way and will continue to push the boundaries of what’s possible in our industry. Thank you to our clients, partners, and community for supporting us over the years. Here’s to 15 more years of innovation, and beyond. Reach out if you have a need; we're more than happy to help.

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